Thursday, February 19, 2015

GAME REVIEW: ASTRAL WARS

ASTRAL WARS (Synergy Games)

by: Pierre Aaron de Vera

Astral War is an area control board game made by Synergy Games. It has very simple backstory: two races: humans and aliens, trying to compete against each other in getting an asteriod as their territory/base. Whoever transfers a higher amount of resource on an opposing team's main base will win the entire game. It is a simple game, but you have to hurt your head and think in order for you to outsmart your opponent. This is such a heavy mechanic for a rookie board game maker but they were able to pull it off.

Mechanics: Its mechanics are Area Control, a bit of bluffing and a hint of Worker Placement on the course of the game. Basically, Area Control is self-explanatory. You need to control areas on the map of the game. The more areas you control, the higher chances you have for winning the game. Worker Placement, because you really have to think well in order for you to strategically place your troops (minerals). I like the bluffing part because it is a surprise for you because you have to feel what your opponent wants to do. So you're gonna bluff in the counter-part too. I like these mechanics because I am in to games that make you think. But on the other side, kids below 13 might have a difficult time when they play this game. 

Game Components: Its game components are simple but effective in a way. It has the proper usage of color. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Blue, Red, and Green. A very colorful game which makes it look attractive to the players. Although it isn't a perfect component, I understand it first-hand because it is just the second prototype. I know it'll get better as their development of the game progresses.

Theme: The theme is very attractive. Although it is not really realistic. I don't see how they can get, bronze, silver and gold in the asteroids that they take over. It has a nice feel though because the board is well-adapted to its "Space" theme. So as you play the game, you also get the feeling of the "Space" environment that you are in. 

Overall: This a very interesting game to play and a job well done for rookie boardgame makers. 10/10 for the Mechanics, 10/10 for the Game Components, and an 8/10 for the Theme. It's a game that I would love to play over and over and strive to become better the more that I play it. 
I highly recommend playing this game. Two thumbs up! I give this game 4 out of 5 STARS!!

For more details about the game, visit their website

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

GAME REVIEW: ROAD WAR

ROAD WAR (PBMD Board Games)

by: Francis Joshua Medrano

All of us have a capability to design a game but only few people can come up with a perfect game. These two well-known people have created a game which people can realize that this game is very enjoying.

The game Road war is produced by Renzo Giel Bautista and Jose Justine Diaz from the PBMD Company. It is a two player Action point allowance and Area control. This is a game requires great strategy to acquire the Palace.

The game goes like this; you will make a road in order to go inside the Palace. In order to win the game you must occupy the palace for three rounds or you can kill the general of the other player.

Before starting the game you will be given tiles use for building road, two soldiers and a tank for defense and attack and a general which is the important token of the game, because if you lose it, you will lose the game.

The game Road war is a little bit confusing in terms of the rules and the moves, but if you want a game that contains an area control and action point allowance mechanic, try out this game. I’m pretty sure that this game will be famous and will be sold for many people in the world.


For more details about the game, visit their website

GAME REVIEW: CATASTROPHE

CATASTROPHE (PADOJU COMPANY)

by: Ira Angeline Dela Cruz


The game called “Catastrophe” was invented by the Padoju Company. It is about the survival of the five people in the plane that crashed in an unknown island.  In order to survive on the Island, they must explore to find resources and the pieces of their plane. They should complete the requirements needed each day in order to survive but they might encounter wild and dangerous animals along the way.

It is a game of survival and wit. It is like a matter of life and death because there are a lot of ways for them to die and just one way for them to escape. Their decisions can either kill them or save them so they should team up and think of strategies in order to live. They should also hurry because if they don’t escape in time, they might die!

Catastrophe is a cooperative and action point allowance game that can be played by 2 to 5 players. It was inspired by the game “Small world” where the players use their troops to occupy territory and conquer adjacent lands in order to push their opponents off the face of the earth and the “Robinson Crusoe”  where the players will play the parts of shipwreck survivors confronted by an extraordinary adventure.

The components needed on the game are the board itself, 4 puzzle pieces that represent the parts of the plane, identifier tokens for weather changes, life tokens, level of shelter and fire and the 14 tiles that contains the different obstacles that they’ll face along the way.

I really enjoyed playing their game. It is fun, exciting and interesting. Their board game is amazing too. It is easy to understand and also makes you think of strategies to win the game. It enhance our ability in critical thinking and teach us about teamwork. Eventhough, I already played it, I would still love to play it again and again, so try it too!

For more details about the game, visit their website