No longer fun - too frequently unfair – Streaq Review

UPDATE: I no longer play this game as it has recently become impossible to win against the computer. This isn't sour grapes and exaggeration - the computer simply always has an unfair amount of reverse and wild cards, and frequently seems to know what cards the player is holding and needs to win. Does that seem fair? The player can't see the cards the computer opponent holds, but it seems to know and block the moves the player needs to win at just the right time. It used to happen every few games - it now has happened almost 20 games in a row. Don't buy it - you Will end up frustrated. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Other reviewers of this app aren't exaggerating when they claim the AI is *heavily* favored in player vs. computer games. I'd estimate that at least 75% of the time or better, the computer has a decided advantage on the hard level. It seems to always be able to reverse the player's cards and block most moves necessary for the player to win by utilizing an unfair amount of both reverse and wild cards. (In at least ten to fifteen of my matches, it has reversed 3-4 of my moves; comparatively, I have gotten 3 reverse cards on only One occasion.) More often than not, it also manages to replace its previously removed cards and seemingly always has the cards it needs to win, while the player is dealt mostly irrelevant cards. While I may not be an expert player, I enjoy a challenge and don't mind losing a hard fought game every now and then. But it simply doesn't seem to play fair sometimes. Yes - it is possible to win. But too often those wins are as much a result of luck as strategy. And, as if delivering on the promise of the app's name, wins and losses tend to occur in streaks - for instance, you may win three in a row, then lose five in a row. It doesn't seem likely for such results to be simply random, so it must be by design. To the developer's credit, it seems to be far easier to win at the easy and medium skill levels. So if you enjoy Sequence, you'll enjoy this app. If this app were free, perhaps I wouldn't grumble. But when choosing to actually pay for an app when there are free (although ad-driven) options, I'd prefer fair, yet still challenging play.
Review by vinyljay on Streaq.