Blood Bowl II Reviews
Whilst Blood Bowl 2's strict adherence to the franchise's rules may dissuade some from even trying this out, those that do take the plunge and stick with it will find that despite its faults, it can be a deeply rewarding and enriching experience. The AI isn't really up to snuff though, so expect to ride a long learning curve to be able to become competitive online - if you can find a game.
What little Blood Bowl 2 does wrong is more a result of its unconventional mix-up than any technical shortcomings of the game. Combining sports and RPGs is a tricky thing at best, and while Blood Bowl 2 pulls it off well, to say the mix is perfect wouldn't be right. This is fun to play through and through, even if the audience might be limited.
Not for everyone, but what Blood Bowl II does, it does exceptionally well.
A smart mixture of Warhammer strategy and American Football, BB 2 combines the nuance of turn-based skill with perceptive risk management to create a game that is equal parts joy and pain to figure out. And though it bears the frustrations of unpredictability and a sporadically malfunctioning A.I., which destroys match pacing (and will probably be patched), the core gameplay is intelligent and deep enough to advocate to anyone who appreciates turn-based strategy coupled with an endearing high fantasy aesthetic.
This game is giving a new meaning to "Fantasy Football"
Undoubtedly Blood Bowl 2 is a very unique game that really has no other similar games to compare it with, but it is a fantastic mashup of two games. The level of detail in the game is a great aspect that will have you admiring all the characters in the game including your opposition
I think that the most shocking aspect of Blood Bowl is that it has been around since the mid-80's, with the first tabletop release being in 1986. I guess that goes to show how much I paid attention to it when walking into a GamesWorkshop retail store (when they still existed in abundance here in the States), though I was admittedly staring at the gorgeously painted models, so I had eyes for little else.
A faithful recreation of the smash hit boardgame and a ton of fun to boot!
It's hard to really pinpoint who will enjoy Blood Bowl 2 the most. Strategy, board game and American Football fans will all get something from it. Still, it's worth trying your hand at it even if you're not a fan of those genres. The main issue with the game is the steep learning curve and the length of the matches. If you're someone with limited time this probably isn't the game for you. If you do have the time for such a big commitment though, then you're in for a treat.
The Blood Bowl franchise is an overlooked, yet interesting series. The fact that it warranted a sequel is great for fans and even better for newer players looking to join the blood-sport's pandemonium. The game may look daunting for these new comers as strategy, micromanaging and finding the perfect league won't come without practice.