Damn you Marco. Upon your display of enthusiasm for this game I knew I had to have it. The cost was rather steep for a game I can only play with myself but I decided to splurge. Every night spent waiting felt like Christmas Eve. Finally it came. hee hee. Ever since the opening of that box I have NOT been able to stop playing. There is no hope for me now. I blame you. Just leave me where I lay and don’t look back. My name is Chris and I am a Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operationsoholic
Hi Marco. My name is Koz and I am a a Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operationsoholic I got 2 of my friends hooked on this too. The other day we were sitting around at lunch, yabbering on about the game, relating war stories of horrific missions and grand victories. The missions are so quick one of us has a new tale to tell every other day. What a great game. BTW. you are killing my budget. I got this, and have Urban Sprawl and Shogun on order at the shop. ;)
the only other one I tried is HL II, and HL: CAO is the next level, like updating from typewriter to computer. Not only are the components excellent (as opposed to my sad looking p & p HL II) but also you have more options here, more pilots, and the hit values of the weapons have been fine tuned considerably... I think they make for a tighter and more exciting adventure!
Oh, thank you, Sir! Now I've ordered it! ;-) I am not sure whether I should beg for more of your reviews, since this can become a very expensive addiction... ;-)
It's really an amazing game,lots of thinking and hard decisions and some dice rolling.It can be painful when only 1 of your,let's say,7 weapons hit the target,but there are many weapons that let you hit enemies almost automatically and I believe preparation is more important than dice in this game.I played Phantom Leader about 10 times and it was fairly easy,in HL I played my first short standard campaign yesterday and finished with ONE victory point (screw losing points for destroyed pilots :P)
Just picked this up and can’t wait to try it. I’m a little nervous since I don’t really play war games but it looked cool and sounded fun. Great overview!
@joker718: at the beginning it took me maybe 8-10 scenarios before I hit the target AT ALL! then one learns, and now I at least hit the target 90% of times, and destroy it maybe 60% of the times (more in easier parts of the campaign, less later). It is evidence that luck only has a small factor once you do your preparation well and learn how to maximize your opportunities. I will play and review Phantom Leader too in the next weeks.
Have you tried out the other games in the series? Some are boxed, some are Print and Play. I have Hornet Leader II, Corsair Leader, which is the same basic system but in WWII, and Thunderbolt/Apache leader, which is a little more tactical since you are flying ground support at treetop level, using ridges for cover.
Great review Marco. It looks like a very enjoyable solitaire game, and one I would love to play. Have you played Phantom Leader, by the same designer? I'm also quite curious about his Frontline D-Day game, as while it's primarily for two, it also includes full solitaire rules.
This looks like a lot of fun. I have always been a big fan of carrier operations (although I prefer WW2 Pacific theatre as a setting). Any idea if a WW2 version is planned? Good video. Looks like a very fun game.
Sounds like the ultimate "paralysis analysis" game. Tons of options doesn't necessarily mean that's GOOD thing. And how many hours does this take? Everyone talks about how "fast" the battles are but sounds like a big part of this game is PLANNING, which sounds like it takes a LOT of time.
Damn you Marco. Upon your display of enthusiasm for this game I knew I had to have it. The cost was rather steep for a game I can only play with myself but I decided to splurge. Every night spent waiting felt like Christmas Eve. Finally it came. hee hee. Ever since the opening of that box I have NOT been able to stop playing. There is no hope for me now. I blame you. Just leave me where I lay and don’t look back.
My name is Chris and I am a Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operationsoholic
I just picked this up solely based on this review...absolutely love this game now and will pick up more solo games in the future. Thanks Marco :)
hi Yoki,
thank you for following all of my videos! Unfortunately I have not played PL or FDD. But maybe in the future...
Hi Marco. My name is Koz and I am a a Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operationsoholic
I got 2 of my friends hooked on this too. The other day we were sitting around at lunch, yabbering on about the game, relating war stories of horrific missions and grand victories. The missions are so quick one of us has a new tale to tell every other day. What a great game.
BTW. you are killing my budget. I got this, and have Urban Sprawl and Shogun on order at the shop. ;)
the only other one I tried is HL II, and HL: CAO is the next level, like updating from typewriter to computer. Not only are the components excellent (as opposed to my sad looking p & p HL II) but also you have more options here, more pilots, and the hit values of the weapons have been fine tuned considerably... I think they make for a tighter and more exciting adventure!
Can't wait for your Cthulhu Coflict review. I have it on preorder, hope your review is faster than the delivery to Greece!
Oh, thank you, Sir! Now I've ordered it! ;-)
I am not sure whether I should beg for more of your reviews, since this can become a very expensive addiction... ;-)
I'm hoping you will do a review of the newly released Thunderbolt Apache Leader. Great reviews as always Marco!
It's really an amazing game,lots of thinking and hard decisions and some dice rolling.It can be painful when only 1 of your,let's say,7 weapons hit the target,but there are many weapons that let you hit enemies almost automatically and I believe preparation is more important than dice in this game.I played Phantom Leader about 10 times and it was fairly easy,in HL I played my first short standard campaign yesterday and finished with ONE victory point (screw losing points for destroyed pilots :P)
Just picked this up and can’t wait to try it. I’m a little nervous since I don’t really play war games but it looked cool and sounded fun. Great overview!
@joker718: at the beginning it took me maybe 8-10 scenarios before I hit the target AT ALL! then one learns, and now I at least hit the target 90% of times, and destroy it maybe 60% of the times (more in easier parts of the campaign, less later). It is evidence that luck only has a small factor once you do your preparation well and learn how to maximize your opportunities.
I will play and review Phantom Leader too in the next weeks.
Have you tried out the other games in the series? Some are boxed, some are Print and Play. I have Hornet Leader II, Corsair Leader, which is the same basic system but in WWII, and Thunderbolt/Apache leader, which is a little more tactical since you are flying ground support at treetop level, using ridges for cover.
I am glad you saw the light!!
What a great review! Thanks a bunch!
I can't see the video from my computer... is it working? can you se it?
Great review Marco. It looks like a very enjoyable solitaire game, and one I would love to play. Have you played Phantom Leader, by the same designer? I'm also quite curious about his Frontline D-Day game, as while it's primarily for two, it also includes full solitaire rules.
i never realized how fun board games were. i was too busy on eletronic gaming
This looks like a lot of fun. I have always been a big fan of carrier operations (although I prefer WW2 Pacific theatre as a setting). Any idea if a WW2 version is planned?
Good video. Looks like a very fun game.
@collchris2003: hey, you had been warned! This game is ADDICTIVE! :-) :-) :-) glad you're enjoying it though! :-)
Sounds like the ultimate "paralysis analysis" game. Tons of options doesn't necessarily mean that's GOOD thing. And how many hours does this take? Everyone talks about how "fast" the battles are but sounds like a big part of this game is PLANNING, which sounds like it takes a LOT of time.
and wait for my upcoming video about Thunderbolt / Apache Leader: that game is even better than HL:CAO!
yea. it was so bright, it burned through my sunglasses. litteraly. :)
BIG steep price. even so, I may buy this game one day.
You are the Balki Bartokomous of wargames.
Marco...your reviews are making me go bankrupt :( *click-buy* one more game added to the multitudes...