Eye of Judgement Review

By Ellie Gibson Published 6 November, 2007

Looking good.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

A year and a half has gone by since Eye of Judgment was first unveiled. The game made its debut at E3 2006, which did for Sony what It's a Royal Knockout did for Prince Edward. EoJ got a bit lost while everything else was going on. Mixed in with all the giant enemy crabs, drunken aircraft and grazing rhinos flying about the place, the sight of Phil Harrison faffing about with a pack of cards and a camera just seemed like another bizarre piece in a rubbish puzzle.

But that was 18 months ago, and now Eye of Judgment's here, and turns out it's really rather good. It's got depth, impressive visuals and innovative use of technology. The technology actually works like it's supposed to, even in living rooms which aren't as brightly lit as the heart of the sun. All this makes EoJ more fun than any of the PS2 EyeToy games we've played.

In essence, Eye of Judgment is a high-tech trading card game. It comes with a cloth mat you spread out in front of the TV and a plastic stand on which you position the PlayStation Eye camera. This is included in the package along with a starter deck of 30 cards. You can build this up with the booster packs sold separately, but 30 is enough to get you through plenty of games without getting bored.

Like all good strategy games, EoJ becomes more complex the more you play but is initially easy to pick up. That's providing you ignore the tedious non-interactive tutorial, where a gruff man jabbers over a brain-grinding nu-metal soundtrack for about eight years. You're better off taking a quick look at the manual for the basic principles and getting stuck in.

On the decks

'Eye of Judgement' Screenshot 1

It's hard to believe that people who really live in flats like this spend their time playing trading card games.

Each player starts off with a 30-card deck. If you've purchased boosters you can design the deck yourself, which should appeal to fans of traditional card trading games. It's a bit of a shame there aren't two decks bundled with the game as the highlight is definitely the offline multiplayer mode. However, we found splitting the one deck between two worked fine.

The game plays out like this: players take it in turn to lay cards in squares on a three-by-three grid. The cards either summon monsters or cast spells.

Once you've laid your card down, you can attack one of your enemy's squares. The winner of the game is the first person to occupy five squares on the board.

That's the gist, but there are plenty of other elements to make things more complicated. You need mana (earned at the start of each round or returned if one of your monsters is killed) to lay cards. Weaker monsters only require one or two mana points, while you'll have to save up to summon stronger ones. This might involve declining some opportunities to attack, which also costs mana.

Each monster has health and attack values and belongs to an element category - fire, water, biolith (neutral), wood and plains. The squares of the board are also tied to elements. Placing a monster onto a square of its own element type will boost its health. Summoning, say, a fire monster on a water square will cause damage.

Monsters vary not only in the power of their attacks but which squares they can attack and in which directions. Their defence capabilities also vary. When an attack is launched, the camera zooms into the board and you see a short combat animation. It's possible to turn these off, but they're impressively rendered and don't go on too long so you probably won't need to.

Flip reverse it

'Eye of Judgement' Screenshot 2

Battle animations feature well-detailed characters and pretty backgrounds.

There are many other strategic bits to the game. Some monsters have an effect on your other characters just through their presence on the board - making those on adjacent squares invisible to the enemy, for example. Each square has different elements on each side and you can use special cards to flip them. So if you flip the square your enemy's fire monster is standing on and there's water on the other side, they'll be damaged. The more you play, the more you understand the complexities of the squares and cards and how to use them to your advantage.

The best way to play Eye of Judgment is with a friend in the same room. That way you've got plenty of opportunity for trash talking, jeering and hiding your opponent's best cards under the sofa when they're not looking. Battling against the computer quickly becomes dull, and the option to watch the computer play itself is dull from the start.

The online mode, while not quite as enjoyable as playing with a friend, is comprehensive and well-designed. If you've bought any additional cards, you must scan them with the PlayStation Eye before you can use them in online matches. This is a bit tedious but it's necessary so the PS3 can track which cards are being placed and prevent cheating. The PS3 also tells you which card you draw at the start of each turn, so you can't just rifle through the deck for the best one. There's text and video chat support, and you can choose from ranked, custom or friend matches.

