Blood Bowl II Reviews
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!
This game is giving a new meaning to "Fantasy Football"
With some deep mechanics and a level of micromanagement that would make even the most compulsive of table top gaming aficionados blush, it is quite easy to see how well Blood Bowl 2 would work as board game. It is for some of these very same reasons, however, that Blood Bowl 2 is somewhat less satisfying as a videogame. The random nature of the dice rolls can lead to some serious frustration and the action is so slow and plodding that it is definitely not the kind of game someone can just jump in and play. There is certainly going to be a target audience that appreciates what this offers, and what Blood Bowl 2 does well it does really well. Grab a six-sided die, then, and some extensive spreadsheets to keep track of stats, because everyone knows it isn't a real American Football game without either of those two items…
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
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.
A strategy game that offers little in the way of strategy, Blood Bowl 2 at least has dumb fun going for it.
Blood Bowl 2 has been well adapted from the tabletop game into a fun digital world. Even if you know little about football or Warhammer, anyone who likes the challenge of a complex strategy game will appreciate Blood Bowl 2 - especially in multiplayer.
The storyline of the campaign mode is sort of fun and playing a season with all of the ups and downs that brings is also fun, but for me I think most of the joy comes from the nostalgia, I'm afraid.
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.
Fans of turn-based strategy and tabletop games will want to give Blood Bowl 2 a shot, but a muddled presentation limits the broader appeal among gamers and holds this game back from becoming a standout title.
Despite some balance issues and long play times, Blood Bowl 2 is a bloody yet engaging sports strategy sim
With its action taking place on a playing field, the scope and structure of Blood Bowl 2 initially feels smaller in scale than you tend to expect from most turn-based strategy games. After a few hours though – with its board game roots exposed – you'll find that there's actually plenty of depth to be explored. While the abundance of random dice rolls will put some people off, if you're the sort of person who relishes the unexpected, then there's a good chance – 70 per cent according to the God of Dice – that its bizarre setting and chaotic action will make it worth a punt.
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.
Not for everyone, but what Blood Bowl II does, it does exceptionally well.
Blood Bowl 2 will require patience to learn its ins and outs, but thankfully it has a great way to teach you the ropes throughout its campaign.
Blood Bowl 2 is definitely one for the board game devotees who prefer to play online rather than solo.
This inspired pairing of the Warhammer universe with American Football works surprisingly well, although it has to be said that fans of more straightforward sporting sims may not take to the game as well as those who prefer tactical, turn based titles, as Blood Bowl 2 definitely leans towards the latter.
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.
Blood Bowl 2 is a deceptively simple yet tactically deep turn-based sports game well worth your time. For maximum utility, avoid the campaign mode and join a league as soon as possible.