Post by Gilvan Blight on May 23, 2006 12:55:16 GMT -5
Quickly: Probably the game that fans most want to see re-printed by Games Workshop. This is a classic from the Mid 80s that still shines. Replayability is a bit lacking in the basic game though.
Summary: okay I will say it straight out. This game is pretty much a direct rip off of Aliens (or Alien 2, or whatever it is called). So much so that I think it may be the reason it was pulled and never re-released. One player plays one or two squads of mariens. You are exploring a derelict space craft that just immerged from the warp, following one of 6 missions which vary from destroy a room (or "Purge with Flames" for your Warhammer fans), to kills as many baddies as you can before dying. The other player plays the Aliens. These are called Genestealers and are four armed freaks full of teeth and claw that swarm in infinite numbers. The unique twist is the use of "blips", chits that represent 1-3 genestealers that is all the Marine player can see until he makes visual contact. The gameplay uses a point based system, where each marine gets 4 action points to spend each turn. Each action costs a certain number of points (aka 1 to move forward, 1 to turn, 1 to shoot, 2 to set overwatch etc). The 'stealers get 6 moves. To offset this advantage the Marine player also gets a random number of command points (support from the off ship Captain) that can be spent on his or the 'stealer players turn. To make things interesting the Marine player only has a set amount of time to make his moves as well, usually being 3minutes, but shorter if his Sargents get killed. Each mission details the forces, the map, the victory conditions and any special rules. The board itself is a series of interlocking thick card tiles representing corodors and rooms, with a series of doors breaking up long fire corrodors.
The Good: it's a classic and the nostalgia factor was great. It's also a classic for a reason, it's still a great game. The components are top notch. You get a ton of minis (unpainted of course). Two full marine squads and some bits to convert a two of the marines into heavy weapon troopers, as well as I think 20 genestealer models. The board sections are well constructed with nice art. The interlocking system works a charm as well as you build each map like a giant jig-saw. The background is amazing in this as to be expected from anything in the Warhammer 40K universe. This is what sets the game apart from the Aliens movie that it does seem to rip off. The 'stealer race was invented for this game, and they were a great addition to the universe (before they became just another Tyranid Unit). The Terminators are rather cool as well, especially back then whey they were a brand new addition to the 40K line. The gameplay is very quick, most games lasting less than an hour (sometimes much less). Both sides do seem pretty balanced once you get a hang of playing the marines. The scearios are varried and interesting as well. There is nothing better then watching a marine on overwatch mow down 6 or so 'stealers. There is nothing better then watching 1 stealer rip through an entire squad by sneaking in through a back door.
The Bad: The random factor in this is very high. For fans of other GW games you will be used to this, but for strategy gamers, I think they will be disapointed by the amount the dice affect play. The models are really cool, and a great value for the day, but a bit dated now, in that they all have the identical look and pose. For anyone used to new games with lots of varried minis this could be a disapointment. Also these 'stealers and Marines don't look nearly as cool as their modern counterparts. The board tiles have warped slightly and don't interlock as well as they used to, though I really shouldn't complain as they are 20 years old now. This game can be very hard for the marine player until they learn some of the 'tricks' and strategies. Getting beat multiple times playing them before learning these can be discouraging. The rules are simple and the rulebook contains enough examples to make gameplay very clear.
The Ugly: The basic game only contains 6 missions. This brings the replay value way way down. Now I personally know that the first expansion contains a mission generator that removes this, but it is in the first expansion, not the base game, so for this review, the replay value can stink. If you are one of those types that likes to play things through once, you really only have 12 plays in the box (6 missions, swapping sides each time). Now if you are one of those types that like to replay and replay and try different strategies then this won't be a problem for you.
Overall: this was great when it came out and still is. It's a bit more random then I remember and that bothered me at first, but that went away quickly as my stealers tore a squad down to one man in one turn. I realize that most people won't be able to pick this one up anymore (unless you want to pay $$$ on eBay) but if you know a friend that has it, ask them to blow the dust off and get in a game. The only issue I can see with the base game is the lack of replay value. There just aren't enough missions.
Side note: if you subscribed or picked up White Dwarf back in the mid to late 80s you can also find quite a bit of support for this game. Including a few more missions a bunch of new troop types and added rules for thigns like debris and multi-level maps. This definately improves the gameplay quite a bit. All of the rules were later released in the first expansion Deathwing, but the WD articles are the only place to find the missions.
