Game: Bood Bowl
Publisher:

I’m not sure exactly why Blood Bowl exists. That may sound harsh, but allow me to explain. Blood Bowl is based on a table top game from Games Workshop. Games Workshop’s other properties include both Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000, both of which have enjoyed successful forays into gaming. There is very noticeable difference between Blood Bowl the other games spawned from Games Workshop’s table top war games. But where Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 have deep and rich universes to draw from, Blood Bowl does not.

Instead, Blood Bowl is a game that takes the races from the Warhammer universe and throws them into sports arena, playing a game that resembles football or rugby. On paper, that doesn’t sound too bad. In a world where the Madden series has exclusive rights to the NFL, many companies have tried to create football games with a lack of star power. Why not take this classic table top game and create an action packed football game full of orcs, elves, and other fantastical creatures, as they beat, bribe, and blitz their way to the end zone?

The unsuspecting gamer might then be surprised to find that this is not an action packed sports game, but rather, a turn based strategy game. Instead of adapting the table top game for the new medium, Cyanide seems to have ported it to the PSP, dice and all. Blood Bowl is the variety of sports game that is more likely to interest the Chess team then the Football squad.

That being said, it’s a pretty damn good turn-based tactical sports game, which is to be expected considering that Games Workshop has some 35 years experience in this sort of thing. The basic mechanics of Blood Bowl are fairly simple. Each match takes place over 16 turns that are divided into two, 8 turn halves. On each of your turns you may individually move or block with each of your players. A die is rolled every time you try to perform an action such as picking up the ball, throwing the ball, catching the ball, moving through an opponent’s “tackle zone” or attempting to move further than you normally would. Failing a die roll on one of these actions or failing a block will result in your turn ending.

A quick tutorial will guide you through a turn where you perform these actions, as well as demonstrating how you can kick a player while he is down, bribe the ref, and utilize sideline features such as re-rolls and apothecaries. While it may take a match or two to get this down, over all, the rules of the game are fairly simple. Mastering them is quite another story.

Each race emphasizes a different aspect of the game. Wood elves are nimble and have a great passing game. The Chaos team is made up of big angry brutes that are better at pummeling the opponent into the ground than worrying about the ball. Humans are a jack of all trades, while the goblins are great at losing in spectacular fashion. It will take many matches to discover which of the eight races is best suited to your play style. Expect to lose a lot while trying to figure out the nuances of each race and how to play them. It is best to establish which race you like best and figure out a general strategy before you even think about committing to one in the campaign mode.

A campaign is a long and grueling affair. You start off with a sac full of gold and must use it to hire your team. From there you compete against 64 other teams in 15 different championships and tournaments. As you play, your characters will gain experience, increase their stats, and gain new abilities. Mercenary players will also be available to hire for a single match. The more matches you win, the more fans and prestige you gain. This also leads to an increase in your rank. Fans increase the chance that a positive event will happen for you at kickoff, while prestige unlocks more tournaments and championships to compete in.

Suffice to say, there is a lot of game here… A LOT OF GAME. Some might go as far as to say that there is probably more game then you will be interested in playing, unless you are a big fan of turn based tactical games.  While Blood Bowl is definitely aimed at a niche audience, it does a tremendous job of filling that niche. Unfortunately, every match takes place in the same arena and looks almost exactly the same. This is a limitation that may draw gamers to the PC or 360 versions of the game simply for the change in location from match to match. The most redeeming quality is that the slow pace is easy to drop in and out of, making Blood Bowl convenient for the gamer on the go. The game admittedly has limited appeal, but it will certainly satisfy its target audience.

Sharing: It’s Win/Win

Although its reception has been more lukewarm than a cup of tea round your nan’s house, it’s still a quality bit of kit.  Compact, sleek, and best of all, freshly-wrapped.  The geek in me wants one right now, although my bank manager disagrees.  Pick it up before 10th October, and Sony will even throw in a copy of Gran Turismo for free.

Go on.  You know you want to.