Wow we are already into June of 2016. Feels like yesterday we were still talking about Essen and holiday releases. I have been busy hitting the convention circuit and playing all types of new games. Finally with a week off, I thought it was time to give you a new edition of Hit and Miss. Majority of the titles I will be talking about have already been released with a few that will be soon. As always I am curious of what you thought of the games and please leave your comments here or on twitter @so1ks. Thank you for reading.
Star Wars Armada
Published by: Asmodee North America
If you have followed me on instagram or on twitter, you probably know that I love X-Wing miniature game. I own an obscene amount of ships. When Armada was announced I was excited to be able to go to a Capital Ship level of epic space fights. What I got was in my opinion more complicated and bogged down version of X-Wing. Some of the ship models look great, while others are disappointing and break easily. I do like the ability to attack multiple times with a ship and the actual movement of ships went well with how they should move. Everything else just did not click with me. The squadrons seemed out of place and added to the length of the game. I just didn't feel the excitement or intensity of X-Wing or other miniature games I have played in the past. Some will enjoy the epic size and the combat system, but it just was not for me.
Published by: Asmodee North America
If you have followed me on instagram or on twitter, you probably know that I love X-Wing miniature game. I own an obscene amount of ships. When Armada was announced I was excited to be able to go to a Capital Ship level of epic space fights. What I got was in my opinion more complicated and bogged down version of X-Wing. Some of the ship models look great, while others are disappointing and break easily. I do like the ability to attack multiple times with a ship and the actual movement of ships went well with how they should move. Everything else just did not click with me. The squadrons seemed out of place and added to the length of the game. I just didn't feel the excitement or intensity of X-Wing or other miniature games I have played in the past. Some will enjoy the epic size and the combat system, but it just was not for me.
MISS
Onitama
Published by: Arcane Wonders
I am not very skilled at playing Chess, but occasionally enjoy the challenge of facing someone. Onitama takes the strategy and feel of Chess but adds a different way of doing things. Each player will start the game with 2 movement cards. These cards will show where you can move a piece. There is also one other card next to the board that no one can currently use. Once player has selected a card and performed the movement, they place that card next to the board and pick up the other card. In a single of Onitama only 5 different movement cards will be used and that adds to the strategy, because the move you just did will be available to the player in a future round. The game comes with a lot of movement cards, so each game will feel fresh and different. The goal is to leader capture the leader or get your leader to the other teams throne. (where the team's leader starts the game) Onitama has beautiful components and is very strategic. If you love Chess or Checkers type games, you will love Onitama.
Published by: Arcane Wonders
I am not very skilled at playing Chess, but occasionally enjoy the challenge of facing someone. Onitama takes the strategy and feel of Chess but adds a different way of doing things. Each player will start the game with 2 movement cards. These cards will show where you can move a piece. There is also one other card next to the board that no one can currently use. Once player has selected a card and performed the movement, they place that card next to the board and pick up the other card. In a single of Onitama only 5 different movement cards will be used and that adds to the strategy, because the move you just did will be available to the player in a future round. The game comes with a lot of movement cards, so each game will feel fresh and different. The goal is to leader capture the leader or get your leader to the other teams throne. (where the team's leader starts the game) Onitama has beautiful components and is very strategic. If you love Chess or Checkers type games, you will love Onitama.
HIT
Potion Explosion
Published by: Cool Mini Or Not
Have you ever been addicted to Candy Crush or similar puzzle games on your phone. Don't lie to yourself, majority of us have at one point or another. Potion Explosion takes that puzzle feel and makes a fun board game out of it. In Potion Explosion, players are trying to complete potions and have the most points at the end. The game ends after a certain amount of bonus point tokens have been claimed. The game comes with a beautiful cardboard box that when you pour marbles on top of it, the marbles will roll down into one of four rows. During your turn you will grab a marble of a color of your choice. After you grab that marble, if 2 or more marbles of the same color collide into each other, you will collect those ones as well. This chain effect can go on multiple times. You use the marbles to complete potions. The potions require different colors and amounts. Once you complete the potion you return all the marbles back to the box and now have a potion with an ability that you can use once. To win the game, you are trying to complete as many potions as possible and make sets with them, either as one of each or multiples of the same type. Person with the highest points wins. Game played in under an hour and was a blast the whole time. I think this is one of those games that anyone can enjoy and will.
