Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Rating: 0
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · Published March 1, 2024 · Updated March 1, 2024

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Review, Easy to learn, but filled with surprising depth, you’ll put together the best hands you can to help your horses take home the gold! Solitaire in this game is played by clearing away cards one number higher or lower than your current card. While the game’s overall concept is the same as before, it includes new rules that allow for more strategic play, as well as racing segments reborn in glorious 3D, and can be played comfortably with Joy-Con controllers!

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Review Pros:

Cutesy cartoon graphics.
1GB download size.
Opening and ongoing tutorial with a book to use for a recap or game manual.
Full touchscreen support also supports pro controllers and Joy-Cons.
Solitaire horse racing gameplay.
Two difficulties – normal and tough.
Character creator, male/female and pick from the many jerseys.
The gameplay is a mix of horse racing and solitaire. clear cards to improve your horse’s performance.
Tap a card to play it instantly no more dragging and dropping.
Devilishly addictive gameplay.
Training mode is where you go if you want to practice Solitaire.
Daily perfection challenge – get a perfect clear for a reward each day. You get multiple attempts and finishing shows your level and completion time.
PvP mode so you can play online against other players.
How to play section.
Game settings – advice, Rumble, and autocharge.
Earn cash in races to spend in the shop.
Technique is a seperate mode on the world map and here you learn and play challenges. It is an excellent way to change your thinking on the Solitaire part.
The technique challenges have a pass and perfect pass rating on each one.
The Shop Stock changes after every race, You can buy items like bonus stamina or able to see cards.
Calendar: Shows upcoming races.
All new world map style layout where you can pick your route and events.
Earn exp and level up to unlock new skills.
In-game text-based commentary.
You can skip cutscenes and interactions.
Bonus exp and cards can be found in the game on the track.
Skills: Level up to unlock a new random skill like extra stamina or better cards etc.
The game is split into sections. You start by playing solitaire as fast as you can as you aim to get a good top card to increase your starting speed. Then in the game, you play Solitaire to pump up your horse then you go to the race itself and choose paths to take to overtake or pick up bonus items/buffs.
The home stretch is the final part of the race and gives you a giddyup button to increase speed but lower the morale of the horse.
The gameplay sounds a bit complicated but is surprisingly easy to pick up and play.
Tons of replayability.
You can rename your horses.
Handy button prompts when playing with a controller.
Supports the stick and d-pad and cards are just scrolling across them.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Review Cons:

Slow starter mostly because of all the rules you have to take in and learn how the game plays.
The trotting sound is all you hear on the techniques game and it’s annoying.
It’s fine with controllers but the touchscreen is far superior.
Couldnt see a way to import demo save.
Solitaire feels more luck-based than it should be.
A lot to take in.
Cut scenes between races kill immersion.
Techniques don’t always help you and just elude to what you could do.
Stop-start gameplay. You just want the bits in between races to be sped up so you can just play races.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!:

Official website.

Developer: GAME FREAK 株式会社ゲームフリークオフィシャルサイト

Publisher: GAME FREAK 株式会社ゲームフリークオフィシャルサイト

Store Links –

Nintendo

Summary

Pocket Card Jockey Ride On! is a unique game that combines the thrill of horse racing with the strategic gameplay of solitaire. The game features cutesy cartoon graphics and requires a 1GB download size. It offers full touchscreen support and is also compatible with pro controllers and Joy-Cons.

The game starts with an opening tutorial, which is followed by an ongoing tutorial. There’s also a book that players can use as a game manual or for recap. The gameplay is a mix of horse racing and solitaire where you clear cards to improve your horse’s performance. The game offers two difficulties – normal and tough and allows players to create their characters, choosing between male and female, and picking from many jerseys.

One of the key features of the game is its devilishly addictive gameplay. You can tap a card to play it instantly, eliminating the need for dragging and dropping. There’s a training mode for players who want to practice Solitaire and a daily perfection challenge where you can get a reward each day for a perfect clear. The game also offers a PvP mode for online play against other players.

In terms of game settings, players can adjust advice, Rumble, and autocharge. Players can earn cash in races, which can be spent in the shop. The shop stock changes after every race, offering items like bonus stamina or the ability to see cards. The game also features a calendar that shows upcoming races.

The game introduces a new world map-style layout where players can pick their routes and events. Players can earn experience and level up to unlock new skills. The game also provides in-game text-based commentary. Players have the option to skip cutscenes and interactions. Bonus experience and cards can be found on the track during the game.

The game is split into sections. You start by playing solitaire as fast as you can to get a good top card to increase your starting speed. Then, in the game, you play Solitaire to pump up your horse, and then you go to the race itself and choose paths to overtake or pick up bonus items/buffs. The home stretch is the final part of the race and gives you a giddyup button to increase speed but lower the morale of the horse.

Despite the seemingly complicated gameplay, it is surprisingly easy to pick up and play. The game offers tons of replayability. You can rename your horses and there are handy button prompts when playing with a controller. The game supports the stick and d-pad and cards are just scrolling across them.

However, the game does have some drawbacks. It’s a slow starter, mostly because of all the rules you have to take in and learn how the game plays. The trotting sound in the techniques game can be annoying. While the game is fine with controllers, the touchscreen is far superior. Some players might find that solitaire feels more luck-based than it should be. The cut scenes between races can kill immersion, and the techniques don’t always help you and just elude to what you could do. The gameplay can feel stop-start, and you might wish the bits in between races to be sped up so you can just play races.

Overall, Pocket Card Jockey Ride On! is a huge improvement from the original game It offers a fresh take on the solitaire and horse racing genres. Despite some minor drawbacks, it offers a fun and addictive gaming experience and a worthy purchase.