Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Review - with Mike DiLisio

Mike DiLisio takes a look at Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, where Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns gets adapted for the tabletop!
0:00 Intro
0:49 Overview
14:05 Review
15:02 Art & Components
19:12 Benchmarks
22:00 Overall Game Impressions
27:39 Final Review Score
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BGG Link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...

[@wildestnacatl]

Thanks for the review! One thing I found a bit odd in reading the rules was that the player chooses where to put the mutant, cop, and press tokens at the start of the game (vs. it either being randomized or a setup card just showing you where they go). Seems like there would be a "right" way to place them that'd be the same each time you play a scenario. Does anyone who has played have thoughts on this? Good/bad/irrelevant?

[@OutofTheBoxBoardGames]

Thanks for the review. I passed on this on KS but am now tempted to look for it at retail.

[@charliedc4728]

Thanks for the review, Mike. I hope to see many more of your reviews.

[@victorgonzalez2927]

Good review! The biggest problem is storage and cheap components but then again it’s Cryptozoic and I feel they aren’t the best when it comes to quality.

[@TheBlakeWhitaker]

Nice review Mike. That board isn’t pretty or appealing in the least to me but the rest of the game looks interesting. Thanks again for content 👍🏼

[@elqord.1118]

I agree.it looks like Blitzkrieg and Unmatched had a very very ugly baby

[@brianl6151]

Thanks for the in-depth review Mike. I was hesitating on purchasing this game as a huge Batman fan but this definitely helped. I am not sure if I will buy it since I am newer to the solo campaign modes but you explained it in a way that I feel is just right.

[@kens771]

Thanks for the review Mike!

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

👏🏾 Thanks for the review Mike.

[@kumanight]

I passed on this game because I just couldn't stand the art and component quality. The minis also don't look great. Shame because DKR is amazing and deserves a fantastic game. Hopefully we get another one.

[@thedorkydoodlesden]

Been waiting on this review!! Wondering if a review of IDW's Shadow of the Bat is coming too.

[@achang101]

Another great review Mike. I am really enjoying my plays of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns at the moment. You are also right in that insert is a terrible and impracticle insert. It's even more egregious given that the insert was one of their selling points during the Kickstarter campaign.

[@nickhayes1626]

The board is ugly but the gameplay sounds interesting. Thanks for the review. I may have to give this one a try.

[@GeeEmm81]

Great review. Think I’ll pick this up.

[@richardsaunders9214]

Very nice review.

[@nicole_w_s]

my copy arrived last week but I haven't had a chance to play yet

[@charlestaft6128]

Would you say the game length is between 90 and 100 minutes?

[@Garethadvertiser]

Comprehensive review, as ever. As per other comments, the board isn't too my taste but the gameplay looks solid. I'd be tempted by this if the KS version wasn't the only one I could get hold of and it's selling for near £90

[@scottmcfarlane7524]

I love games ....I own 1st prints of all these books.(including DK2 and 3) and still not sure if I would buy ! Never felt "batman" or "Dark Knight" art other then miller's work on the cards

[@trooper6762]

Looks good!

[@SoloBoardGamingKnight]

The board doesn’t have a Gotham look or feel to it. It reminds me of the Batman Forever movie with all of the neon lights. Still, I’d be interested in giving the game a chance and seeing what I think about it.

[@claytrongo]

It's very evocative of the comic, which had an intentionally garish, futuristic 80s look

[@SoloBoardGamingKnight]

@@claytrongo Unfortunately, I didn’t read the comic but I did watch The Dark Knight Returns animated movie (two-part movie). I loved it and that is the main reason why I would like to give this game a chance. The minis look pretty great!

[@seanewing204]

The board reminds me of the maps of Gotham seen in another story, No Man's Land. Basically: Gotham is destroyed by an earthquake, the latest in a series of Cataclysms and Contagions, and the US Government refuses to pay for repairs or send aid. Not only that, but Gotham is kicked out the USA, and declared a No Man's Land. No utilities, no government, and no access to the US proper - the bridges were blown, and there's a military perimeter around Gotham - means Gotham is split into different factions, each controlling a borough (think Mad Max meets Greek city-states/medieval land barons). Several maps were published over the course of the story as the six-ish territories were grown, shrunk, and dissolved/divvied up to give the reader the literal lay of the land.

