I just recently found out about this game, and I'm glad you made a review coz I really want to know more about it. I was trying to design my own card game with space battles and exploration, and then I decided to search for the most similar game(s) to it, and this appeared to be the only one like it. Games like these tend to be large, day-long, multiplayer affairs, and I'm glad this is in the market, despite not being as popular as many new games.
Hey there. Thanks for your comment! I agree this game packs a *lot* of meaty space battling and exploring without requiring a weekend to play. It definitely flew under the radar, but I keep coming back to it. It's good at all the player counts, too, not just with higher play counts (like several of the more popular space games). Thanks again.
I used to play and love 4x games on the PC, don't have a boardgame yet. This one looks quite interesting (especially because it has a good solo mode) and it's not massive. Thanks for putting it to your viewers attention.
Heya heya! How are you doing? Staying safe? I hope so! Yeah, this game was a surprise. You can tell that the designer has some experience in video games design and balancing that he brought into the game, and it shows. I like it because it really makes the combative parts interesting. Not just "4 strength against 2 defense. Roll die, add modifier. resolve." There's a lot of Magic: The Gathering type of elements that make battle a controlled chaos affair. Again, if I wanted the *full* 4X experience, Twilight Imperium or Space Empires IV is it. But this I can introduce to people and play it in two hours and it really does feel like a good 4x for that time. If you get it, let me know what you think. It's a small print run, hopefully they'll do additional runs for it. Always great to hear from you. stay safe, my friend!
@@hairbrainedgames3127 Doing alright, got my first shot of Asrtazeneca Friday, so maybe I'll survive. Still these are horrible times, the Mrs. and me are terribly bored with all the restrictions..
Very good video and review! I don't entirely agree on your opinion after my first game, but I really like to like this game and I will try to give it another chance. I love to play background music when I play. You mentioned that there is a OST, but I can't find it. Do you mind share the link? Plis... Greetings from UK
Heya! Thanks for posting! I'm always up for different opinions, and respect them greatly. Yes, the designer also makes does music for video games as well. While he doesn't have an original one specific to this game, he does have an original sound track to a space video game that he shared on BGG: contentiongames.com/_images/Star%20Crusade%20-%20Main%20Theme.mp3 Very orbital. Thanks for posting!
Hi Sergio!! Feel free to send me feedback of any kind, positive negative, whatever it is! We're working on the expansion and negative play experiences are helpful in figuring out the next step for the game. BGG or info@contentiongames.com is the best way to reach me.
I'm looking at picking this up primarily for solo. Just wondering does it support deck construction in the solo mode, or do you just use the prefab decks in solo?
Thanks for the great review! I just ordered it. Have you played The Silver River - another compact 4X game? Not quite as compact as this one, but I like it.
Hey there! I hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think. Yes! I do have The Silver River as well. I agree it's not quite as compact, but I also enjoy many aspects of it. It's not a well known game, either. Have you played solo Silver River? I have only played with multiple folks, was thinking of trying out the solo but haven't gotten to it yet. Thanks for the comment. :)
Hey there. I've played 4 player, 2 player, and quite a bit of solo. Haven't played 3 player yet. Enjoyed them at all the counts. If I had any preferences, I like the 4 player best, and solo after that, because of its campaign.
@@MrGreeneyes77 Good question. For me, yes, it's a good two player game but it does make the game more of a star duel than a 4x feel. You lose that element of 4x games where you're facing off against other aliens in their own corners of the map and contending with the multiple threats. In two players, it feels almost Magic: The Gathering-ish (which I like too, just in a different way). It becomes more of maneuvering yourself against one opponent and less of the other "Xs" in 4x are as prevalent. Hope that helps.
@@hairbrainedgames3127 You really sold this game on me.... not only is it a compressed 4x game, but the fact that the game scales from playing like MTG to a 4x puts it firmly in a VERY unique position!!
I just recently found out about this game, and I'm glad you made a review coz I really want to know more about it. I was trying to design my own card game with space battles and exploration, and then I decided to search for the most similar game(s) to it, and this appeared to be the only one like it. Games like these tend to be large, day-long, multiplayer affairs, and I'm glad this is in the market, despite not being as popular as many new games.