So, the online mode is fun enough to be an acceptable substitute when you haven't got a friend to hand. And you'll probably want to make use of it, since Eye of Judgment can get quite addictive. We playtested the game with someone who could only be persuaded to join in after we described it as "a cross between Top Trumps and Star Wars holograph chess" (yes yes it's not actually chess but you have to come down to these people's level sometimes). We promised them it would "only be for one round". Two hours later they were asking if the booster packs were on sale yet and what time did the shops shut.

Paying the price

'Eye of Judgement' Screenshot 3

A game in action. Come on you reds.

The game isn't cheap at GBP 69.99, although you do get the PlayStation Eye and all the other stuff for that price. Everything does the job, though the stand's a bit plasticky and the cards have very small images on them. Presumably this is so the camera doesn't have any trouble distinguishing their identifying marks, but if you're used to painstakingly designed trading cards with big lush pictures you'll be disappointed.

So is it worth the money? Most definitely if you live in America, where it's the equivalent of GBP 34.99. If you're in RIP-OFF BRITAIN, 60 quid for an excellent trading card game and an okay camera is a bit much. Especially when you consider you'll need to buy booster packs to get the most out of it.

In short, if you're a big fan of trading card games Eye of Judgment is worth the money. If you're not but you're planning to get a PlayStation Eye anyway, you might as well get a great game into the bargain. Those who don't care about cards or cameras should think more carefully about making such a big investment, and perhaps wait till it comes down in price.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Adman #1 4 years ago

    Here's hoping that the ease of which fake cards can be made doesn't destroy the long term fun of the game. :/

  • Darren #2 4 years ago

    7/10 from EG and 4/10 from Edge... very confusing! LOL

  • symbiote #3 4 years ago

    I'm confused. It's well-made, original and innovative, yet it's only a 7? The main criticisms appear to be that it's for a niche market and it's a bit pricey...

  • Steroyd #4 4 years ago

    It's £70 in RIP-OFF-BRITAIN. >:(

    £60 if you buy online.

  • bioreit #5 4 years ago

    @ Ellie

    "EoJ a bit lost what everything else going on."

    A-buh?

  • spekkeh #6 4 years ago

    But won't it get nicked if you live in Lewisham?

  • mkreku #7 4 years ago

    Hmm.. If you buy this online in Sweden you can get it for the low, low price of 999 SEK (or £75). Imagine what it costs in the stores then..

    Rip-off Britain, my ass.

  • Rirekon #8 4 years ago

    For me this is a game I would buy if I had a PS3 but it's not worth buying a PS3 for, which is a bit unfortunate really as currently there isn't anything enticing me... come on Sony, pull your thumbs out!

    @Steroyd; Most 360 games are £50RRP, not that anyone with any brains actually pays that of course. So really it's £20 for the camera
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 09:36

  • Gojira #9 4 years ago

    What bioreit said.

    Does no-one do any proof reading?

  • onyxbox #10 4 years ago

    I like this game, fair review if you ask me.

  • Dixons #11 4 years ago

    @ symbiote

    Original and innovative don't automatically mean brilliant.

  • chicknstu #12 4 years ago

    It looks good but I'd be embarassed to play it...

    gnyaaaa to the observatory!

  • ruttyboy #13 4 years ago

    In that first image, not only do they live in some kind of stylish room you would only find in a catalogue, but on the shelf they actually have a model of a kind of chair you would only find in a stylish room from a catalogue!?

    /malfunctions

  • Triggerhappytel #14 4 years ago

    The PS3 seems to have lots of solid games this winter, but it's lacking a real AAA exclusive title to spearhead the games catalogue. I don't think Haze is gonna do that, although Uncharted might if it lives up to its potential.

    Sony need Gran Turismo 5, and soon.

