Reviews
Lee knocked out a couple of solid reviews that have been sitting on my desk for a bit, so let’s get them both put up for the world to enjoy. We’ll start with his review of Ticket to Ride: Alvin & Dexter from Days of Wonder. This expansion for any TTR set throws an alien and a giant monster into the mix, which is sure to affect your commute. Lee also took a look at Thunderstone: Doomgate Legion from Alderac Entertainment Group. The set adds an assortment of new cards to the core Thunderstone game – but how do they measure up? Read on to learn more, or browse other entries in our ever-growing OgreCave review index.
Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
OgreCave reviews – Alvin & Dexter, Doomgate Legion
Friday, February 11th, 2011OgreCave review – Small World: Be Not Afraid
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Let’s resume the flow of new reviews on the Cave with Lee’s examination of Small World: Be Not Afraid…, the latest expansion for the popular conquest-and-decline board game, Small World. Days of Wonder wasn’t content to relax after getting an Origins Award nomination last year, so this set adds more races, special powers, and replayability. If you love to see waves of fantasy creatures as they crash over the countryside again and again, be sure to read Lee’s new review.
OgreCave review – Alien Frontiers
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
Merwin has returned to give us his thoughts on a game that, due to printing issues, has been difficult to lay hands on. In Clever Mojo’s Alien Frontiers, players use their ships (represented by dice) to build up colonies on a distant planet. If you can build more colonies than your opponents, through use of tech cards, proper dice allocation, and lucky rolls, you’ll be the winner. If games that make you adapt your strategy to the whim of the dice appeal to you, have a look.
OgreCave reviews – Gamma World, Pressure Matrix
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
If you’re lucky, you’ve found time to take a look at some new games this season, and may have played a few as well. Cave dwellers Daron and Lee certainly have, resulting in two reviews of sci-fi future themed games. First, Daron has provided some thoughts on the new edition of Gamma World from Wizards of the Coast. In this iteration of the classic RPG, which is featured in this year’s OgreCave Christmas Gift Guide, new mutations are added through CCG booster packs. Then Lee gives us a detailed look at Pressure Matrix from Alderac Entertainment Group. Designed by Jonathan Leistiko, this board game puts players in a game show, racing around a grid to gain cash and block opponents. Have a look at these new product write-ups, or browse the OgreCave review index for many other helpful evaluations.
OgreCave Christmas Gift Guide, parts 2 and 3
Friday, December 10th, 2010
The holiday season continues to rage around us all, and you may be caught up in the spirit of giving, or way behind on your shopping. Either way, the crew of OgreCave has more gift giving suggestions for you as our OgreCave Christmas Gift Guide 2010 sorts out the gaming goodies from the past year. Our tenth annual guide resumes with Twelve Days of Roleplaying, which provides our RPG suggestions, and Twelve Boxes for Christmas, which presents our selection of board games we’d recommend as gifts. Use these lists in good cheer, good health, and good speed – the holidays are closing in!
The Cave dwellers have another list or two up their collective sleeves, but those can steep in holiday egg nog for a bit longer. Check back soon for more advice to get you through the end of a great year in gaming.
OgreCave review – Cat & Chocolate
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Looking for a new party game to try out with the local crew (family or otherwise) over the holidays? Lee may have tracked down just the game for you, in the form of Cat & Chocolate. This card game requires players to improvise quick stories about avoiding various situations in a haunted mansion, while using certain key cards to tell the tale. Though a lesser known game here in the US, after perusing our review, you might decide to track down a copy.
OgreCave reviews – Castle Ravenloft
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
Though Halloween is several weeks past now, it’s never too late for a creepy vampire hunt. In the roleplaying world, there’s no blood-sucking undead more well-known than Count Strahd von Zarovich, lord of the lonely Barovian fortress known as Castle Ravenloft. Wizards of the Coast has received much praise for bringing the D&D experience to a cooperative miniatures board game, and Castle Ravenloft has sold well this year. Is all the attention being garnered by Count Strahd’s latest appearance truly deserved? In Demian’s new review, he determines if the attractive board game holds up, or if it burns in the sunlight.
