Blog Archives
You’re the Duke! You’re the Duke!
Because I play so many board games, sometimes this funny thing happens where I’ll experience a game and its source material out of order. Last night, for example, I watched my first episode of The Mandalorian as research for Corey Konieczka’s latest adventure title. This is always an interesting process. Rather than approaching the game with my own assumptions about what a proper adaptation might entail, everything is flipped on its head as my feelings toward the source material are filtered through the lens of the of the adaptation. I’m peering through the telescope in reverse.
A few weeks back, I watched Escape from New York for the first time. The reason? That same evening, I’d conducted my inaugural play of Kevin Wilson’s version of John Carpenter’s cult classic. My main takeaway was that the film, like the game, is sublime trash. But here’s the kicker: I think I prefer the game.
Brine & Dice
I’ve heard tell that pirate games are the new zombie games, but I don’t think that’s anything to be worried about. For one thing, zombie games aren’t going anywhere, sadly. They’re as unkillable as their subject matter. Secondly, the latest pirate game is called Rum & Bones, and it’s about immortal (and sometimes skeletal) pirates brawling over cursed doubloons, flamboyant captains firing off flintlock pistols and getting into duels, and maybe a kraken rising from the depths to munch on both sides.
Isn’t it odd how the exact same plot can sound moronic in a movie but so utterly wonderful as a board game? Fret not, Rum & Bones is about five times more comprehensible than the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels.
SPACE-BIFF! 