Tag Archives: card games

Review: DC Comics Deck-Building Game Forever Evil

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foreverevilgameThe DC Comics Deck Building Game: Forever Evil represents the third expansion of the original game, and the second which is playable by itself.  The mechanics of this game is very similar to those games which have preceded it.  There are only with some slight changes to make it a bit more confrontational, but that also fits with the villain themed story.  Players can play as a number of villains – Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor, Black Adam, Black Manta, Bizarro, Deathstroke, Sinestro and Bane as the promo card – but this game can also be easily tied into the original in the series to create all kinds of new combinations.

As a comics deck building game, this is invariably compared to Legendary for Marvel, but with this addition it has likely overtaken its competitor.  If there is a drawback to Marvel it is that it is somewhat constrained by the mechanics of the series.  Thus while they released their only villain themed expansion earlier this year, it didn’t really fit as well with the original.  The DC Comics version is much more wide open.  Thanks to the Crisis expansion, a similar mechanic to Legendary is there, but this is not necessary either, as players can determine what they like best about the mechanics and suit it to their own desires.  For the first time in either of the two series, by combining this expansion with previous ones, players can play hero vs. villain, but still the other options are there for hero vs. hero or villain vs. villain.  If there is one criticism of the mechanics here it is the second rate importance given to some of the iconic villains of the major heroes.  Wonder Woman specifically is given a bit of secondary status.  Her main villain, Cheetah, remains as only a drawable card in the original game, and no other major villain of the hero shows up in any other game, despite Cheetah being featured prominently enough on the cover.  With the inclusion of such obscure character as Atomica having the same status, this kind of reduces the importance of some of these foes.  This is likely to correct itself though as the game is getting a number of expansions in the near future.

Perhaps the best indication I can give of the playability of this game comes from my wife.  She is a fan of board games but doesn’t really know so much about comics.  Despite that, after playing once she saw the variety of options available and wanted to play again.  This all around appeal is one of the hallmarks of this game, and puts it on equal ground with other deck buildings games such as Legendary and Dominion, as even for those that are not as interested in comics will enjoy this.

Game Designer:  Matt Hyra

Score: 8.8

Unboxing DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Heroes Unite

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We open up and show off the contents of Cryptozoic‘s DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Heroes Unite.

In the DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Heroes Unite, each player takes on the role of a Super Hero such as Shazam or Hawkman. Your Super Hero has an ability that will guide your strategy throughout the game. Each player starts with his own basic 10-card deck and draws a hand of 5 cards each turn. Power is the currency you will use to buy new, stronger cards to add to your deck. The goal of a deck-building game is to craft your personal deck into a well-oiled machine. There are five different types of cards that can be acquired: Villains, Heroes, Equipment, Super Powers, and Locations.

Play as Shazam., Hawkman, Red Tornado, Nightwing, Black Canary, Batgirl, or Booster Gold in Heroes Unite, the first standalone expansion for the DC Comics Deck-Building Game. Unlock special abilities, like Force Field or the Helmet of Fate and unleash devastating card combos against your opponents. Craft your hero deck into a well-oiled machine to take on the most vile villains in the DC Universe in your quest for Victory (Points). Mix the cards from Heroes Unite with the core DC Comics Deck-Building Game set to wage the ultimate showdown.

If the above sounds fun to you, you can get the game now!

 

 

 

Cryptozoic provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Gen Con 2015: Upper Deck’s First Official Vs Release Plus Another Exciting Game

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Upper_Deck_Logo.svgThrough their newsletter, Gen Con has announced that Upper Deck will launch their first official release for their returned Vs. system at Gen Con 2015.

The Vs. game had a limited release to gauge interest at this past year’s convention and had long lines and quick sell-outs throughout the show.

The system was first published in 2004, and discontinued in 2009. The game mostly focused on the superhero genre with settings based on Marvel, and DC Comics.

The newsletter also said that:

The company also will release another new and exciting game at Gen Con 2015.

There’ll be more details in the next Gen Con newsletter, but let speculation begin!

