If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the team behind Lost in Random really love Tim Burton’s animated movies. Its world taps into the gothic suburbia that Burton is known for, and though its combat takes a while to hit its stride, the gorgeous claymation-like art style and the playful, mischievous score are a constant joy.
When Even begins her journey through the World of Random to save her sister, Odd, from the clutches of the evil queen, she's practically defenceless. This expedition begins with a stealthy sequence in Even's hometown of One-Town, but it's not long before you're abruptly thrown into the real action. Dropping into a graveyard full of dice and facing the hammer of a towering metallic soldier, Even is saved from certain death by an adorably small and squeaky die. Which, naturally, she names Dicey.
This is when Lost in Random's deck-building mechanic comes into play. Enemies – such as oversized chess pieces and nightmarish clockwork automatons – will grow crystals during battle, which Even can break with her slingshot. Collecting these crystals generates power for Dicey, and when the diminutive die is fully charged you can throw it, freezing time so you can play cards. It's a convoluted way to start a card game, sure, but if you must do so in the middle of a fight then stopping time seems a sensible precaution.
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