  • orakio #15 4 years ago

    """I'm confused. It's well-made, original and innovative, yet it's only a 7? The main criticisms appear to be that it's for a niche market and it's a bit pricey... """ /Dixit Symbiote

    Sounds like a 7 to me. It's for a niche market: -2 A bit pricey: -1

  • Big-Swiss #16 4 years ago

    I can live with a 7, but I do question the objective opinion of EG, I mean how can this not be a 8??? The grafics are stunning, the story behind it is well done (I never thought I would acctuatlly read parts of the story, the controlles are easy, and the technology innovativ and also well done. So then only the gameplay could suck, but the gameplay is very good and from figuring out the next move I have to think the same amount, as if I play chess, somethimes EOJ is even more complicated and even harder to think 3 or more moves in advance. That is important, so its challanging and not just a kidsgame of trowing some creatures around...........
    Price is alright, If you look whats in the Pack (game, cards, Eye) that shouldn't affect the score, i would agree, if this game by itself would cost more because of the technology.
    Niche Market. Of course my horse, if we say everyday its for the niche market, it will be for the niche market at some point, but everyone who likes video games can sort of enjoy this (IMO), for sure the 2 Player part.............


    edith. I read the review again, and it is very good, but for me it reads like a 8, ok, made my point, I will summon some bullshit..................
    Edited by 2 at 06/11/07 @ 10:36

  • fattulip #17 4 years ago

    This is the game that makes me want a PS3 but then I am/was a massive collectable card games nerd.

  • Surferrosa #18 4 years ago

    lol @ Rutty!

  • Nick261007 #19 4 years ago

    I heard it gets very old very quickly.

  • GamesConnoisseur #20 4 years ago

    7 is better than what I expected from EG as thought they would give it a 6, as Edge and few others been critical.

    I have the game myself (mainly for the Eye) but its certainly a great idea though cumbersome in need to have table etc. Will certainly get used quite a bit during Christmas season when various people come round and certainly will be a great novelty such as Wii was last Christmas (still is!).

    Yes it is pricey, and we should be concerned if that is going to be norm for SCEE to treat us as cashcow, even if you add in tax still doesnt add up to £70 compared to USA pricepoint.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:13

  • SBfistfun #21 4 years ago

    Surely the whole point of videogames was to get away from card games, stats, dice rolling etc ,and play games with all of that stuff hidden?

    I just don't get it

  • kangarootoo #22 4 years ago

    I don't think poeple should worry too much about the score. Seems to me that if this sort of game floats your boat you could probably add a point, or maybe even two points (I don't know enough about trading card games to know whether is a great example or just a good one).

    If you aren't you could probably drop a point.

    All just shows how subjective scores are really.

  • 3william56 #23 4 years ago

    Blimey. Tony Hawk PG gets 2 pages of nearly non stop complaints about a borked update of a 10 year old game, and ollies away with 7/10.

    EoJ gets a single page of nearly non stop praise about a cleverly implemented, well produced addictive and original game, and takes 7/10 damage.

    Something wrong here. Personally reckon it's Mr H getting a bit of an easy ride.

  • kangarootoo #24 4 years ago

    @Nick261007

    "I heard it gets very old very quickly."

    Was that from people who play trading card games? I've not really hear from anyone who is already mad keen on that sort of game (my gut instinct tells me Ellie is not sufficiently cloaky).


    @SBfistfun

    I thought the whole point of video games was entertainment.

  • SBfistfun #25 4 years ago

    "@SBfistfun

    I thought the whole point of video games was entertainment."

    I don't disagree with that, this just seems like an odd idea.

  • SeesThroughAll #26 4 years ago

    The score isn't bad at all, and justly penalises this game for it's main flaws:

    1) it's pricey

    2) it's targeted at a niche audience

    But, if like me, you used to be a Magic freak back in the day, it will certainly entertain you.

