Fighting games are a beautiful combination of timing, strength, and strategy. Players need to understand the nuance behind each character if they have any hope of claiming victory. Somehow, Exceed is able to capture all that virtual magic in a physical, tabletop format — while also putting its own spin on the popular genre.
The Basics Of Exceed
Exceed: Fighting System is a unique card game created by Level 99 Games. There's no hunting down rare fighters in booster packs, nor is there trading with other players. Everything you need — including fighters and their complete moveset — can be found in a single expansion. Over the years, Exceed has introduced several new content packs to the game, allowing players to stage battles between characters in the Street Fighter and Shovel Knight series, among many others.
The rules of Exceed are fairly complex, but easy enough for beginners to understand. Two players first choose their characters before placing them on a linear battlefield consisting of nine spaces. They'll then take turns performing actions — such as moving positions on the playfield, striking their opponent, drawing new cards, and so on — until they've reduced their enemy's health to zero. I don't want to spend too much time going over the rules but suffice to say it's well-thought-out and easy to learn after just a few matches. You can check out an official tutorial on Level 99's official YouTube channel.
Creatively Complex
It may sound simple enough on paper, but there's a ridiculous amount of depth to the action. I had the chance to test out the Shovel Knight pack, which included four fighters. It didn't sound like a lot at first, but each fighter has their own set of about 30 cards — many of which are unique to each fighter. They also have a powerful Exceed ability that completely changes the cadence of the fight but takes a bit of time to build up. Four fighters is definitely a good number for newbies and should be more than enough to keep things exciting during the learning phase.
Players will have to manage a few different resources — primarily Gauge and Force — if they hope to have any success on the battlefield. Force can be earned by discarding attacks from your hand, while Gauge is built up by successfully striking your opponent. Learning how to effectively manage these is key to dominating the battlefield and launching unrelenting attacks.
For example, is it best to discard weaker attacks and generate Force for a stronger attack, or should I try to land smaller hits and quickly build up my Gauge? Or do I spend Force to move further away from my opponent while I wait to draw a better card? Before you know it, you'll find yourself doing an intricate dance around the playmat with your enemy as you both try to gain the upper hand.
Design, Artwork, & Execution
What might be more impressive than the gameplay is the breathtaking artwork. Each fighter in the Shovel Knight pack has a unique card back that features the recognizable Exceed 'X,' while the card fronts are graced by an intricate rendition of each action. Better yet, the wonderful artwork doesn't overshadow the card description or stats, making it easy to understand each one at a glance.
The Shovel Knight playmat — sold separately from the cards — also features some fantastic artwork. However, once you start piling cards onto the board it can become a bit hectic and overwhelming to look at. There's also a health tracker printed on the mat, but you'll need your own way to monitor your current health level, as nothing is included in the box.
Several tuck boxes in the set contained typos; however, they were explained away using an accompanying Errata card. Beyond these minor hiccups there's little to complain about with the game's presentation.
A Game For Everyone
No matter your skill level, you'll have a wonderful time with Exceed. Novices can take it slow and learn the basics, while experienced players can delve into complex tactics revolving around their Exceed abilities and Ultra moves. The fact that it's ready-to-play out of the box is also a boon, and you'll never have to hunt down a rare, new card. Exceed isn't the most popular game in the world, so it might be difficult to find dedicated players in your area. But if you have a couple friends that don't mind trying out a new card game, it shouldn't take long to get them hooked.
Exceed Fighting System is available on Level 99 Game's official website.
TheGamer was provided with a Shovel Knight Exceed game set along with a Shovel Knight playmat for this review.
