Reviews

  • Review: Star Wars – Rebellion

    ByiMisut Hours
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    We find ourselves in a period of civil war. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away; the entire galaxy is subjected to the Empire’s reign of terror. Its newly constructed combat station, the Death Star, is powerful enough to destroy anyone who opposes its dictatorship. But a new hope has emerged. A group of brave individuals has decided to fight against imperial tyranny. From their hidden base, these rebels plan to overthrow the Empire and restore freedom to the galaxy. Star Wars: Rebellion allows players to reenact the epic conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Players take control of iconic characters from the Star Wars saga to undertake secret missions or lead their troops into battles across the galaxy.

    This is how Star Wars: Rebellion is presented to us, a new title by Corey Konieczka, the designer behind games like StarCraft: The Board Game, Battlestar Galactica, or Eldritch Horror. The game was published in 2015 by Fantasy Flight Games. The artwork does not bear the signature of any specific illustrator; instead, the publisher pulled from archival images already used in numerous titles set in the galactic franchise.

  • Review: Concordia

    ByiMisut Hours
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    Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire ruled the lands around the Mediterranean Sea. With peace on the borders, harmony within the provinces, a uniform law, and a single currency, the economy thrived and gave rise to powerful Roman dynasties that expanded into numerous cities. Lead one of these dynasties; colonize the most remote realms of the Empire; expand your trade network and please the ancient gods to gain their favor. If you plan your strategy properly, you will be able to grow your dynasty and make it the most powerful in the Roman Empire.

    This is the premise of Concordia, a game designed by Mac Gerdts, author of other well-known titles such as Imperial, Navegador, or Antike. The game was first published in 2013 by PD-Verlag (in English/German), becoming one of the nominees for that year’s Kennerspiel des Jahres alongside Istanbul (winner) and Rokoko. The illustrations are handled by Marina Fahrenbach, the publisher’s usual artist (Navegador, Antike II, Antike Duellum).

  • Review: Keyflower

    ByiMisut Hours
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    Keyflower takes place over the four seasons of a year. Players will compete to expand and improve their respective villages, facing different challenges, with every game being unique due to the mix of village tiles that varies from match to match. Players must stay alert to make the most of their available resources, transport and upgrade capabilities, skills, and workers.

    Keyflower comes to us designed by Sebastian Bleasdale (Black Fleet or On the Underground) and Richard Breese (Reef Encounter or Inhabit the Earth). The game was published in 2012 by HUCH! & friends/R&D Games. The artwork is handled by Juliet Breese (Keythedral or Aladdin’s Dragons), Jo Breese, and Gemma Tegelaers (Mai-Star or Massilia).

  • Review: 7 Wonders Duel

    ByiMisut Hours
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    Welcome to 7 Wonders Duel! A 2-player game set in the world of the hit game 7 Wonders. Although it uses some of the mechanics of its older brother, it offers a new challenge designed specifically for 2 players. Each player is the leader of a civilization that will construct buildings and erect Wonders.

    This is how straightforward 7 Wonders Duel is presented to us, a game designed by Antoine Bauza (7 Wonders, Takenoko, Tokaido) in collaboration with Bruno Cathala (Five Tribes, Abyss, Noah, or Mr. Jack). The game was published in 2015 by Repos Games and Asmodee in several editions (English, French, or German). Illustrations are provided by Miguel Coimbra (7 Wonders, Small World, Cyclades, or Giants).

  • Review: Caverna – The Cave Farmers

    ByiMisut Hours
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    Are you ready to become the bearded leader of a family of dwarves living peacefully in a small cave beside the mountains? Get ready to work the forest that stretches out beyond your home and delve deep into the heart of the mountain you inhabit.

    This is how we are introduced to Caverna, designed by the great Uwe Rosenberg, the mind behind massive hits like Agricola, Le Havre, and Patchwork. The game was first published in 2013 by Lookout Games in both German and English editions. Artwork duties were handled, as is usual for the Rosenberg-Lookout pairing, by Klemens Franz, who also illustrated Agricola, Ora et Labora, and At the Gates of Loyang.

  • Review: Patchwork

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    Patchwork is a needlework technique that involves sewing together pieces of fabric with various patterns to create a single, larger design. Historically, it was a way to repurpose leftover scraps of fabric to make clothes and quilts. Today, it has become an art form used by textile designers, especially when working with pieces of varied shapes and sizes. Creating a beautiful quilt requires both time and patience, as the available patches often simply refuse to fit together smoothly. Choose your patches carefully and keep a steady supply of buttons on hand to craft a more striking quilt than your opponent.

    This is the premise behind Patchwork, one of the two games presented by the great Uwe Rosenberg back in 2014 (alongside Caverna) through multiple publishers simultaneously. For instance, Mayfair Games released it in English, while Lookout Games handled the German edition. As a side note, it was a Spiel des Jahres recommended game in 2015 and won the Golden Geek Award for Best Abstract Board Game in 2014, while also being nominated for Best 2-Player Game in that same edition. The artwork is illustrated by Klemens Franz, the artist behind the look of most of Uwe’s games, such as Agricola, Le Havre, and Caverna.