i've had this deck for a few weeks now. overall, i absolutely love it. i suppose it was the artwork that originally drew me to it.
as someone who was "raised" on the rider-waite, the deck is really easy for me to read. the imagery and symbolism exactly follows that template. i believe anyone even remotely familiar with the rider-waite will be able to use this deck immediately.
the more i use the deck, the more i love the art. it seems to jump off the surface of each card - the colors are vibrant to the point of intoxication, and i really like the style. some may find it a bit sterile - it clearly is computer generated. but i have always liked the crisp and clear lines of cg art. perhaps because as i age, my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and that softens the edges a bit.
on the down side, i found some of the cards to be "muted". the three of swords is one example. i like my three of swords to hurt, i like to see dripping blood from the heart, i like to feel pain when i see this card in a reading. while the guilded version approximates that, i find it falls short in getting the job done. it's just too neat and tidy. a broken heart is messy business, and this card should reflect that.
the ten of swords is another example. the swords merely hover over the figure in the card. doesn't quite do it for me.
the five of pentacles is yet another example. i love robin wood's version of this card - i can feel the despair and the cold chill in the air when i look at that card. in the guilded, all that emotion lies somewhere behind the image, and i find it difficult to bring it out. perhaps it's only my own interpretation of the five of pentacles that colors my perception of the card in this deck, but again, i think the imagery should be a bit more graphic.
on the other hand, the muted imagery would make for a perfect "all purpose" deck for public readings. there's only a few cards that even approach nudity - the high priestess as one example, and it's just her dress that's kind of see-through; she's actually not nude. the lovers show a woman in what appears to be either a bikini or a thong and bra. lots of skin but no nudity. the tower shows a man's rear, but i don't know that most people would see that as "obscene". and finally, the star is really the only card that shows unclad breasts. though the dark blue coloring obscures that from any casual glance.
again, the lack of nudity speaks to the "muteness" of the deck's imagery, but the fact that i find the deck to be a little "toned down" doesn't necessarily mean it's somehow "less than" decks that are more graphic. i definately find this level useful.
i really like how the black background works so well with the art. i think that helps the art to "pop" off the card. it also helps to counter the muted symbolisms.
for anyone who does well with traditional rider-waite decks, the gilded tarot is a perfect alternative. i think this deck would make for a great beginner deck as i find the symbolism easier to read than even the rider-waite itself. and for those who like cg art, there's enough in the cards to satisfy even advanced users.
as far as i'm concerned, this deck rates my highest reccomendations.