Disney Lorcana Sets 1-4 Review

To many, it would appear trading card games are relatively impenetrable unless you're fully au fait with all the laws of the games, the lore of the game and have a myriad of people to play with.

In a marketplace that's already crowded by the likes of Pokemon and Magic The Gathering, there's a feeling that unless you're in, then you're undoubtedly out.

However, with that in mind, and with the widespread knowledge of Disney characters and stories, the Disney Lorcana sets of cards are undoubtedly a good place to start for newbies - and better still, families as well.

And Disney's Team Lorcana who developed the games are painfully aware of that as well, with each basic set coming with simple instructions on how to start the game, the best deck to start and play, and where to go from there.

From a deck of 60 cards (helpfully provided across the four different sets) containing preconstructed decks with a specific card list, the game opens up its simple way of playing. The game benefits from a play as you learn mentality which initially makes the first game a little trickier to navigate with friends, but once you're into the basics of playing, it starts to make sense.

With chapters containing over 200 cards, there's no chance of items running short during any gameplay - characters can attack one another or quest, and given winners are selected by getting 20 lore ahead of your opponent, there's a bit of strategy needed too. From placing the deck down on a surface, you draw out 7 cards to form your starting hard - and your opponents do the same too, and away you go.

With attack cards that are emerald and ruby-based, you can play a more aggressive game; sapphire and steel cards are less attuned to attacking and offer a strong counterpoint to gameplay. With beautiful Disney-based artwork across the sets (fourth set Ursula's return leans heavily on purple hues, whereas Into the Inklands has a more sandy colour base), there's a distinct feeling of difference between the groups and the cards.

Perhaps disappointingly for those who are looking for it, there's less of a theme to the game itself. In terms of story, there doesn't seem to be one, and it's simply a case of questing and attacking until your lore hits 20.

Maybe more of use to many is the Lorcana app, which helps you to track lore and keep score of the game - though a pen and paper work just as well. The game's keen to embrace two styles of thought for its gameplay, and in broadening out by using an app, it's scoring more points to those who are a bit more intuitive on that front.

The game does require a bit of concentration initially, and while there are similarities to Top Trumps in terms of who has the higher scores exerting more damage, the Disney Lorcana gameplay has evolved slightly and will be accessible to those looking for a strategic challenge.

Ultimately, the Disney Lorcana sets will satiate those who enjoy card-based games, and will possibly entice others who've never played before. With characters you recognise and artwork that appeals, this certainly is a good starting point for many - hopefully with a myriad of properties for Disney to explore, future sets will broaden out across genres and encourage others into its fold.