Smash Up

Smash Up is a card game with 8 different themed decks all with very distinct strategies that work accordingly with their themes. As the name suggests, the game is a smash up of all of these different archetypes. The interesting thing about this game is its premise. Each player picks two of the 8 possible decks to pick from and pits their choices against other player's combinations. The goal of Smash Up is to gain the highest number of victory points or be the first to 15. The main way this is done is by competing on a number of bases with other players. In the game there two types of cards, minions and actions. Minions each have their own power value and typically have an effect in the game. The other type of cards are considered action cards. These cards will do effects in the game that will help change the game in your favor. Using these cards, you compete on bases. Each base has a "break point" which acts as a threshold as to how much minion power it can contain. After this "break point" is exceeded on a base it "breaks" and players depending on their rank on that base in terms of minion power will be awarded 1st 2nd or 3rd place points. Unlike trading card games like Yu-gi-oh or Pokemon which many people are familiar with, these card games force players to play against each other based on the cards that they HAVE. Some players may be placed in a disadvantage by simply not having the best cards. Smash up has preset decks each with good and bad cards allowing for a much more balanced game experience. But apart from that, despite my explanation above on how to play the game, the game is far simpler than the other games I just mentioned, making it a much easier game to get into and to have friends or family learn an play. The game has good replay value because in the midst of a combination of decks lies many new strategies that come from that synchronization. So it is always enjoyable to see how different combinations may work together and yield interesting results. Along with this being the base game, there are expansions also available for the game which will provide even more possibilities and add more dimension to the game. One critique however is that the game will have better synchronizations than others. But with a game like this, that is inevitable, but overall the game is very balanced. The cards and the art are great quality. Some people complain the cards are thin and may break over time. So long as you aren't rough with them, my cards have endured just fine. The art of the game both looks great and glimmers with some comedy from time to time which makes the game fun by not taking itself far too seriously. In many ways the art is comical but it's also cool making it an interesting blend. I personally love this game and recommend it to anybody to try and play if you like any sort of strategic fun. It's fun and simple to pick up. Have fun!

If you derive great joy from burning friendships with Munchkin and The Resistance - Try adding this one to the melee. This beauty caught my eye with its simple premise: Combine 2 classic antagonists and try to out-conquer your opponents. Why ask if ninjas are better than pirates... when you can have both? Face them off against a legion of zombie aliens, who probe your butt as they eat your brains... then see how you fare! The real joy of the game comes from the level of strategic depth it boasts. Alderac does a superb job of providing a really distinct playstyle for all 8 factions. The aliens mess with their opponents and disrupt their plans, whilst the pirates hop around bases and pick off stragglers. The Tricksters make it difficult for others to get a foothold, whilst the dinosaurs are... well... what else would you expect for dinosaurs with laser cannons? They wreck bases. Big time. Where you combine factions (and your opponents will also have their own wily combinations) is truly where the fun lies. It's a far cry from the variety other games give you which tends to be different starting points or characters with different abilities. Here: Right off the bat, each game has a really unique feel to it. You have to suss out the best combination of your cards to counter the combinations you'll come up against. Many cards beautifully synergise between the factions - often leading those one-in-a-blue-moon killer combos where everything just happened to be in the right place. Even the bases in play can alter the outcome. It really challenges you to constantly adapt - as the next game will be considerably different. Not something many games can boast Considering its strategic depth, the rules are deceptively easy and quick to pick up. It generally takes a few moves to get the gist, and the rest is just the occasional clarification on what a certain card can/can't do (normally when someone's trying to be extra sneaky). Once rolling, games can last anywhere from 30 mins to an hour-half (or 4 hours if someone's playing wizards and is trying to work out how to play as many cards as possible) In a really nice twist, the game also balanced so that one player can't just steamroll to victory. Once a base falls, all of the minions (and actions) on it head to the players' discard piles. Whilst it seems odd at first: It means you can't just win on a single, lucky victory. You need to keep creating lots of little wins and stay on top of things, as the game can very easily be snatched from you. As such, it really lends itself to dazzling comebacks and nail-biting finales that come down to the last base, which tends to let everyone feel more involved and enjoy themselves a lot more Being the core game, this is obviously the best starting point to dip your feet into the world of Smash Up. And if you love it and want more, you're in luck: The box comes with enough room for 9 additional factions! Nice!