OgreCave reviews – Smallville, Guardians of Graxia
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
We’ve got a pair of new reviews to start your week, starting with Andy’s thoughts on the Smallville Roleplaying Game from Margaret Weis Productions. Widely hailed for its approach to character abilities, the game gets high praise and slight annoyance from Andy – read on to see why. Then Lee provides us with a detailed look at Guardians of Graxia, the board game by Petroglyph. This 1-2 player fantasy game uses cards as army units, letting amateur warlords direct the flow of combat. See these reviews, and 250 others we’ve built up over the years (!) in OgreCave’s review index.
OgreCave reviews – Zombiegeddon, Killer Thriller
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
Things have been busy lately, but the Cave dwellers haven’t forgotten what season this is. Therefore, it’s about time we review some fear-related games with this year’s Screams from the Cave. To start, Dennis gives us his take on Zombiegeddon from Twilight Creations. Designed by Reiner Knizia, this board game forces players to stock up supplies for the apocalypse, then fight for more once Z Day arrives. Since we want the scream-inducing games to reach blood-curdling volume, we’re also hitting you with Demian’s review of Killer Thriller, a brand-new roleplaying game from Timeout Diversions. This small PDF RPG embraces the Paranoia style of character mortality, so expect bloodshed – big time. Have a read through both reviews, and see if either one has you seeing blood red.
OgreCave review – Fictionaire
Thursday, October 21st, 2010
Always keeping busy, today Lee has provided us with a review of Fictionaire by Days of Wonder. This trivia/party game has similarities to Balderdash, yet with a few entertaining twists that establish the game’s unique feel. If you’re looking for a new party game for your next gathering, or just enjoy challenging your friends in trivia games, Fictionaire might be your sort of game.
OgreCave review – Z-Man Games week: Martinique
Friday, October 15th, 2010
We’re wrapping up OgreCave’s week-long look at Z-Man Games with my review of Martinique. This pirate-themed treasure hunt has multiple tasks to keep two captains and their crews busy – claiming map clues, gathering valuable souvenirs, and especially outmaneuvering the opposing pirates. Heck, it’s even an important decision to choose when to quit searching and get a drink at the bar! If you’re ready to dig for the Lost Treasure, or like the idea of Clue taken down a different evolutionary path, read more about Martinique.
OgreCave reviews – Z-Man Games week: Road Kill Rally
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
As we near the end of our Z-Man Games week, Andy gives us his review of Road Kill Rally. This Mad Max-like race to the finish line is a bloody, frantic, unpredictable good time. Andy has thoroughly kicked the tires and checked under the hood, so be sure to read his review, and get up to speed on Road Kill Rally.
OgreCave review – Z-Man Games week: The Speicherstadt
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
Our week-long look at Z-Man Games releases continues today with Demian’s review of The Speicherstadt. This Eurogame asks players to manage resources and win auctions for special cards, which can grant special abilities later in the game. In this manner, the game brings in a touch of the evolving strategy effect popular in card-drafting games like Dominion or Thunderstone. Have a read, and see if The Speicherstadt is up your alley.
OgreCave review – Z-Man Games week: Burrows
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
To continue OgreCave’s look at recent Z-Man Games releases, Demian gives us his review of Burrows. This tile-laying game requires players to attract different colors of gophers, which attract the attention of photo-snapping tourists and earn points. Since there aren’t enough critters of each color to go around, each player tries to lure gophers away from his opponents by building a more enticing burrow. Who will have the best selection of photogenic gophers when the tour buses show up? In case you’re curious, Demian’s review digs into Burrows more fully.
OgreCave reviews – Z-Man Games week: Magical Athlete
Monday, October 11th, 2010
This week, OgreCave’s aiming the spotlight (torch light? lantern?) at Z-Man Games, starting with Andy’s review of Magical Athlete. In this multi-round race game, players bid on racers, then run their selected athlete through a few highly competitive races around the track. Naturally, special abilities and magical effects will run rampant, and anyone could come from behind to win. Is this the next racing game you need to pick up? Read Andy’s review and find out if you should run out and get Magical Athlete.
