varingblaarGears of War: The Board Game
Sort of part of the Gears of War series, though it's not a video game. This one is written more like a review, considering the spoilers are actually for the video games not the board game. I was at a launch event for this back in 2011, but this is the first time playing the missions in order from beginning to end.
Though the board game was published in 2011, the same year as Gears 3, it actually has bits from all three games over 6 playable missions and a Horde Mode. Each of these missions has a randomly generated map, so it's a little different every time, but Horde Mode essentially makes the game infinitely replayable. Also, solo rules long before it was fashionable.
First of all, the whole thing just looks great on the table. Especially if the miniatures are painted. The theme of the games are very well integrated. Everything looks like the video game, functions like the video game, but mechanically works in the board game. Guns have a normal attack and Overkill that costs resources but rolls more dice. The Lancer can chainsaw bayonet but it breaks your cover and only hits on the special symbol (omen). The number of attack dice and defence dice each Locust rolls, and how that interacts with their abilities. The way cover influences the number of defence dice. Every rule you read, your brain goes "yeah that makes sense."
Each character feels slightly different. Dom starts with a shotgun instead of the Lancer. Marcus has extra health (because plot armour?), Baird can carry extra weapons, Cole can move around more. It's not different enough to make them stronger or weaker, but a player might have a preference and it may change how you approach a given situation.
Speaking of characters, you really have to work together. Your health is your hand of cards. That's genius! The more things you do, the more trouble you get yourself into. You play your turn, then the bad stuff happens. There's a whole deck of "Locust AI" cards so you're never sure what they're going to do. It's also possible for one character to "guard" another character by attacking the Locust that's about to attack. And of course reviving a downed team mate is an essential part of the game. Another way the board game feels like the video game.
We lost "Belly of the Beast" because Cole did Roadie Run to the other side of the map, with Marcus following him. Baird and Dom survived a couple turns then both went down. They were too far to help and the remaining two were staring at a group of Lambent Wretches. 10 minutes later we were packing up. The lesson was "don't split the party."
The board game is out of print and difficult to find, but it's definitely worth playing if you're a fan. Tabletop Simulator is an option, although it's not ideal.