[@peterpietrzak1253]

I cant decide if the live action dark knight or animated version of him was better?

[@cyberc0l0mbiana]

Is Catwoman featured in this game?

[@yotodine]

is mike the solo expert of dice tower now? I thought it was zeke.

[@TerrierHalo]

Well now I am TORN if I should get this or not.

[@nickhilbert750]

didnt mention how cool the minis are, and how many amazing custom dice, and batarang dice you get

[@ajw5388]

I’m pretty happy with Shadow of the Bat for my Batman themed game, but as a massive Batman fan I can see how this game could compliment the other, with this one being a more overarching strategy game, and SotB being the boots on the ground tactical game.

[@moltenbullet]

Alot of this production looks like Unmatched

[@chrisnenzel582]

Thanks Mike! There's a great 3D Printed organizer replacement on thingverse for those - like me - who were disappointed with the included organizer. Supports sleeved cards too!

[@DoctorGarro]

Thanks! Now I know what I’m doing when I get the game in my hands 😅

[@ChickenIandlEggs]

I couldn’t find it, do you still have the link?

[@Memmnarch1981]

His solo game of the year. Must be good than

[@SNONYM]

How comparable is this to arkham horror?

[@dwightrenfield2241]

It’s not.

[@polanskyf]

Replay value? Well, there's hard mode

[@ninseineon]

Geez, a seal of EXCELLENCE? 😐

[@daem0nfaust]

But are you vengeance?

[@seanewing204]

And the (k)night. You. Are. BATMAN!

[@thecultofpop]

I can never throw away an insert, no matter how bad it is. I'll complain about it to no end, but just suffer with it.

[@nickhilbert750]

good review, i have the deluxcopy of this and it just feels like the grim frank miller world of Batman, Bruce and the badguys are tired and bitter, the world is falling into Nuclear war and, Gotham cant b e saved, Thematic game good 8.5

[@francoisenglish6115]

I liked the review, but to be honest, I was floored by your 8,5. Not that I agree or disagree with it but it comes out of left field as I felt your tone was lukewarm throughout, almost as if you were defending the game. I thought a 6,5 or a 7 was coming. But 8,5? In any cae, I like the game. Most of what you said is true. I'm a batfan, so I may be biased, but I like it. Take care.

[@robertbouley7697]

Not just Mike, but most scores seem to fall 7-9 for all games. Something could be literal flaming poo in a bag and it would not drop below a 4. Those numbers do not exist in this reality.

[@DTChrisYi]

@@robertbouley7697 Well, this Batman game isn't a flaming bag of poo. Sorry if you wanted to see it get a 3 or something. Honestly, you seem to watch the channel enough to know that we will do a negative review. Your comment seems unnecessary and appears to call into question Mike's integrity.

[@robertbouley7697]

@@DTChrisYi No need to apologize. My comment is calling into question the trend of most 1-10 scales I see, especially in public forums. Something gets a 6 and it’s seen as ‘garbage’ and not ‘above average.’ This is just as much a perception issue of the community as it is reviewers. If Mike gives this an 8.5 I trust that’s what he believes it deserves. But that doesn’t exclude him from this skewed trend of a grading curve.

[@robertbouley7697]

@@andrethannhauser6302 Reviews are already subjective, if you start adding another layer with 'curve grading' you make it even worse. We need a common language if we're going to compare scores in a meaningful way. That's good to hear that DT offers diverse ratings, and it makes sense they would showcase games they're excited about, but that is irrelevant to my reply to the OP, who expressed confusion why a tame review received a score 15% from maximum. BGG ratings are an arbitrary representation of the problem I'm referring to.

[@Slyfox1775]

Just don’t see the theme and game working for me . shadow of the bat I think did a much better job for me . .. happy I passed on this and backed SOTB . To each their own . Thanks for the video .

[@clearyourthirdeye]

The artwork does not fit the source material.

[@DanSchaeffer]

Wha? The artwork is... taken directly from the source material!

[@clearyourthirdeye]

@@DanSchaeffer Yes, those cardboard characters are Frank Miller's art, but those colors on the board , dont fit the book i'm flipping through.

[@MuckyduckMel]

That is one ugly looking board. How can something so colourful be so dull ? Here's hoping it is good game.

[@VideoGameTakeOut]

This has to be in the running for ugliest game board of all time.