Collectible card games have made a big impact on gaming over the last decade. Since the advent of Magic: the Gathering, one of the first widely successful CCG’s, dozens of other card games have been created. Everything from games based on the cartoon and video game world of the Pokemon to the detailed world of the Lord of the Rings films. As time progresses more and more collectible card games are moving into digital format. It should come as no surprise that game developers are finding new ways to adapt the popular game format. Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga, published by Matrix Games, combines some of the most interesting aspects of a collectible card game with the complexity of a classic strategy game. The game itself is interesting and diverse, with many paths to victory. Gameplay can be a slippery slope, as there are just as many paths to defeat. The graphics and sound are adequate, but the obvious draw of this title is the intense gameplay for users to enjoy.

Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga is built around a classic, turn-based strategy game model. Players receive build points at regular intervals that can be spent to construct new units. Anything from population needed to claim planets to mighty battle cruisers can be purchased- at a cost. Like all strategy games resource management is a vital element in achieving victory. Based on the planets that they control each turn players watch as destiny swings to their favor. Planets with cultural significance allow players to add to their destiny score- taking points away from their opponent. Gaining a high destiny score is one of the easier ways to win the game in concept, but can be challenging in practice. If the drawn-out territorial struggle isn’t your style it is simple to construct a fleet and smash your enemy’s defenses. In addition to these two styles of gameplay it is also possible to achieve a political victory by winning political votes in the Star Chamber.

With so many paths to victory it should come as no surprise that Star Chamber is a difficult game to pick up quickly. The strategy game elements are easy enough to understand and the collectible card game aspects are fairly straightforward. Unfortunately the combination can be tricky. For example it is possible to play a card and eliminate an opponent’s starship before combat. Another card allows you to place a battle cruiser at one of your planets. It is possible to upgrade the weapons systems of your ships, increase their shields, or change the characteristics of one of your planets, making them more valuable. The unpredictable nature of the card-game side of Star Chamber can be confusing for new players who might not have any idea that those cards exist until they are played against them for the first time. Additionally there are several ways to turn a hopeless situation into a guaranteed victory in short order.  Because turns are handed simultaneously a player’s position can be irrevocably damaged before they are able to respond.

Once a player gains a sense of familiarity with the world of Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga they will have a better idea of what to expect. That comfort will help make the game much more enjoyable as their experience grows. The learning curve is steep, so new players should be prepared to spend some time playing through the single-person tutorial campaigns before attempting to battle another human across the internet. It can take some time and investment to create a deck that functions extremely well across the board. New players will need ingenuity and the ability to look beyond the obvious to make their cards work for them. Fortunately many of the cards are useful in several deck styles. For extremely advanced deck construction specific, difficult to get cards may be required, but for casual play the majority of cards will be useful.

The strategic elements of the game, the graphics, the music, and the special effects are pretty standard fare. Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga blends many elements into a single game, requiring resource management that all strategy fans have come to expect. The concept and originality brought to the table by the developers shines through, but its light is dimmed by the interface. The graphics won’t have players writing home and the special effects are also limited. Fortunately the gameplay itself is very solid and the sounds are fairly well done. The user-interface is well-developed, allowing players to see the entire galaxy with ease. Some elements might seem confusing at first, such as the small squares highlighting planets, until players are familiar enough to understand all the information the game imparts so effortlessly. In the “squares” example light colored icons denote ships capable of space-flight. The shaded blocks display ground troops or civilian populations used to control planets and the Star Chamber.

Like any strategy game or collectible card game, Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga is complicated. It takes a little dedication to learn the basics of the game, and with so many options it has a long road to total mastery. Star Chamber has the benefit of engaging gameplay and the ability to play across the internet with other gaming enthusiasts from around the world. The graphics, while limited, are well rendered, crisp, and fast- there’s no hint of slow frame rates. The sounds are also basic fare, but are unique and convey information to players in a variety of ways. The interface has a learning curve because of the vast quantities of information available to players. Once you get the hang of it, the interface is your best weapon, allowing you to see the entire board in a single glance. Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga is a fun, engaging game for players of all ages.

Gameplay: 7.0

The interface is quick and responsive, designing a new deck is handled through a straightforward interface, and players can always find a new aspect of the world to enjoy.

Graphics: 6.5

The world of the Star Chamber is rendered mostly in flat, two dimensional images. The “special effects” and weapons fire during battles are well rendered. Everything flows smoothly. The graphics end up looking a little dated, but once you get into the game its easy to overlook that small shortcoming.

Sound: 7.0

The background music and sounds for Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga are interesting and unique. You can tell what’s going on simply by listening in some cases. The sounds are a little tinny and repetitive at times, but overall they are fairly decent.

Difficulty: Hard

Like any strategy game there are many, many ways to succeed. Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga has the added complexity of the players’ cards and how they effect the game. Being able to place a starship for free or changing the values of a planet can have profound effects on the game. The interface takes a while to learn because it contains so much information. Learning about how the cards can affect the game is a process that takes quite a while. If you want to learn the game, that is not very difficult. If you want to be a master it can take some effort.

Concept: 7.5

Combining a strategy game with a collectible card game is a fairly unique concept, and Star Chamber, the Harbinger Saga, can boast about many interesting elements. The way that they tie together can create some difficulties. Since there are so many ways to win the game there are also so many ways to lose the game, so players will always have to be on their toes.

Multiplayer: 8.0

Being able to play with other people from around the world is always an interesting, challenging experience. Because part of the game is based on the virtual “cards” you own, which must be purchased, it can be easy to fall into a game with someone who can crush you because they have a better deck. While the “he who spends the most money wins” argument can be made, there are so many different things to try that every player can present a challenge. After all, a single well-played card can turn a perfect, winning combination of forces into a massive disadvantage..

Overall: 7.2

Star Chamber: the Harbinger Saga has an excellent multiplayer system in place and a lot of different ideas for players to try out. The complexity of the strategy game, the cards, and how they interact is high, which can lead to a little frustration. Fans of collectible card games will find it easy to pick up the basics, and fans of the strategy genre can dive right into the combat system without trouble. The graphics are a little below average. Combined with the high difficulty to master this game I’d recommend reading up on the official page ( http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=314  ) before buying if you have any doubts.