  • optimusprym8 #27 4 years ago

    It's a nice idea but the cards are dull to look at, the cloth has big folds in which are hard to get rid of and the animations take too long and repeat quickly plus the booster packs are a rip-off price. Bought it as was desperate for something new, innovative and exciting (and well, some more games to play on PS3) but am wishing I hadn't now, damn

  • kangarootoo #28 4 years ago

    @3william56

    Oh ffs. They are not the same kinds of game, so you can't compare the scores directly.

    The score is an attempt to place the game in some kind of subjective position within its peers. Those peers are games of the same type, but also games of any kind.

    TH is mainstream, but has some issues - 7. EoJ is good overall, but niche and pricey - 7. Apples are vitamin packed, but they go mouldy with time - 7. Motorbikes are fun to ride, but you get wet if it rains - 7.

    See the pattern?

  • symbiote #29 4 years ago

    "Original and innovative don't automatically mean brilliant"

    Indeed, but when it's well-made too you start to get furrowed brows

    "Sounds like a 7 to me. It's for a niche market: -2"

    What stupid, pathetic logic. So any game (or film, or book, or album) that's for a niche market is, by it's very nature, flawed? You sir, are a fool.

  • kangarootoo #30 4 years ago

    @SBfistfun

    I see where you are coming from, but the way I see it, if a game is fun to play then thats a great "idea".

    Props are fun sometimes (look at the collector edition packs that get released). So is melting two type of game playing into one (I recall a few RPGs that allowed one player to act as the GM, in a nod toward traditional P&P).

    It does make things more expensive, and there is a degree of novelty which may eventually wear off. But whether the extra cost is worth it, or the novelty is short lived is quite a personal thing. Each customer makes their own decision I guess, and not everyone will agree, like always.

    Edit: As an extra thought. I like new ideas. Even if the first iteration doesn't do the job for everyone, new ideas spark other new ideas and things overall get better for all of us.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 10:58

  • LeD #31 4 years ago

    I bought it and I'm loving it. I need to buy boosters.

  • Steroyd #32 4 years ago

    The score isn't bad at all, and justly penalises this game for it's main flaws:

    1) it's pricey

    2) it's targeted at a niche audience

    But those "flaws" aren't justly.

    camera angles messing up so I can't jump platforms right, borked AI, poorly technically built games, game design decisions that are just plain crap are flaws that should be penalised, targeting at a niche audience can count for any game.

  • Gurgeh #33 4 years ago

    "I bought it and I'm loving it. I need to buy boosters. "

    Or you could just make your own cards - no need to hand even more money over to Sony.

    I like this review better:

    [link url=http://arstechnica.com/reviews/games/eyeofjudgment-a rs.ars/2
    ]http://ar stechnica.com/reviews/games/eye...[/link]

    "People seem to have two reactions to this game. Some will say, "You mean I need a PS3, the Eye camera, the cards, more cards to play multiplayer, and when I go online this game chooses my cards for me? Jeez, this is lame," and then they beat up a nerd or something. But with the right mindset, you look at the game and think, "Holy crap, so I play my cards, creatures are summoned on top of the cards, and then they fight? Oh man, it's like Magic come to life. I'm in!" Some people are going to "get" it, and others won't. "

    AFAIK 7/10 is on the higher side of review scores for this game.

  • 4thVariety #34 4 years ago

    Finally some rage on the pricing of things. Did you know that buying a PS3 in Japan is cheaper than buying a Wii in Europe?

  • SeesThroughAll #35 4 years ago

    No wonder sales are picking up there then.

  • JediMasterMalik #36 4 years ago

    @Gugeh - Metacritic average is 75, so no.

  • DrDamn #37 4 years ago

    I echo the sentiments of some that you cannot penalise a game for being niche. Make it clear the game isn't for everyone in the text but you can't take off marks because of it. Having said that the scoring seems more based on the price than the nicheness.

  • Dizzy #38 4 years ago

    Collectible card games are the devil!!!!!