Published by: Cool Mini Or Not
Have you ever been addicted to Candy Crush or similar puzzle games on your phone. Don't lie to yourself, majority of us have at one point or another. Potion Explosion takes that puzzle feel and makes a fun board game out of it. In Potion Explosion, players are trying to complete potions and have the most points at the end. The game ends after a certain amount of bonus point tokens have been claimed. The game comes with a beautiful cardboard box that when you pour marbles on top of it, the marbles will roll down into one of four rows. During your turn you will grab a marble of a color of your choice. After you grab that marble, if 2 or more marbles of the same color collide into each other, you will collect those ones as well. This chain effect can go on multiple times. You use the marbles to complete potions. The potions require different colors and amounts. Once you complete the potion you return all the marbles back to the box and now have a potion with an ability that you can use once. To win the game, you are trying to complete as many potions as possible and make sets with them, either as one of each or multiples of the same type. Person with the highest points wins. Game played in under an hour and was a blast the whole time. I think this is one of those games that anyone can enjoy and will.
HIT
The Rose King
Published by: Thames & Kosmos
Rose King is a 2 player strategy game that has players competing to place their tokens together on a grid. Players are give cards that show where you would move the one figure (both players take turns moving the figure) and place a token on an unoccupied square. You earn more points if your tokens are adjacent to each other. The goal is to have the points when both players can no longer take a valid turn. This was very easy to learn and I got my butt kicked at it. Even after losing 3 in a row, I still wanted to play more. Very fun and in smaller box that does not take up too much table space. This is a great filler or game to take on vacation. I am looking to purchase this game in the near future.
Published by: Thames & Kosmos
Rose King is a 2 player strategy game that has players competing to place their tokens together on a grid. Players are give cards that show where you would move the one figure (both players take turns moving the figure) and place a token on an unoccupied square. You earn more points if your tokens are adjacent to each other. The goal is to have the points when both players can no longer take a valid turn. This was very easy to learn and I got my butt kicked at it. Even after losing 3 in a row, I still wanted to play more. Very fun and in smaller box that does not take up too much table space. This is a great filler or game to take on vacation. I am looking to purchase this game in the near future.
HIT
Kodama: The Tree Spirits
Published by Action Phase Games
Kodama is a card game that has players growing their own tree. In the tree are various icons like fireflies and mushrooms. When you add a new branch card to your tree, you must connect it to a current branch and can only touch one other card. You will then earn a point for each icon on that branch card as well as any matching icons that on the rest of that branch all the way down to the bottom of your tree. The game is separated into 3 seasons and each season brings in a different condition to affect scoring. Also at the end of each season, each player will play one goal card from their hand that will give you additional victory points based on the criteria of the card. After 3 full seasons, the player with the most points wins. This game is amazing to look at and fun to play. While the game comes in a small box, the game takes up a lot of space when growing your trees. I really love the art and how simple the game is to teach. Everyone I have played with really enjoys it. I am glad I played it and picked it up at Geekway to the West this year.
Published by Action Phase Games
Kodama is a card game that has players growing their own tree. In the tree are various icons like fireflies and mushrooms. When you add a new branch card to your tree, you must connect it to a current branch and can only touch one other card. You will then earn a point for each icon on that branch card as well as any matching icons that on the rest of that branch all the way down to the bottom of your tree. The game is separated into 3 seasons and each season brings in a different condition to affect scoring. Also at the end of each season, each player will play one goal card from their hand that will give you additional victory points based on the criteria of the card. After 3 full seasons, the player with the most points wins. This game is amazing to look at and fun to play. While the game comes in a small box, the game takes up a lot of space when growing your trees. I really love the art and how simple the game is to teach. Everyone I have played with really enjoys it. I am glad I played it and picked it up at Geekway to the West this year.
HIT
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