I tried playing a tournament game with the included miniatures and it just didn’t really work since the objective counters require figures to occupy and hold them both for points and to use their special abilities. With only three figures per side it just isn’t possible. But I could definitely see where the game would be a lot more interesting using the tournament rules and a larger army. But then again, the map is so small and the quarters so close already that a larger army would likely introduce some awkward bottlenecking and strategic limitations. I’m hopeful that FFG will eventually release larger maps or rules for combining starter set ones to create larger playfields.

So the starter set just isn’t enough—I’d say it’s barely enough to whet your whistle on what the game offers. I would definitely recommend that anyone interested in the game be prepared to purchase several boosters along with a starter as this is definitely not a complete or completely playable game out of the box—even the included miniatures reference figures or abilities that to be found elsewhere in the set. Sure, it’s entirely possible to proxy a complete army since the unit cards are included but you’re going to want the miniatures if you get into the game. Including all the cards is a nice gesture that lets players test out different units and see up front what’s out there but by the same token it kind of sucks that if you really want the pieces you’re going to have to buy randomly packed boosters. The boosters retail at $19.95 and contain a large, double-based figure and three regular sized figures. It’s a relatively small set, around 60 pieces, but collecting a full set or even a flexible, comprehensive set of one faction looks like it will be a fairly expensive proposition.

I do have to say that I think the 54mm figures, as cool as they look, are a big mistake. There’s no doubt they have curb appeal and there’s not many gamers that aren’t going to stop in their tracks when they see these guys but at the end of the day these jumbo figures cost the consumer roughly $5 a piece and when you’re buying them in random assortments the proposition seems a little distressing. Other CMGs have included anywhere from six to 15 regular-sized figures per booster or have offered a lower retail price per “hit” and I can’t help but think that FFG might be overestimating the willingness of consumers to blindly purchase the figures no matter how cool they are. And also, unlike the DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS miniatures which also serve double duty as a product for the D&D minis game but also as figures for the RPG, these miniatures are outsized to the point where they are not compatible with other MUTANT CHRONICLES products.

Nonetheless, after playing several skirmishes, I can say that the game looks like it could turn out to be a lightweight, simple miniatures game with some interesting considerations to take into account for those willing to take the plunge and invest some of their gaming dollars into the system. The game could be a lot of fun in a multiplayer setting with teams or even as free-for-all elimination matches. But it disconcertingly falls in sort of an awkward place, not really providing enough substance for serious miniatures gamers but still too “hobby” for a mass-market consumer. This could mean trouble if the game fails to find traction in the marketplace because collectible games strongly depend on the development of active player communities- not just on the internet but in game stores- to survive. Gamers won’t invest in a collectible game if they don’t feel like there is a localized “scene” that will provide them with opponents, trading opportunities, and support. If the game doesn’t take hold in that way, then it likely won’t be around for very long. I can, however, definitely see the game taking off with younger gamers looking for something beyond HEROSCAPE or the CLIX games and that may very well be where FFG is targeting this product and as such I think it’s definitely a demographic worth pursuing.

Like most collectible games though, it’s hard to make a judgment call until you’ve really gotten into the system, learned what the strategies and possible combinations are, and encountered other players with experience and different angles on the metagame aspect of army construction. After previewing the game I’m interested to see where it goes and how it develops in its expansions and I’m definitely planning to experiment more with the army construction, likely purchasing a few boosters along the way to check out some more of the figures. I would love to see FFG consider packaging the game in a manner similar to HEROSCAPE or even its own AT-43 line, where players can purchase packages of specific figures to build their armies to their liking without the need for blind purchases but as it stands, we’ll be popping open those boxes and groaning when we see our umpteenth $5 Necromutant.

Questions or comments for Michael? Send them along to gameshark.feedback@yahoo.com .

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