  • Azazel #39 4 years ago

    Seven is the very definition of 'if you're a fan of this genre you'll probably like this'.

  • Caimbeul #40 4 years ago

    take that picture where they are all sitting round the table. What is the point? you have the cards and board in front of you, why would you then look at the screen - you are having to split your attention.

  • urban #41 4 years ago

    woah! hold on! wait! so what if you import it for £35 what does it get then? 8? 9?

  • Gaol #42 4 years ago

    People need to start refusing these prices and importing, there are several reputable companies that will supply this game delivered to the UK for close to half the retail price.

    If people keep paying grossly inflated prices then they'll just keep charging them.

  • Arwin #43 4 years ago

    If the price had been better I guess it would have gotten an 8? It sure reads like it, and most websites seem to give it that score too.

  • MrChuckles #44 4 years ago

    Well, being a stat head nerd boy, this is the first game on the PS3, that i go...oooh, cool.. to.

    But then you need a fecking camera to scan the cards in? (what a waste) and it's a console game where you have to BUY more boosters? that's just rude.

    Stick in an adventure mode, put all the cards in the base game and make playing the AI fun, and i might actually be tempted to buy a PS3. As it is... meh, no fecking way, and i wouldn't even buy it if i had a PS3 already.

    Etherlords 2 on the PC shows how to make a good computerised CCG, you should collect the cards INSIDE the game not paying more money to collect them outside of the game.

  • VMerken #45 4 years ago

    Guess this is a business model they just had to try. Personally, I've played and collected (thus bought) enough Magic: The Gathering to stay away from this.

  • Steroyd #46 4 years ago

    People need to start refusing these prices and importing, there are several reputable companies that will supply this game delivered to the UK for close to half the retail price.

    If people keep paying grossly inflated prices then they'll just keep charging them.

    They're not grossly inflated, blame our damn economy for being stronger than the dollar.

    £££ > €€€ >> $$$
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 13:10

  • light&shadow #47 4 years ago

    Curious to know: I suppose the cam connects via USB. What's the length of the cable?

  • kangarootoo #48 4 years ago

    Its threads like this that make me wish review scores could just be loaded into a cannon and fired into the sea.

    Saying the game is niche is not penalising it, its just accepting reality. Saying it is pricey isn't penalising it, its just accepting reality.

    How about reviews give 5 different scores. One for the fans of the genre, one for gamers at large, one for people that hate the genre, one for my parents and one for poeple who aren't gamers. MAYBE then people would realise how bloody pointless it all is.

    If you like the game but don't like the score... STOP LOOKING AT THE SCORE AND GO BUY THE GAME. Its not rocket science. I don't eat food I don't like, but neither do I write letters of complaint to some resteraunt reviewer who DOES like chickpeas and call him a liar. I just don't eat the food and don't care what anyone else wants to eat.

    Seriously, I mean, seriously.

  • bioreit #49 4 years ago

    @ kangarootoo

    But if people stop complaining about inane, stupid crap, how will they validate themselves as Worthwhile Individuals With Opinions That Matter, soon to be available in stores in three exciting new packs:

    Crotchety Old Man - I Don't Even Wear My Seatbelt Edition. Now with additional "In my day..." speech booster pack and realistic faint aroma of wee.

    Interfering Old Biddy - Comes with Living Room Window play scene, complete with real twitching net curtains! 3 dozen catpack included - extra catpacks only £4.99 and come with an extra 2 dozen cats each!

    Loud-Mouthed Idiot - Amusing rants on topics ranging from 'Irrational Bigotry' to 'Complaining about Immigrants' spew forth with each button press. Mouth and arse parts are interchangeable.

  • MrChuckles #50 4 years ago

    Well, as a nerd gamer with lots of cash, i ain't buying it, and i'm its core audience. (Yes, i too was sad enough to play MTG in the past).

    And i ignore scores, if it's turn-based its usually at least a 7 for me...

