Yu-Gi-Oh!: Stairway to the Destined Duel (henceforth referred to in this review as “Stairway”) proves that solid gameplay rules over all other aspects of a would-be videogame. You don't need graphics. You don't need mighty intros or great endings. You don't even need good sound. If you have a game that provides an addictive, deep and constant challenge then you're set. Those are the characteristics of Stairway.
To make a potentially complicated explanation less complicated; the game is described as such. First, you build a deck of cards numbering between 40 and 60 that consists of a mixture of monsters (normally used to inflict damage on your opponent's health bar), magic (normally used to hurt or assist monsters) and trap cards (act like magic, but can only be used in response to an opponent's actions). After building your deck and facing an opponent, who has his/her own cards, your goal is to reduce his/her health number from 8000 to 0.
Now, there is a tried and true equation to making a great videogame: games that are easy to get into and gradually grow in complication are generally winners. Advance Wars, also on the Game Boy Advance, is a great example of such a game.
Stairway has the same results. Even if you've never played Yu-Gi-Oh! before Stairway (as is the case with this reviewer), you'll find that the game is very user friendly and easy to pick up. Having a deck of 40 cards with different characteristics can be mind boggling, especially when it comes to figuring out when, how, and if you should use a card or not. Luckily, when playing a match, a pop-up guide will ask you if you want to use any card that can be potentially used or not. As you can only hold five cards at a time, it is quite easy to look through your hand to see if you want to make an action or not. The pop-up guide catches everything. If it is possible for you to block an enemy magic spell with a card, you'll be asked to do so, even if you didn't know that it was possible. Ah, if only the card game in Xenosaga was so tolerant of newbies!
Before long, you'll be able to understand and use many cards with ease. You'll be able to build your deck up according to how you want to fight and soon you'll be able to play the game without the pop-up guide. Sadly, the pop-up is not so willing to leave after you've put it through so much use. Even after becoming familiar with the game the guide will often ask if you want to use every potential card whenever it can be used. Sure it's slightly annoying, but luckily it can be brushed aside with one press of the button. But there is no doubt, however, that a time will come that you'll need the extra guidance.
The reason being? Simply because there are so many cards in this game--over 1,000. They are all well drawn and come complete with a fantasy description, from the hoard of various dragons, to robots, to partially nude nymphs, to insects, to elves, to robots and machines, to personifications of nature... there are just so many cards and all of them come with their own abilities to the table. Some seem more useless than others. Others seem more specialized, while others seem completely unfair. You can only include three of any kind of card in your hand, less with the more powerful cards.
The genius of the game comes through when you start to build up a deck. There are cards of various classes and types that will work well with one another. Cards that are specifically aimed to hurt a particular kind of card. Cards that combine with others to form a better card (that you must also include in your deck, even if it cannot be used alone). There is always a counter to even the worst kind of magic card, even if that counter-magic card is hard to find. The creativity and imagination behind the abilities and application of some of these cards is amazing; yet never is it overly done. The balance of gameplay never spirals out of control, however but it is possible to have an almost unbeatable deck of cards after months of gathering a new pack after you win matches. Fortunately, in Stairway, this is always possible for anyone who's diligent and consistent in building their decks. The other amazing aspect of this game is that a powerful deck doesn't have one face; there has perhaps never been a game on the Game Boy Advance where personal customization is so rewarded.
There really is no storyline to this game. You begin with a pack of cards, and you walk around the city playing people. That's it. The extremely minor storyline that is actually in the game is corny and not worth noting, with much more of a meaning to those who are fans of the cartoon.
You can also choose with whom you wish to play, and luckily there are some rather pathetic card-owners to beat up when you begin. As you proceed throughout the game, the various character opponents will increase in number and talk different trash. Each of the characters has a different style of play, as is represented by their decks.
Sadly, the most powerful opponents you will face are also cheaters. This aspect of the game is not easily found, but with a bit of time you'll notice a certain oddity. If you place a card face down, your opponent is not supposed to know what it is until it is flipped over. An important aspect of Yu-Gi-Oh strategy is wondering whether or not to attack a flipped card, because doing so without the proper defense can lead to a loss in health points, or even worse. However, the tougher computer opponents seem to know if a card is vulnerable or not to attack. You can't fool them. While there are ways to manipulate even that aspect of the game to your advantage, it certainly takes away from the game's realism. This problem won't be there if you play with a link cable against a real opponent, of course.
You can only have one game saved at a time per cartridge. Considering the sheer number of cards available in this game, and the fact that you can store every one of them, this is not very surprising. There would be, then, no need or desire to replay the game. Replaying the game would mean losing every single one of your cards, and the storyline won't compel you to wanting to see earlier things over again. Stairway is most certainly not meant to be replayed. It is a game that is meant for everlasting progress and development of the ultimate deck. As the game saves all by itself after each duel, there absolutely no fear of losing data.
To close, Stairway is simply what a game is supposed to be. No tricks, gimmicks, and no need for hype. It's pure, addictive, mind-buzzing gameplay. Much more than a Pokémon wannabe, the Yu-Gi-Oh! series of games is one that'll be played and remembered for a very long time.
