This is a really brilliant design. The way the various systems work together is just a delight to watch.
Other than that, I can’t add much that’s not already covered in the review. This is the GotY, for sure (maybe splitting the award with Race for the Galaxy).
And, before the chorus arrives – no, asynchronous multiplayer is NOT needed. Games take about 8-10 minutes at first, then get even quicker once you get to know the cards. I’m finishing mine in about 6-8 minutes now.
I have to totally second this.
I was turned off by the real-time aspect of it, but having played a bunch over the weekend, it’s not that bad at all. It helps that there are actually people playing it (unlike some apps that would be ok live, but the lobbies are empty).
And I just love the “one price for everything” bit.
I don’t play enough new games to really legitimately choose a “game of the year,” but for me it’s definitely up between this and Race.
I just can’t get enough. Every time you try something a little different you either shoot the lights out or crash and burn. But I always want to try the combos, get the skull dudes and pressure my opponent.
At 99 cents, it’s literally stealing, too.
Anyone who likes games should get AoR, even if they think they won’t get to it for awhile.
I desperately need a strategy. Oh, and luck. Because the second I decide I’m going to try something other than military, all my draws are horrid.
Strategy is reading the board, making the best decision there and trying to remember your other cards.
The resource system is brilliant. I always get a muscle to block, but then buy spies… stupid me…
Whats your favourite card? Im far from unlocking all the cards yet but Im loving my ‘four horsemen’. If Ive got the horse resource then I can grab a bunch of 4 attack, 4 defense, 2 culture horsemen. Thats just strong enough to be a real pain in the bum.
I would also say the Horsemen, or the tower that gets +armor and +culture each time it takes damage.
I like Trade Capital, especially if I grab it early. The compounding points plus the incentive to play resource cards can be deadly, especially with an opponent who isn’t attack heavy.
I like the Macarena Dancers or whatever it is for the same reason - it’s 6 culture and then summons additionals that add two culture to every card with a music note icon - get three or four of those going with some walls and you’re defended and racking up points.
Or the tower that gets +culture +armor for every attacker - I’ve gotten that thing up to its max and it’s nearly unstoppable at that point.
Yeah, anything that compounds points is really successful when played right. Most of my losses have come at the hands of opponents who build around those cards well.
My favorite card is probably the trade capital. Get that early and all those trade cards in the first round get some VP, and then you don’t mind so much when they show up later.
Valkyries is the early MVP.
So… unlocked everything now :))
How can you tell? And what happens to duplicate cards? Do they just disappear?
When you open a pack once everything is unlocked it says all unlocked and you click “cool”.
I guess this is a gripe, albeit a small one - other than the intrinsic value of playing, there are no extrinsic rewards once you’ve unlocked everything. Now I’m usually the type of person that never requires extrinsic rewards, but with the Empire system, what does gold mean when you have no use for it?
That’s a great question. Would love to see additional content down the line you could unlock with in-game gold … “campaign” missions, or something like that …