Super Fantasy Brawl Review

 I have to admit that I am not indifferent to games in the skirmish genre. Since Super Fantasy Brawl came out on Kickstarter, I was ready to play it a lot. I tried playing Warhammer Underworlds for a while and enjoyed it, but was put off by the sheer number of deck options and not having anyone on hand to play competitive matches. Underworlds was definitely an entry-level game for Games Workshop, but Unmatched and Funkoverse are entry-level games for everyone and are great for offering a card or cube skirmish.

 Super Fantasy Brawl retains the entry-level feel while adding a bit more depth in the long run. The game uses a clever card system with small decks of six cards for each hero. So let's grab our champions and dive into the game.

I LOVE WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY IN A STRUGGLE

 First of all, let me state up front that I have the Kickstarter kit, but I have reworked this review for the main box. The main differences are a lot more champions and component upgrades. While the neoprene mats and plastic tokens are nice to have, the cardboard counterparts are durable and look great. The miniatures set – a purely aesthetic update – will also be available at retail separately. Just remember my greed when looking at the photos!

 The retail edition includes 6 champions, with three more available as separate sets. The great thing about this is, firstly, the extremely reasonable price and also the variety in the box. Many other games in the skirmish genre only give a "small" idea of the full gameplay, and therefore you will have to purchase new characters for the full experience. Super Fantasy Brawl is different. The games are played in a 3 champion vs. 3 champion format, so you get the full game in the base box.

 Surprisingly, the variety in the game is quite large. This is due to the fact that each champion is an individual, and not part of a faction or "squad" that he is supposed to represent. So you'll need time to try all the combos the base box offers, and even adding one new champion will add a lot of variety!

A FIGHT IS POSSIBLE WITH ME

 Now that we've made sure you're getting a more than decent price, let's dive into the mechanics. There are some really good moments here that really take Super Fantasy Brawl to the next level. First, each champion receives a deck of six cards. This deck is divided into two cards of each of the three suits: red, yellow, and blue. Red symbolizes destruction, yellow - creation, blue - manipulation.

 Each player has a token of each color, which he flips over to take actions on his turn, and sometimes off-turn. The main use of the token is to play a card of the appropriate suit, giving you a total of up to three actions per turn. A token of any color can be used to move 2 steps, and each token has one step and a specific action. For example, red allows you to move once and deal one unblockable damage.

 There are about a dozen key terms, but they are easy to learn and fully explained at the end of the rules. After one game you will know and learn most of them. Most cards will allow you to attack or buff a friend or foe!

 But it is not only about beating your opponents as hard as possible. With a well-thought-out goal system, positioning will be extremely important. At the beginning of the game, two targets appear, and then, after each player takes their turn, they move down the row one place - and another is added. As you move down, their value will vary between 0 and 2 victory points. You can also earn a point by defeating an opponent's champion.

 It only takes 5 points to win, so you can set up some massive combos, but you have to hit the objective early in your turn to win! This means that the other player has a whole turn to try to disrupt your plans. In one game, the two goals were "have at least two of your champions in trap hexes" and "have at least two champions leveled up". My opponent was determined to win the game because at the start of his next turn he would still have one of those objectives! A single character attack would have been enough for me to knock out one of his leveled champions and bring him back to normal, but they weren't even close to the mark.

 Looking through my cards, I noticed that I could sneak through an opposing champion, picking him up along the way and dropping him next to another champion with attack cards. The day was saved! Or at least their victory was delayed. This has happened at least once in every game of Super Fantasy Brawl I've played. Combinations like these make for battle stories you'll tell anyone who will listen and remember long after the plastic and cardboard have been put away.

PLAY HOW YOU WANT

 Figuring out how each champion works is pretty simple, as each has just 6 cards and a specific style. Once you get to know some cards, you'll be using keywords like "planning" (putting a card from your hand to the top of the deck) and burning the deck to get the cards and combos you need. While there is success in shuffling these cards, you always know the card you need is nearby. After that, the battle is determined by the characteristics of the cards.

 This is where your off move comes into play. Each champion has one "reaction" card that can be played for any champion your opponent attacks. She can cancel damage, deal damage, resurrect you, and more. The downside is that you still have to flip a token of the appropriate color, giving you one less action on your turn. Losing one action is not always serious, but it can completely destroy your plans.

 Super Fantasy Brawl is a game where you will never feel like you lost. Even if you lose 4:0, you always have a chance to turn the situation around. Champions also differ from each other. This creates a great synergy that you can discover for yourself. Do you have a slow tank? Use one of the powerful heroes to launch the ego across the battlefield alongside the enemy! But remember that you must be focused on achieving goals by the beginning of your next turn!

CONCLUSIONS

 I have a bit of a crush on Super Fantasy Brawl. It's not just one of the best skirmish games I've played, it's one of the best games I've played. The gameplay is straightforward and fun, and I discover new synergies or potential combos every time I play. Each new champion increases variety because it can be added to any team.

 The game only has one arena, but I haven't gotten bored of it yet. Maybe it's because you spend most of your time bouncing off walls and statues, dealing extra damage to your opponents. The new arena will likely require a new set of objective cards as well, which isn't such an unappealing prospect, but it's definitely not needed in the short to medium term.

 Super Fantasy Brawl is all about champions and what you can do with them. It's worth a look even if you haven't played skirmish before, and while some may be disappointed that the Kickstarter update is hard to come by, it's worth remembering that the game's price is really good considering what's in the box: from components to the gameplay itself!