▲ Recommended
2 hrs
So far this is as close to the tabletop version of a complex game you are going to get - Necromunda: Underhive Wars, take notes here. Games can be set to use the Standard or Advanced rules (if you want to use Basic rules, literally find anyone to play with IRL, I've taught my parents and sister to play the Basic rules). Like the tabletop version, estimating where you and your opponent will end up after maneuvers is the key skill. It's also why I cannot give a true review of the AI's skill.
If I think it will turn once then go straight and it goes straight then turns, my moves may be all for naught. But I've seen dumb AI before and I have not seen dumb AI moves in this game. I can say that the solo Challenges took a couple-to-many tries each to win them, and I did so by changing my strategy, not by memorizing what the AI opponent does, so I think that is at least one mark in favor of the programmers.
Airplane selection is limited for now, we expected so, but you get several options for those airframes to increase variability. For example, with the Roland C. II, you can choose a to have a front gun in addition to your rear gunner or not. A very unexpected and welcome feature is the ability to adjust the HP of your aircraft in order to change its total points cost. Want to fly a Dr. I with a specific ace but it's one point over the battle limit? Reduce your airplane's HP by 1 to free up those points. You can also adjust the effectiveness of the Explosion damage card in your matches, useful to help build your skills and prevent the dreaded "How TF did that happen?" first shot outcome. The ability to pick a real ace with his picture and notable skills is appreciated. After all, it was these men who put their life and more on the line for their countries, while we are just making electrons dance.
Is there anything truly bad or wrong with the game? I cannot say yes to that. Being on fire sucks, having your pilot hit sucks, and facing off against a two-seater aircraft with a fighter sucks. But these are all true to the tabletop version, and also true to real life. I've encountered no bugs, no "hey, that wasn't supposed to happen!". I supposed we can thank the underlying system for its ease of play, but they also could have had no animated planes or effects and many of us would have still bought it. Are there things I would change? Yes, but they are minor quality of life changes. It is not readily apparent, if it is at all, which gun is jammed when one does on a two-seater. The intro movies are fine for 1 plane per side, but I'd like to see all the planes fly past if there are more than one. They did spend the effort to give us the cool personalized schemes that the pilots had, so let's see 'em!
TL;DR: Only the third game I've bought release day in the last two years, and the only one that wasn't so far from my expectations for it that I was badmouthing it by the end of the day. One of those was Cyberpunk 2077, because who honestly didn't have that reaction to it? The other I will not say, as I have found peace with its ways, and will occasionally play a level of it.
If I think it will turn once then go straight and it goes straight then turns, my moves may be all for naught. But I've seen dumb AI before and I have not seen dumb AI moves in this game. I can say that the solo Challenges took a couple-to-many tries each to win them, and I did so by changing my strategy, not by memorizing what the AI opponent does, so I think that is at least one mark in favor of the programmers.
Airplane selection is limited for now, we expected so, but you get several options for those airframes to increase variability. For example, with the Roland C. II, you can choose a to have a front gun in addition to your rear gunner or not. A very unexpected and welcome feature is the ability to adjust the HP of your aircraft in order to change its total points cost. Want to fly a Dr. I with a specific ace but it's one point over the battle limit? Reduce your airplane's HP by 1 to free up those points. You can also adjust the effectiveness of the Explosion damage card in your matches, useful to help build your skills and prevent the dreaded "How TF did that happen?" first shot outcome. The ability to pick a real ace with his picture and notable skills is appreciated. After all, it was these men who put their life and more on the line for their countries, while we are just making electrons dance.
Is there anything truly bad or wrong with the game? I cannot say yes to that. Being on fire sucks, having your pilot hit sucks, and facing off against a two-seater aircraft with a fighter sucks. But these are all true to the tabletop version, and also true to real life. I've encountered no bugs, no "hey, that wasn't supposed to happen!". I supposed we can thank the underlying system for its ease of play, but they also could have had no animated planes or effects and many of us would have still bought it. Are there things I would change? Yes, but they are minor quality of life changes. It is not readily apparent, if it is at all, which gun is jammed when one does on a two-seater. The intro movies are fine for 1 plane per side, but I'd like to see all the planes fly past if there are more than one. They did spend the effort to give us the cool personalized schemes that the pilots had, so let's see 'em!
TL;DR: Only the third game I've bought release day in the last two years, and the only one that wasn't so far from my expectations for it that I was badmouthing it by the end of the day. One of those was Cyberpunk 2077, because who honestly didn't have that reaction to it? The other I will not say, as I have found peace with its ways, and will occasionally play a level of it.
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