While Game Freak is perhaps best known as the author and author of Pokemon, the developer has another beloved title. After ten years of being hidden in the attic, comes a new version of the game in which you breed horses and compete playing alone.
Don't worry if you haven't heard of Pocket Card Jockey. Released on 3DS and mobile devices in XNUMX, it never found the same audience as its pocket monster brethren.
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On is an RPG that lets you collect and breed horses to race in competitions. Winning races isn't as simple as unleashing your best stocky horse and watching it race across the finish line. During the race, you're going to get hit by speedy one-handed events. Well you know, the card game. I haven't seen many horse races, but I guess that's how it is in real life.
The remake hits Apple Arcade on January 3 and brings with it a transition to 2D graphics from the XNUMXD styles of the original. I hope it continues to be as admirable as the first game.
It seems that the operation of this new version of Pocket Card Jockey will continue to be the same: a single player campaign, strategic positioning on the track, horse breeding and bonuses on the track.
A complex horse-tory
When Pockey Card Jockey first came out in XNUMX, it found many enthusiastic fans. Look, it turns out that matching cards and knights is a powerful cocktail of nice and tough strategy.
The repetitive nature of the game was reminiscent of Tetris, which remains a fan favorite, while the JRPG elements made for a surprisingly engaging narrative. The only drawback was perhaps the different objectives of the protagonist. If you choose the male jockey, you aspire to inherit your father's orange farm. However, if you're playing the female jockey, the ultimate goal is for you to have children. While there's nothing wrong with any of the activities, hopefully these binary objectives will be rearranged in the upcoming sequel.
an apple a day
For those of you who are delighted with the new version, hopefully you have an iPhone. Pocket Card Jockey is going to be exclusive to Apple Arcade and will be held behind a paywall. Apple Arcade has a monthly subscription of €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AUD €XNUMX, although it is possible to purchase the game when it launches on January XNUMX.
Apple Arcade membership also gives you access to a ton of games, but that's not something you should take for granted, especially when you count the cost of your subscriptions. If you're torn to try Pocket Card Jockey yourself, try Apple Arcades' first month free trial; Do not forget to cancel before the end of your time if you do not want to continue with your subscription.
As it is, this remake seems to be just as fun and addictive as the first. Hopefully, if it goes well on Apple Arcade, Nintendo enthusiasts could see the solitaire horse racing hybrid appear on the Nintendo Switch.