Honestly the real life version kind of beats the fantasy. But hey it's a cardgame, blame the frikin' plot, lol. The signature trait of all card games is that it's random, and every game you play you are fighting both your opponents moves and the randomness so every game is challenge and every game is unique. Unfortunately, the anime can't really go on randomness alone, or at least nobody has had the guts to try the forumla out where it's not just about winning every match in a pretty predictable fashion.
Here's a little game I found while searching for the opening some time ago, it was pretty entertaining...
Speaking of which,
Anyone know if there's a full song for this?
It's kind of been growing on me.