Our spotlight shines tonight on a game more recently put out by Cryptozoic Entertainment, the DC Comics Deck-building Game. (Yes, that's the title. No, it isn't very creative) This is a well-polished deck building card game for 2-5 players using the Cerberus engine- we'll get to that, don't worry- set in the DC comics universe. Have I piqued your interest yet?
I have to admit, I was a little taken aback by the New 52 art style, but they've really pulled it off in few ways that even the DC comics themselves haven't been able to do. The same DC heroes and villains we've all come to love over the years are in action, and let me tell you, this game is beautiful. The art on the box and the cards is gorgeous, and overall, it's very sleek. But aesthetics aren't everything; Dominion is the best deck builder out there and the art for that game looks like crap. How's it play?
Thankfully, it plays really well. The Cerberus game engine I mentioned earlier, while not being a soul-crushing death trap as badass as the name insists, is actually a beautifully designed deck building mechanic system that plays the game out for you. Don't get me wrong, you are making all the tough decisions that you normally would be, but it's almost like there's a third party (dare I say it- the game itself) playing along with you and the other players.
What that means is that the game is setup so that each player takes the mantle of one of the Justice League's finest: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, etc. and plays out their turns gathering cards in the usual fashion. There are equipment cards, super power cards, villain cards, all sorts of stuff, very carefully designed to be perfect in the DC theme. However, there is another force at play. At the beginning of the game, a stack of randomized DC super villains is set up with good old Ra's Al Ghul taking point at the top of the diabolical deck. These cards influence play for ALL players at the table by being a) the most powerful cards playable, themselves open for purchase if you have enough buying power on your turn and b) heaving out some hefty punishments on all players once a new super villain is revealed. You can easily gain the most points by taking these baddies, but be ready to have made some enemies yourself!
There are other villain cards that play an attack on all other players once put into play, and even some familiar DC comics locations you can play to enhance your strategy. They really pulled out all the stops to make this game a well-oiled deck builder with the right atmosphere of the DC universe streaming out along with it.
Honestly, I think this particular game engine combined with the gorgeous aesthetic makes this one worth trying out alone. On top of all of this, Cryptozoic put out a Lord of the Rings deck builder (using the same Cerberus engine!!!) with a distinct Tolkien flavor out this last year... one for each movie! The Two Towers version just came out this summer and I am excited to give it a try.
Fans of deck-builders rejoice! The DC universe now has its own flag to fly in your world.
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