    The need for a camera when it isn't actually used in the actual gameplay is just ridiculous. I mean apart from seeing what card you placed in the 2 player/1 machine game and scanning your cards in for multiplayer, it is pointless.

    Then the collectible nature is just them trying to print money. It's outrageous you have to scan in multiple cards at once to prove you have multiple copies. Do they really think this is going to net them a bunch of cash on a brand new underperforming console?

    As i said above, if it had no camera and you got all the cards when you buy it (digitally) and there was a single player story mode, i would buy it in a snap. i hope Culdcept on the 360 is gonna be good to fill that hole.

  • old_skool #51 4 years ago

    I seldom, actually I only once commented on a review as review scores are very subjective and that was on krudster's review of Dead or Alive Xtreme 2. Now if this game was scored based on the reviewers experience of the game then fine but if it's due to factors such as price or even supposedly niche then there's something seriously wrong here.
    I see that many gamers and reviewers tend to score games on technicalities such as the odd tearing here or there instead of the user experience. If there are flaws to be looked at then it should be design flaws.

  • kangarootoo #52 4 years ago

    @old skool

    I figure that is a review score is there to try and inform people as to whether they should buy the game (whether it can ever entirely succeed in that aim is clearly not clear).

    Now if that is its aim, price is surely a factor in determining that score? We quite often see a review of a title that says "If this cost £1.99 it would be great value, but at the full price mark of £50 its just not something anyone should buy".

    If I only had £50 to my name, I would want to know how much entertainment I would get that for that money.

    I guess this also shows just how subjective a score is. To a 9 year old with limited means, cost may be a major decider. To Robbie Williams, its probably not even on his radar. Maybe reviews for stuff like Steel Battalion should have come with comments such as "add 2 points if you are minted".

    It all just points to how we should be mildly interested in the score, but not actually care that much about it.

  • kangarootoo #53 4 years ago

    @MrChuckles

    I'm not the aparent core audience, but I'm actually curious and would like to play the game (if not actually buy it for myself).

    Maybe we are assuming too much as to who the core audience for this is? That said, I have heard rumblings around the internet of a huge following for this in the making, with die-hard cloaks such as yourself declaring it "the first game to get it right" and stuff like that.

    I used to play a bit of P&P back in my day, and I recall plenty of people disagreeing over minute differences between one game and another. Man, I bet the D&D people were up in arms when AD&D came out :) So maybe the term "core audience" is rather over simplified in most cases?

    What I am rambling on about is that I'm not saying you are "wrong" in any way whatsoever, just that you probably don't represent fans of the genre as widely as you suggest.

  • Gaol #54 4 years ago

    @Steroyd

    What a load of shit m8, a strong currency is good for importing and bad for exporting.

    You think that the UK price is set high because we have a strong pound? Its set at a level where they think folk are daft enough to pay. The fact that we have a strong currency should mean that imported products are CHEAPER, and most of this money is going back to the coffers of US or Japanese multinationals.

    Sure theres VAT and import tax, which are about 20% together, but not a 100% mark up.

  • old_skool #55 4 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    You can't put price on entertainment value, you are either going to enjoy a game or not. Its like saying a ticket at the Emirates stadium costs £60 pounds so yeah Arsenal and United was a great game but we only score it a 7 because it's so expensive to watch. Now Tottenham's tickets costs £35 but aren't that entertaining but because of the price it scores a 7.
    If you were thoroughly entertained then the price was worth every penny.

    I understand it might be difficult for reviewers and each and every person has their own tastes but review scores should not be influenced by price.

  • Rickenbacker #56 4 years ago

    It's a fun(ish) card game, but does it really need the PS3 bit? Nope.

  • oldergamer #57 4 years ago

    I've been playing this for a few days now and I have to say it's a lot of fun. It's a bit expensive with the extra cards, which I advise people to buy, but there's nothing quite like playing EoJ with another player... for that, especially with all the FPSs around these days for our beloved consoles, I would tack on at least one more point to the reviewer's score.