Hey there. Thanks for your comment! I agree this game packs a *lot* of meaty space battling and exploring without requiring a weekend to play. It definitely flew under the radar, but I keep coming back to it. It's good at all the player counts, too, not just with higher play counts (like several of the more popular space games).
Thanks again.
I used to play and love 4x games on the PC, don't have a boardgame yet. This one looks quite interesting (especially because it has a good solo mode) and it's not massive.
Thanks for putting it to your viewers attention.
Heya heya! How are you doing? Staying safe? I hope so!
Yeah, this game was a surprise. You can tell that the designer has some experience in video games design and balancing that he brought into the game, and it shows. I like it because it really makes the combative parts interesting. Not just "4 strength against 2 defense. Roll die, add modifier. resolve." There's a lot of Magic: The Gathering type of elements that make battle a controlled chaos affair.
Again, if I wanted the *full* 4X experience, Twilight Imperium or Space Empires IV is it. But this I can introduce to people and play it in two hours and it really does feel like a good 4x for that time. If you get it, let me know what you think. It's a small print run, hopefully they'll do additional runs for it.
Always great to hear from you. stay safe, my friend!
@@hairbrainedgames3127 Doing alright, got my first shot of Asrtazeneca Friday, so maybe I'll survive. Still these are horrible times, the Mrs. and me are terribly bored with all the restrictions..
Thanks for the Review, Tim!!
Great review!
Very good video and review! I don't entirely agree on your opinion after my first game, but I really like to like this game and I will try to give it another chance.
I love to play background music when I play. You mentioned that there is a OST, but I can't find it. Do you mind share the link? Plis...
Greetings from UK
Heya! Thanks for posting! I'm always up for different opinions, and respect them greatly.
Yes, the designer also makes does music for video games as well. While he doesn't have an original one specific to this game, he does have an original sound track to a space video game that he shared on BGG: contentiongames.com/_images/Star%20Crusade%20-%20Main%20Theme.mp3
Very orbital.
Thanks for posting!
Hi Sergio!! Feel free to send me feedback of any kind, positive negative, whatever it is! We're working on the expansion and negative play experiences are helpful in figuring out the next step for the game. BGG or info@contentiongames.com is the best way to reach me.
I'm looking at picking this up primarily for solo. Just wondering does it support deck construction in the solo mode, or do you just use the prefab decks in solo?
I used the prefab decks mostly. I'm not too awesome at deck construction, I usually end up worse than the pre-constructed ones in games. :)
Thanks for the great review! I just ordered it. Have you played The Silver River - another compact 4X game? Not quite as compact as this one, but I like it.
Hey there! I hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think.
Yes! I do have The Silver River as well. I agree it's not quite as compact, but I also enjoy many aspects of it. It's not a well known game, either. Have you played solo Silver River? I have only played with multiple folks, was thinking of trying out the solo but haven't gotten to it yet.
Thanks for the comment. :)
In fact, maybe I need to do a review of Silver River. I'm glad you mentioned it.
What player counts have you played at?
Hey there. I've played 4 player, 2 player, and quite a bit of solo. Haven't played 3 player yet. Enjoyed them at all the counts. If I had any preferences, I like the 4 player best, and solo after that, because of its campaign.
@@hairbrainedgames3127 what are your thoughts on 2 player only? Is the game still worth it?
@@MrGreeneyes77 Good question. For me, yes, it's a good two player game but it does make the game more of a star duel than a 4x feel. You lose that element of 4x games where you're facing off against other aliens in their own corners of the map and contending with the multiple threats.
In two players, it feels almost Magic: The Gathering-ish (which I like too, just in a different way). It becomes more of maneuvering yourself against one opponent and less of the other "Xs" in 4x are as prevalent.
Hope that helps.
@@hairbrainedgames3127 You really sold this game on me.... not only is it a compressed 4x game, but the fact that the game scales from playing like MTG to a 4x puts it firmly in a VERY unique position!!
@@MrGreeneyes77 Yeah, let me know what you think of it! I hope you like it as much as I have. :)