Not too long ago, I’ve been engrossed within the Hoplomachus: Victorum solo recreation from Chip Concept Video games. I reviewed it a number of weeks in the past, which you’ll be able to learn right here, however the in need of it’s, I liked it, and it’s spent quite a lot of time on my tabletop because it arrived.
Together with a replica of the sport, Chip Concept Video games despatched over a replica of the Pandora’s Wreck growth. I made a decision to speak about this one individually because it introduces some important modifications to the core recreation. So, let’s get proper into what makes it tick.
Growth Overview:
Pandora’s Wreck introduces 4 totally different modules that you would be able to add to your video games of Hoplomachus: Victorum. You’ll be able to decide those you need to use or toss all of them into one huge Hoplomachus salad.
Darkish Days:
This introduces Scion-specific occasions to shuffle into the respective occasion decks. These are more difficult than the common occasions however are extra tailor-made to the expertise of the Scion you might be going through.
Unusual Sands:
Extra selection! Every of the unique 8 arenas now includes a totally different ruleset. After every battle in an enviornment, you flip over the principles card, switching between the brand new ruleset and the unique one.
The Rivals:
As a substitute of getting static Primus battles, you now draw the highest card of the Primus occasion deck and use the lineup and guidelines listed on that card.
Mercury’s Boots:
That is an alternate play mode that cuts the sport size in about half. Your journey is now solely 24 weeks lengthy, divided into 4 6-week acts. You’ll be able to face a Primus everytime you need, which makes the Scion simpler for every Primus you defeat. You additionally get accelerated awards, quicker journey, and alternative playing cards can now be spent for rerolls or cashed in after Primus battles for his or her rewards.
Sport Expertise with the Growth:
For followers of Hoplomachus: Victorum, Pandora’s Wreck is a must-add growth. I’d say Darkish Days might be the least required of the brand new modules, as I’m normally not one to search for larger challenges in my solo video games. However the different 3 are incredible additions.
Unusual Sands fixes one in every of my complaints with the bottom recreation—the place fight felt stale as you went from struggle to struggle in the identical area. Now, with battle guidelines switching each different battle, issues are acquainted, but there’s a little bit extra selection within the recreation. You’ll be able to mix this with spectating to be sure you get the world guidelines you need to mix with the following occasion card.
I additionally take pleasure in The Rivals. The brand new Primus occasions add a contact of selection, however since they’re face up, you will have a little bit of management over if you wish to use that card. It is because now you can spectate in a capital location, so when you don’t like the present Primus occasion, you may cycle it out.
However the high of the listing for me is the Mercury’s Boots module. This cuts the playtime approach down but nonetheless provides the sensation of character progress and exploration. You may have two new stats you may improve: Alternative Playing cards and Journey. You begin out solely having the ability to maintain 3 alternative playing cards, which might now be spent for rerolls, and every upgraded journey level will allow you to transfer farther throughout the map on a flip. This offers you entry to different areas, extra decisions in what your subsequent occasion is, and helps you pace your technique to extra Primus battles.
I’m a bit on the fence about whether or not I just like the overhauls alternative card system. You’ll be able to not earn them in-game for attaining their objectives. However now, you may money in as much as two of them after defeating a Primus to earn their bonus (along with utilizing them for the reroll profit). I preferred getting these mid-level bumps with alternative rewards, however not having to do among the tougher ones can be welcome.
Lastly, whereas it’s not large enough for an article by itself, Chip Concept Video games did additionally ship over the Pandora’s May growth for us to take a look at. This small field growth bridges the hole between Hoplomachus: Victorum and Hoplomachus: Remastered (evaluate coming quickly from James). It enables you to use the heroes from Remastered in Victorum and likewise brings in Pandora herself as a hero. In case you don’t have Remastered, then you definitely received’t have the chips to make use of, however if you’re okay proxying them with the present heroes, then it provides you one other 9 or so heroes to make use of, making this a simple addition to your video games.
Remaining Ideas:
That is normally the a part of the growth evaluate the place we throw in the usual textual content: “In case you didn’t just like the core recreation, nothing right here will change your thoughts…”. But, for as soon as, I can buck that development. Pandora’s Wreck takes my two largest complaints from the core recreation and addresses them excellently. The range within the arenas have been doubled, and the sport size is way more manageable now. This can be a must-add addition, and Mercury’s Boots has grow to be the one approach I need to play Hoplomachus: Victorum. For me, this growth bumps the sport excessive into the 5-star class.
Hits:
• Mercury’s Boots is the easiest way to play
• Extra enviornment selection
• Primus battles are extra attention-grabbing
• Comes with card storage packing containers!
Misses:
• None
