Post by Flesh Eater on Jul 31, 2011 17:49:22 GMT -5
Dawn of the Dead Board Game Review
Part I: Rules
The game revolves around a very complex set of rules that dictate not only the motion of our four friends (Peter, Roger, Flyboy and Fran) but also the undead. Each move that is made by the characters is countered by the zombies. Back and fourth they go as our heroes try to outsmart the walking dead. There is also a complex set of rules on how the fantastic four can move. How far, which way and how many times is controlled. The zombies go through four different stages of movement, making them very dynamic and even more daunting. The characters can use a rifle to shoot the walking corpses, but only when they are in view. If one of our friends is caught by a zombie, they become infected and enter that state for the rest of play.
Quite possibly the best part of this game (for me at least) is the fact that it can be played by a single player. A single player can control not only the main characters but also the zombies, playing on a collision course.
This game was made in the days of little electronic gaming. Fans could reenact their favorite film by engrossing themselves in a scenario that has every possible outcome. People going through a mall of zombies, zombies going through stages of infection, guns, rooms, infection, victory.
Part II: Visuals
On the surface, the 1978 version of the game is rather... dated looking. Some might call it an eyesore but if you enjoy anything "retro" then I am sure you can find an appreciation for it. To appeal to a newer audience, the game was updated with graphics borrowed from the popular multi-player board game "ZOMBIES!!!" With these new visuals come a cleaner look, a bit easier on the eyes. All of the store names are the same as are the tiles an general layout. We do have some new vehicles in the parking lot, adding to the feeling of the zombie apocalypse. One of my favorite stores is "Brane Lyant." Apparently the manufacturers did not receive the right to include actual stores, it just adds to the charm if you ask me. One thing that is a bit of a negative with this game is the game pieces. All we get in the old and new version are so called "counters" which is just a fancy name for little pieces of cardstock with different descriptions on them. Each zombie is represented by a counter, on the back is the value of the zombie.
Also, the characters are represented by a little tile of cardstock, on the front is their different values for mobility, range and such and the back reflects those values if a member is infected. To counteract this rather lackluster aspect, I have opted to purchase a "Bag-o-Zombies" which are made for the "ZOMBIES!!!" game. They are little 25mm miniatures of zombies, the ones I purchased are glow in the dark. I also purchased some zombie clowns by the same company (Twilight Creations). The closest replacements for Peter and Roger that I can find are a few miniatures from the HeroClix line. As for Steve and Fran, I am having some difficulty finding compatable miniatures, I did find a few that are from an aircraft RPG game, but the scale is a bit off and that is bothersome (to me at least).
Part III: Overall Impression
The updated board is a bit more enjoyable visual wise compared to the original 1978 board. Keep in mind that both boards play exactly the same, it all truly depends on what kind of mood you are in or if you are a sentimental person. The only true letdown with this game is the game pieces. The original manufacturers only supplied little cutout counters for game play, these lack the atmosphere that the game requires. If you choose to replace the counters with miniatures, be prepared to search shops and online stores as well as spend a little cash (minimal really). I recommend buying any miniatures that you like, it is your game afterall. If you choose to use the retro board, keep in mind that the scans of this board are overlapped a bit, so mind your measurements. The only other thing you will need are 3 dice, a pair of eyes to read the instructions and some time to work out the kinks.
Original Manufacturer: SPI
Year Produced: 1978, 1981(limited run)
Players: 1+
Cost: $18 to print 8 sheets of 11x17 cardstock in color and 2 sheets of 8x11 cardstock. Other cost: $14 for 100 glow in the dark zombies and 100 zombie clowns, $3 for 3 SWAT team HeroClix, $2 for 2 other RPG figures.
Assembly time: A few hours if the sheets are printed seperate, minimal if the board is printed on a single sheet.
Recommended: Abso-friggin-loutly.
-Fleshy
