Backpack Hero created a whole new genre of gameplay that I lovingly call “inventory management action.” Of course, when a game changes the landscape and makes a new genre, developers start trying to find new ways to spice it up. NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters attempts to break the mold again but misses the mark in several ways.

NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters is a hybrid Inventory Management/Creature Battling game. Each creature takes up a certain number of spaces in your (potentially growing) backpack. Also, some creatures can fuse or evolve to create stronger creatures. Some fusions require energy of specific elements, which can be purchased in the shop (along with other monsters and bag space) between rounds.

You can lose 4 times before your tournament ends, and on the 5^th loss, you lose entirely. This is where my first problem with NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters comes in. There is no story or campaign involved. Instead, it is just a tournament of multiple duels that you either win or lose. There is a tutorial, but other than that there’s no real reason to play over and over beyond the player leaderboard.

My second issue concerns the resource management of your battery. Some monsters take up part of your battery, and if too much energy is expended, they can’t attack. So, it adds an extra layer of complexity beyond manipulating where the monsters sit, as well as their fusions. Personally, I find that mechanic unnecessary.

The sad part is, I really like NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters’ overall gameplay loop. The build setups are fun with elemental combinations, fusions, and various abilities. It resembles a mix of Magic the Gathering, Backpack Hero, and Pokémon. However, to some degree, it gets bogged down by extra mechanics and a lack of a campaign mode to really invest you in playing the game.

Plus, the simplicity of NeoDuel makes it somewhat difficult to talk about. Yes, the developers are adding more content in free updates, but beyond that there isn’t much of a draw after a few hours of play. It is fun to waste time with now and then. Still, after a while, there really isn’t much incentive, especially when the leaderboard is already full of people who have either mastered the mechanics early on or (I suspect yet can’t confirm) cheated their way to the top.

Overall, NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters is a fun time-waster for a while. However, eventually the new wears off and there isn’t enough (at least at this current stage) to warrant playing more than a few hours. If this was in Early Access I might feel differently, but right now it just isn’t enough to suggest that it will keep your attention for long.

If you’re looking to dip your toes into an “inventory management roguelike” then I’m sure NeoDuel is a good option for you. However, I would argue that Backpack Hero offers a narrative experience and other mechanics that might be better for casual players anyway. If you just want to chase the leaderboard though, this is something you should have on your radar.

A PC Review copy of NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters was provided by RogueDuck Interactive for the purposes of this review.

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NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters

$11.99 USD

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Fun Gameplay Loop
• Colorful Art Style
• Interesting Concept

Cons

• No Story/Campaign
• Gameplay gets Stale quickly
• No real reason to progress