Just lately, I’ve been engrossed within the Hoplomachus: Victorum solo sport from Chip Concept Video games. I reviewed it just a few weeks in the past, which you’ll be able to learn right here, however the wanting it’s, I beloved it, and it’s spent plenty 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 Smash enlargement. I made a decision to speak about this one individually because it introduces some vital adjustments to the core sport. So, let’s get proper into what makes it tick.
Enlargement Overview:
Pandora’s Smash introduces 4 totally different modules that you could add to your video games of Hoplomachus: Victorum. You possibly can choose those you wish to use or toss all of them into one massive Hoplomachus salad.
Darkish Days:
This introduces Scion-specific occasions to shuffle into the respective occasion decks. These are tougher than the common occasions however are extra tailor-made to the expertise of the Scion you might be dealing with.
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 possibly can face a Primus everytime you need, which makes the Scion simpler for every Primus you defeat. You additionally get accelerated awards, sooner 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 Enlargement:
For followers of Hoplomachus: Victorum, Pandora’s Smash is a must-add enlargement. I’d say Darkish Days might be the least required of the brand new modules, as I’m normally not one to search for better challenges in my solo video games. However the different 3 are implausible additions.
Unusual Sands fixes considered one of my complaints with the bottom sport—the place fight felt stale as you went from combat to combat 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 sport. You possibly can mix this with spectating to be sure to get the world guidelines you wish to mix with the following occasion card.
I additionally get pleasure from The Rivals. The brand new Primus occasions add a contact of selection, however since they’re face up, you might have a little bit of management over if you wish to use that card. It’s because now you can spectate in a capital location, so if you happen to don’t like the present Primus occasion, you possibly can cycle it out.
However the prime of the listing for me is the Mercury’s Boots module. This cuts the playtime manner down but nonetheless provides the sensation of character progress and exploration. You’ve two new stats you possibly can 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 provides you entry to different areas, extra decisions in what your subsequent occasion is, and helps you pace your approach to extra Primus battles.
I’m a bit on the fence about whether or not I just like the overhauls alternative card system. You possibly can now not earn them in-game for reaching their objectives. However now, you possibly can 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 enlargement for us to take a look at. This small field enlargement bridges the hole between Hoplomachus: Victorum and Hoplomachus: Remastered (evaluation coming quickly from James). It helps you to use the heroes from Remastered in Victorum and in addition 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 straightforward addition to your video games.
Ultimate Ideas:
That is normally the a part of the enlargement evaluation the place we throw in the usual textual content: “In case you didn’t just like the core sport, nothing right here will change your thoughts…”. But, for as soon as, I can buck that development. Pandora’s Smash takes my two largest complaints from the core sport and addresses them excellently. The range within the arenas have been doubled, and the sport size is rather more manageable now. It is a must-add addition, and Mercury’s Boots has turn into the one manner I wish to play Hoplomachus: Victorum. For me, this enlargement bumps the sport excessive into the 5-star class.
Hits:
• Mercury’s Boots is one of the simplest ways to play
• Extra enviornment selection
• Primus battles are extra attention-grabbing
• Comes with card storage packing containers!
Misses:
• None
