The original Peggle caught lightning in a bottle. For a game with such a simple premise, it executed on its Pachinko-like vision perfectly. It immediately became a staple on my iPod Touch and one that I could always come back to. Hoping that PopCap Games would recapture that magic with a sequel is probably a bit unreasonable. However, I was also expecting more out of a game called Peggle 2 than what’s contained here.
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Camel Up Review
Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men Starter Set Review
Making its debut in 2014, the Dice Masters series of games won me over in a huge way with Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men. Once I got a hang of it, I found the game to be fast and entertaining while keeping the spirit of the characters intact through their card abilities and generally-excellent dice designs. It also didn’t hurt that the game is generally sold at a very attractive price point. That said, I also had a few problems with the terrible paper bags that are used to contain dice and the fact that only one playmat came with the game as a centrefold in the manual.
Next in the lineup is Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men. Fully compatible with all Dice Masters games, this starter set has the same general pros and cons of the original, including those crappy bags and only one playmat in the middle of the manual. The key difference is that the game comes with a new set of basic action cards, character cards and character dice.
The Walking Dead Season 2 Review
Telltale’s first season of The Walking Dead is a hard act to follow. It was an evolution of the Heavy Rain style of game, a revolution in terms of episodic content, and a game so emotionally charged that it routinely caused me to gasp, yell at my television and shed tears. It was by no means perfect, but it’s a game that shook me to the core in a way that I’ll cherish forever.
With The Walking Dead: Season 2, Telltale Games cleans up a number of design and technical issues that plagued the first game to deliver an ultimately smoother experience from a gameplay standpoint. But the real question is, can this new season deliver the feels like its predecessor?
Dungeon! Review
Originally released in 1975, Dungeon! transforms Dungeons & Dragons into a board game. Granted, it’s an experience that is greatly streamlined compared to its source material, though it aims to still deliver the essence of what D&D is all about. Is this a dungeon worth raiding?
Takenoko Review
The Emperor of China has recently given the Emperor of Japan a giant panda as a gift. In order to take care his new pet, you and the other players must take care of the panda by tending to the Japanese Imperial garden. This is the crux of Takenoko by Antoine Bauza and Asmodee. I can’t speak for everyone, but the idea of playing a board game about creating a garden and feeding a panda doesn’t do much for me. Thankfully, I put that preconceived notion aside to give this one a chance. To my surprise, it’s actually an accessible and interesting strategy game. Continue reading
Terror in Meeple City Review
Meeple City will never be the same by the time players are done with Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage). Two-to-four players will take turns smashing buildings and eating people until the city is nothing but rubble. The civilians may be on borrowed time, but they will fight back if enough of them escape. When they do, they’ll knock out your teeth or find other ways to slow you down.
I love the concept of Terror in Meeple City. The thought of it kind of makes me think of reverse Jenga, where the point of it is to generate mass destruction. While it certainly is a game that lets you break stuff, the actual fun that comes from toppling buildings isn’t as fulfilling as I thought it would be.
Tokaido Review
Over the course of my life, I’ve developed a fascination with the country of Japan. It started out with my love for video games and anime, but the more I’ve looked into it, the more I think that Japan is one of the most interesting places in the world. Though I don’t have the resources today to hop on a plane and experience it for myself, it is on my list of things to do before I die.
In the meantime, there’s Tokaido by Antoine Bauza and Passport Game Studio. In this board game, players are tasked with hiking through Japan. Along the way, you’ll get to experience the best that Japan has to offer, from stunning vistas, helpful companions, delicious food and more. By the end of your adventure, the player that had the best experience on their trip is declared the winner.
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Splendor Review
Splendor is a game in which 2-4 players are Renaissance-era merchants. You’re all vying to be the most prestigious merchant, which you’ll attempt to achieve by buying gem mines, shops and other things that merchants buy in order to be the best at what they do. If this sounds like a super lame game based on its premise alone, I don’t blame you. However, by dismissing it at face value, you’d be missing out on a really cool strategy game.
DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Crisis Expansion Review
The latest entry in the DC Comics Deck-Building Game franchise is Crisis Expansion Pack 1. This expansion is compatible with the main game and Heroes Unite, though it cannot be played on its own. By adding this expansion to your collection, you’ll get new heroes, new main deck cards, and new cards to support Crisis Mode. This new gameplay variant turns this competitive deck-building game into a cooperative one by forcing players to collectively fight through adverse gameplay events in order to defeat the villains and super-villains before time runs out. Having this as an alternative to competitive play makes a lot more thematic sense, as it was bothersome before to think that the heroes would intentionally hurt each other in order to be the better hero. However, the execution of this gameplay variant leaves a lot to be desired.
In Third Person 