Pandoragreen and I are currently playing through the original missions and will most likely move on to Deathwing next, so you can expect a review for that one when we get to it.
Summary: okay I will say it straight out. This game is pretty much a direct rip off of Aliens (or Alien 2, or whatever it is called). So much so that I think it may be the reason it was pulled and never re-released. One player plays one or two squads of mariens. You are exploring a derelict space craft that just immerged from the warp, following one of 6 missions which vary from destroy a room (or "Purge with Flames" for your Warhammer fans), to kills as many baddies as you can before dying. The other player plays the Aliens. These are called Genestealers and are four armed freaks full of teeth and claw that swarm in infinite numbers. The unique twist is the use of "blips", chits that represent 1-3 genestealers that is all the Marine player can see until he makes visual contact. The gameplay uses a point based system, where each marine gets 4 action points to spend each turn. Each action costs a certain number of points (aka 1 to move forward, 1 to turn, 1 to shoot, 2 to set overwatch etc). The 'stealers get 6 moves. To offset this advantage the Marine player also gets a random number of command points (support from the off ship Captain) that can be spent on his or the 'stealer players turn. To make things interesting the Marine player only has a set amount of time to make his moves as well, usually being 3minutes, but shorter if his Sargents get killed. Each mission details the forces, the map, the victory conditions and any special rules. The board itself is a series of interlocking thick card tiles representing corodors and rooms, with a series of doors breaking up long fire corrodors.
The Good: it's a classic and the nostalgia factor was great. It's also a classic for a reason, it's still a great game. The components are top notch. You get a ton of minis (unpainted of course). Two full marine squads and some bits to convert a two of the marines into heavy weapon troopers, as well as I think 20 genestealer models. The board sections are well constructed with nice art. The interlocking system works a charm as well as you build each map like a giant jig-saw. The background is amazing in this as to be expected from anything in the Warhammer 40K universe. This is what sets the game apart from the Aliens movie that it does seem to rip off. The 'stealer race was invented for this game, and they were a great addition to the universe (before they became just another Tyranid Unit). The Terminators are rather cool as well, especially back then whey they were a brand new addition to the 40K line. The gameplay is very quick, most games lasting less than an hour (sometimes much less). Both sides do seem pretty balanced once you get a hang of playing the marines. The scearios are varried and interesting as well. There is nothing better then watching a marine on overwatch mow down 6 or so 'stealers. There is nothing better then watching 1 stealer rip through an entire squad by sneaking in through a back door.
The Bad: The random factor in this is very high. For fans of other GW games you will be used to this, but for strategy gamers, I think they will be disapointed by the amount the dice affect play. The models are really cool, and a great value for the day, but a bit dated now, in that they all have the identical look and pose. For anyone used to new games with lots of varried minis this could be a disapointment. Also these 'stealers and Marines don't look nearly as cool as their modern counterparts. The board tiles have warped slightly and don't interlock as well as they used to, though I really shouldn't complain as they are 20 years old now. This game can be very hard for the marine player until they learn some of the 'tricks' and strategies. Getting beat multiple times playing them before learning these can be discouraging. The rules are simple and the rulebook contains enough examples to make gameplay very clear.
The Ugly: The basic game only contains 6 missions. This brings the replay value way way down. Now I personally know that the first expansion contains a mission generator that removes this, but it is in the first expansion, not the base game, so for this review, the replay value can stink. If you are one of those types that likes to play things through once, you really only have 12 plays in the box (6 missions, swapping sides each time). Now if you are one of those types that like to replay and replay and try different strategies then this won't be a problem for you.
Overall: this was great when it came out and still is. It's a bit more random then I remember and that bothered me at first, but that went away quickly as my stealers tore a squad down to one man in one turn. I realize that most people won't be able to pick this one up anymore (unless you want to pay $$$ on eBay) but if you know a friend that has it, ask them to blow the dust off and get in a game. The only issue I can see with the base game is the lack of replay value. There just aren't enough missions.
Side note: if you subscribed or picked up White Dwarf back in the mid to late 80s you can also find quite a bit of support for this game. Including a few more missions a bunch of new troop types and added rules for thigns like debris and multi-level maps. This definately improves the gameplay quite a bit. All of the rules were later released in the first expansion Deathwing, but the WD articles are the only place to find the missions.
Pandoragreen and I are currently playing through the original missions and will most likely move on to Deathwing next, so you can expect a review for that one when we get to it.