Nice review! Finished my first play a few hours ago, it is amazing how quickly one learns the mechanics and how well a plethora of relatively simple actions manages to pose a real challenge to the player in a very realistic way. It has the potential to prove one of the great solo games of our time.
Thanks for this review. I managed to order a copy directly from GMT Games a few days before it went out of stock... I cant wait to receive the game and start playing!
Very interesting review. Thanks for bringing this game forth. I wonder if as a president we have enough wiggle room to question the US foreign policy or if Henry Kissinger is still deeply embedded in its world view. From a European point of view, US foreign policy seems to be essentially rooted in internal politics, economic war and the control of natural resources abroad. Does it reflect in the game? In a Hegemony kind of way? Anyway, I'm impressed.
I enjoy the game. I only got through it once. But I essentially left the game setup on two tables for a month. I would just go back and play it for an hour or two here or there until it finally ended. If you can find a way to do it my way, or streamline it, the game is manageable. It just feels like a really advanced story generator that takes a bit of work to weave a complex story. That perspective helps the stress of the choices, and playing at my own pace allowed me to walk away when I was too tired or frustrated to continue.
So, from what I understand, is it impossible for me to learn it? I’m a low-to-medium complexity gamer, but the theme seems super cool. I also understand that it’s really long, and you can’t finish a game in just a few hours. Is there no other way to play it? I also don’t have an experienced friend to help. XD
Hey NATO, question for you. The comment was made in this review that going through the charts to determine a result tends to take people "out of the game". I understand that comment ( while it hasn't been my experience). Do you think GMT will release an app version anytime soon? Their implementations of Twilight Struggle and Labyrinth are so good, this might be a way to cut down on having to check charts so much. I assume getting this all on a screen would pose problems....but with their track record it would be a day 1 purchase for me! Really enjoy your content!
The stubbornly refused to make the charts available online. Instead they approved a mod for Table Top Sim that recreates all elements of the game EXCEPT for the booklets and charts. So, they basically really want you crawl through the paperwork
Nice review! Finished my first play a few hours ago, it is amazing how quickly one learns the mechanics and how well a plethora of relatively simple actions manages to pose a real challenge to the player in a very realistic way. It has the potential to prove one of the great solo games of our time.
For sure. Now it's a matter of finding a table that can house it for the next month.
The beginning is hilarious. It looks like the guy on the right is frozen
You caught us. He wasn't available at the time so we used his cardboard cutout
Thanks for this review.
I managed to order a copy directly from GMT Games a few days before it went out of stock... I cant wait to receive the game and start playing!
Just under the wire! Let us know what you think about it!
Great review, this game looks very intresting. I will be watching the playthough soon. I noticed it is available for TTS as well.
Yes, GMT has made it available on their website. Here is the link to the playthrough, if that helps: th-cam.com/video/z5GWQwBZhHY/w-d-xo.html
Very interesting review. Thanks for bringing this game forth.
I wonder if as a president we have enough wiggle room to question the US foreign policy or if Henry Kissinger is still deeply embedded in its world view.
From a European point of view, US foreign policy seems to be essentially rooted in internal politics, economic war and the control of natural resources abroad. Does it reflect in the game? In a Hegemony kind of way?
Anyway, I'm impressed.
I enjoy the game. I only got through it once. But I essentially left the game setup on two tables for a month. I would just go back and play it for an hour or two here or there until it finally ended. If you can find a way to do it my way, or streamline it, the game is manageable. It just feels like a really advanced story generator that takes a bit of work to weave a complex story. That perspective helps the stress of the choices, and playing at my own pace allowed me to walk away when I was too tired or frustrated to continue.
I think that is the best way to play it, and I like that perspective!
So, from what I understand, is it impossible for me to learn it? I’m a low-to-medium complexity gamer, but the theme seems super cool. I also understand that it’s really long, and you can’t finish a game in just a few hours. Is there no other way to play it? I also don’t have an experienced friend to help. XD
Hey NATO, question for you. The comment was made in this review that going through the charts to determine a result tends to take people "out of the game". I understand that comment ( while it hasn't been my experience). Do you think GMT will release an app version anytime soon? Their implementations of Twilight Struggle and Labyrinth are so good, this might be a way to cut down on having to check charts so much. I assume getting this all on a screen would pose problems....but with their track record it would be a day 1 purchase for me! Really enjoy your content!
The stubbornly refused to make the charts available online. Instead they approved a mod for Table Top Sim that recreates all elements of the game EXCEPT for the booklets and charts. So, they basically really want you crawl through the paperwork
Not sure what to make of this review because almost nobody will play it this way. Most of us will carry the administrative burden and slog through it.
That's true - but if you have someone who is interested in playing with you that can't handle the administrative burden, this is a potential variant