Gen Con 2015 will take place July 30 through August 2, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Game Review: Legendary Guardians of the Galaxy Expansion

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2014-Upper-Deck-Marvel-Legendary-Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Deck-Building-Game-ExpansionThe Guardians of the Galaxy for the Legendary Deck Building Game is the sixth release in this series, and the fourth expansion for the core game. This is the first expansion released in what is presumably trying to tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this expansion adds in new mechanics to the game while adding the core characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy – Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Drax and Rocket Racoon. Along with the new characters come new kinds of cards, infinity gems and artifacts. The game does play out pretty well, particularly focusing on what is to date the most powerful of the line’s villains in Thanos. The new scenarios also add to the overall challenge of the game, which has a tendency to be a little easy for most of the typical scenarios in a lot of the cases. In this sense this expansion is the best since the release of the Fantastic Four expansion which had introduced some harder scenarios and more challenging villains. Having only played this version as a standalone with the base rules, a player that was after a more challenging game could throw in the Heralds of Galactus into the villain deck for a near impossible challenge.

There are a few drawbacks to this game. Perhaps the most obvious is the natural evolution of deck building games. Most eventually come to resemble one another, and in so doing this expansion takes on aspects of other popular deck building games such as Dominion and the DC Deck Building Game. As well, this expansion had been rumored to include a sixth character, which is absent, but it feels as though the developers could have thrown another in there – Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel or Nova – just to expand the game a little as well. Another problem is that with the introduction of artifacts, that fans are going to wonder why this was not include earlier as artifacts are essentially just equipment, and fans of the comics are likely to want to see a lot of artefact tie-ins in the future, be them web-shooters, Captain America’s shield or even Wolverine’s claws.

On the whole though, this is a good expansion and keeps the core of the game relevant while adding a bit of new mechanics to make the game just a little different. That this was released to closely tie into the movie is also hopefully not a coincidence, and is rather an attempt by Upper Deck to tie into all Marvel movies a lot more closely which means that we will see a steady progression in this series to include most of the Marvel Universe.

Score: 8.3

Upper Deck Releases a Guaradians of the Galaxy Legendary Expansion

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2014-Upper-Deck-Marvel-Legendary-Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Deck-Building-Game-ExpansionUpper Deck’s Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game has become the company’s top gaming property with two core sets (Legendary & Villains) and three expansion sets (Dark City, Fantastic Four & Paint the Town Red) in the market. Now Upper Deck brings Marvel fans even more excitement with the fourth expansion in the series. With content dedicated exclusively to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy cast of characters, comic fans have enjoyed over the years and that Marvel movie fans have come to know and love as well. Legendary fans are going to be thrilled to add their favorite Guardians of the Galaxy characters to their decks as this expansion will include 100 all new playable cards featuring original artwork.

This expansion will feature the five key heroes from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Groot and Rocket Raccoon) as they get help from Nova to do battle with one of the evil masterminds; The Kree Supreme Intelligence. New game mechanics, schemes and tactics will add to the gameplay and these new cards will all be playable with cards from the previously released sets!

Gamers can play with or against each other in Upper Deck’s latest Legendary expansion for Guardians of the Galaxy when it releases on October 15, 2014.

Cryptozoic Entertainment Announces DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Forever Evil

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DC COMICS DECK-BUILDING GAME FOREVER EVIL boxCryptozoic Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and DC Entertainment have announced the third installment of the successful DC Comics Deck-building game franchise, Forever Evil. Fans can play the game as the most infamous Super-Villains in the DC Comics universe.

This highly anticipated expansion to the DC Comics Deck-building game line offers up new tactics, more dangerous Attacks, rugged Defenses and dozens of unique ways to challenge opponents. Forever Evil also introduces Victory Point tokens to the DC Comics Deck-building Game. Now earn Victory Points throughout the game. Strategize as a favorite Super-Villain, then turn the tables on the Justice League and other Super Heroes. The Forever Evil Super-Villain theme takes the treachery to all new heights. It’s fun to be bad!

Forever Evil can be played as a standalone experience right out of the box.  It is also fully compatible with the original DC Comics Deck-building Game and the second DC Comics Deck-Building Game, Heroes Unite for even more complexity of play.

