![hand of fate 2 mages hand of fate 2 mages](https://i0.wp.com/corruption.edutronic.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/05/bolex16.jpg)
Luckily, the weight of numbers can be reduced somewhat by companions. Battles can have as little as three or four enemy units or as many as a dozen, including some great boss characters. But even up close, these ranged units can provide a challenge.
![hand of fate 2 mages hand of fate 2 mages](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ikqQpxC2Q2I/maxresdefault.jpg)
There are also ranged units that stand back and fire various weapons from a distance. Enemies come in a range of styles, and, like your character, can come with slow wielding powerful weapons, whilst others are more agile but do less damage. And the standard sword and shield combination is also available. Dual-wielded knives provide for a quick slash, whilst heavy two-handed hammers are slow but pack a punch.
![hand of fate 2 mages hand of fate 2 mages](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/items/266510/40b2afc105fcc55b341d64ac4142c5bbac73c236.jpg)
Players can choose to bring a range of weapons to the fight. Combat takes place in real-time in a third-person view on battle grounds that are somewhat confined, but still open enough with room to move about and evade enemy units. One area that Hand of Fate 2 excels in is the combat, with smooth, simple controls allowing for an even fight. Encounters could include a dice game, a chance card game or could end in a combat sequence. The shady looking dealer, a combination of gypsy fortune teller and Dungeons and Dragons dungeon master lays out the cards and it is up to you how you navigate the map, moving from one card to an adjacent card, each card representing an encounter of some sort. Each card turned over acts as a step along the journey through the map. Some of the effects of the encounter cards will be known, whilst new cards added to the deck will be unknown until they are turned over on the table. Once the deck has been selected, these cards, along with other cards the dealer adds, are shuffled and arranged on the table and will form the map. Cards are sorted into four categories including companions (if you have more than one), weapons and equipment, encounter cards and a special card that provides an extra starting bonus (such as extra food or an extra weapon). The general mechanics of the game have remained the same, but the team at Defiant Development have added a heap of new features and improvements that enhance the original.įor those unfamiliar with the original, the game begins with the selection of your deck of cards. The card game portion requires some strategy and luck, whilst the action portion requires skill with a virtual blade. Like the original, Hand of Fate 2 is a combination of a deck-building game and action-adventure game. It wasn’t the reward we initially wanted, but gold and food will suffice. We quickly cut a swathe through the henchmen and got a nice reward for our efforts. Her beady-eyed companions sprang into action in the hope of securing our meagre valuables, but myself, with my speed and trusty swords, and my mage companion, Malaclypse were up to the task. But only two towns ago, something similar happened. I’m definitely a sucker for a pretty face and the possibility that the distressed damsel would be forever grateful. This, unfortunately, was not an isolated experience. My companion and I were outnumbered, but we were prepared. She stabbed at me with the knife she had concealed in her corset and whistled to her henchmen, who immediately sprang forth from the trees. The maiden who I thought was in distress was simply a charlatan, luring me into a trap.