The DC Comics Deck-building Game: Forever Evil will be available in December of 2014 at the suggested retail price of $40.00

DC COMICS DECK-BUILDING GAME FOREVER EVIL contents

Cryptozoic Entertainment Announces The NHL Power Play – Team-Building Card Game

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The NHL Power Play - Team-Building Card GameCryptozoic Entertainment have announced the release of the NHL Power Play – Team-Building Card Game on October 1, 2014.

This entertaining gaming experience is perfect for casual gamers who are also hardcore NHL fans. The easy-to-learn game sets up in minutes and mimics the draft mechanic of the NHL. Each game player can captain his or her own hockey team in the NHL Power Play – Team-Building Card Game. With the Captain card to guide game players, they are able to put together the best team they can with NHL players from across all 30 NHL teams.  Every card features NHL players in glorious high-resolution action shots. This family-friendly game also allows for either head-to-head or multiplayer action. No two games will ever be the same!

Magic: The Gathering – Fate Reforged

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MTGFateReforgedWizards of the Coast has revealed the title and release details for the second of three sets in the Khans of Tarkir block. Fate Reforged will be released on January 23rd, 2015 with pre-release events held on the weekend of January 17-18. The official Fate Reforged Game Day will be the weekend of February 14-15. The Magic Online release of Fate Reforged should see release on February 2nd, 2015. There will also be a Pro Tour even in Washington, DC February 6-8, 2015.

The 185 card set will be available in Booster Packs, Intro Packs, Fat Packs, and Clash Packs.

The Khans of Tarkir will be last 3-set block that Wizards of the Coast has planned for Magic: The Gathering. They have announced changes for future sets once this three block set wraps up.

Magic: The Gathering Makes Major Release Changes

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magic the gathering logoWizards of the Coast has some big changes coming for Magic: The Gathering beginning in the fall of 2015. The game’s releases will be shifting, moving from a three block set to a two block, twice-a-year format.

This change will be due to perceived limitations and concerns with the current plan, including how to keep interest up as blocks progress, the needs of new players and experienced vets, and the overall story among other things.

This change means the elimination of the core set, and the rotation of Standard format cards every 18 months instead of 24. This change will affect the Khans of Tarkir release, which will be the last of the three set blocks. This changes how long cards from that set will be legal for the Standard format.

The yearly format will now include a large fall expansion and small winter expansion in “World 1,” and then a large spring expansion and small summer expansion set in “World 2.”

Standard will be changing a lot, so this’ll be interesting how it all shakes out in tournaments. In 2016 the format will play three two-set blocks instead of two three-set blocks.

Can’t wait to see where this goes!

(via ICv2)

Gen Con 2014: Upper Deck Makes a Splash

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https://twitter.com/UpperDeckEnt/status/499934489561141248/

Upper Deck is rocking Gen Con with a life size alien lording over the crowds as they walk by the booth. That’s to help kick off the pre-launch of Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game.

The company has also teased the return of the Vs. system, which they’ll release more details on as the convention continues.

To celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary they’ve got a lot going on during the convention.

Facebook-Legendary-Alien-Deck-Building-Game-EncountersWhat fans seem to be most excited about is the new Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game. Upper Deck will be offering the product on presale there before fans can get it in stores for just $60 and we will be hosting demos of the game all weekend long for fans to give it a try. Fans who score the Legendary Encounters game can also score a FREE Alien “Legendary Hugs” slingpack!

Aliens_HUGS Gen-Con-Indy-Alien-Legendary-Encouters-Hugs-Slingpack-Product-Upper-DeckUpper Deck will have a variety of Hello Kitty items at show special pricing. And any fans who purchase the new Marvel Legendary Villains game can score a set of four playable promo cards!

Gen-Con-Indy-Upper-Deck-Product-Available

Upper Deck will be hosting win-a-box tournaments at the booth from Thursday through Sunday. There will also be a free raffle each day as a way of saying thank you to their fans for 25 great years. Upper Deck will be offering up free birthday cake to fans at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday as folks sing, “Happy Birthday” before passing out the delicious dish!

On Friday fans will definitely want to check out the $10,000 Legendary tournament taking place from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Those who register will also earn four Gen Con exclusive promo cards! Come see who has what it takes to become legendary as Upper Deck offers up big bucks to the game’s best players.

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