Hellboy - The Board Game Unboxing & Initial Thoughts Review | Warhammer Quest Silver Tower 2.0?

[@marktattersall9149]

The KS pledge was incredible value, particularly the number of minis and variety of enemies. Thirty-five quid for the retail edition is a steal for a great game. The set-up time is quite long but it's worth it. Enjoy.

[@marcolai9735]

Perfect summary!

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

£35 seems like a really good price for what comes in the box. I'm certainly happy with my purchase at the moment.

[@Ariranhaa]

I have all the content released so far and I like the game a lot. Some 90% of the people that didn't like it (according to BGG reviews and the "BGG" from my country) fits in one of these categories: 1- Got the retail core box. 2- Played only one or two base-game scenarios (some played only the tutorial!). 3- Don't like many combat rules and dice. About item 1, yeah, the retail core box lacks content. About item 2, the first cases are actually pretty similar, but they get way more fun and diversified after that. About item 3, IMO it has one of the cleverest combat system I've seen in a dungeon crawler, but I come from RPG, so I'm used to way more rules and way more dice chucking. If you're a "card driven" board gamer you won't like it. The only actual cons imo is the lack of clarity regarding some rules (which was fixed on an errata made by the developer), the lack of content in the retail core box and the very high price of the expansions.

[@Slyfox1775]

Love hellboy and your show !! The base box was nothing compared to the original ks edition! If you can get your hands on that grab it ! Backing the ks as well . I’m not a huge fan of hell boy but it’s a change of pace from generic fantasy game .

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully I enjoy it when I sink my teeth into it.

[@Slyfox1775]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Intreated to here your thoughts . I thought it was a nice Evolution of silver tower .

[@alexanderdoddy7590]

I remember going to the preview event in Nottingham. Had a test game and it all seemed great fun!

[@fnulnu8694]

Just getting interested in the comic books and the board game. I recently picked up the core retail game and haven’t played it just yet. This is great timing, thanks.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I hope you enjoy it. It looks like a lot of fun.

[@TinyDiodes]

As a Huge Silver Tower Fan, this looks great! So many cool unique mechanics! But it still seems very comprehensive and simple.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

That's certainly my initial impression. There are some really interesting idea to explore in it.

[@jonathancampbell7798]

Hellboy is such a great comic, I'm sort of tempted to try it. I should since I'm a big big fan of the source material

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I'll share some more thoughts when I've had a bit of time with it.

[@astronomicafilms]

I never looked twice at this game, since I’m not a big fan of the IP - but the games the designer had a hand in (a few I consider among the best GW games in the past few years) is causing me to consider taking a closer look...

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

James has worked on some great titles. He was also responsible for Blitz Bowl, which I've heard good things about but never had a chance to play. I'm hoping to review the game in the next few weeks, once I've had a decent amount of time with it.

[@alanwesley598]

The ks version was massive compared to the retail version. Lots of extra agents and enemies and scenarios.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Thats to be expected, I guess; kickstarters I backed in the past were big and I invariably ended up not using the content for one reason or another. I’m very happy these days to be able to pick up a cheap starter and build on it later if I feel the game is worth it.

[@alanwesley598]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring yeah I'm glad there's a version out there that has a lower barrier to entry for people. But this wasn't like a standard Kickstarter where there's a starter box and a ton of tacked on expansions. The actual base game from Kickstarter was like three times fatter. Came with a bunch of villains and heroes even a squad of Nazi soldiers. Cuckoo.

[@alanwesley598]

I do have all the expansions, the Mexico one is the most fun I think. Lucha libre Hellboy and giant vampire bat wrestlers.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

@@alanwesley598 I've looked at the various different expansions. The Mexico one looks crazy. Do you think that might be one where you really need to be a fan of the comics to get involved in the theme?

[@alanwesley598]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring I don't think that any of the expansions specifically necessitates that you need to know the background or lore to enjoy it. Hellboy is as robust has any character out there. The Mexico expansion represents the lighter or slapsticky Hellboy I enjoy. I have a lot of dungeon crawl games that take themselves very seriously, this one can be a lot more silly and fun.

[@willpattison8779]

I really enjoy the game. A bit more setup time for cards but it plays well. I recommend that you only play with 4 heroes. 2 heroes will struggle to beat the bosses.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Thanks for the tip. I was intending to play with all four heroes, but hadn't really considered boss fights. It just seemed like it would be a more interesting option due to how heroes can act out of sequence.

[@mazzrecoronan3720]

I have most recently bought the terrain crate from mantic. Great stuff... But now that the UK is not in the custom Union... Any dilivery to continental Europe is required to pay taxes and vat. This can add up to 40% of purchasing value. My order went roughly up from 100 euro to 140 euro. I can see now see why cursed city from GW needed to be sold out that quickly. I'm afraid the game supply will only be affordable for the UK custumers only. I presume Brexit kicked in, leaving the customs union. I guess this this is also bad news for game review media.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Ouch. That's a big increase. I really like Mantic's terrain crates. I bought the dungeon debris one recently, and that's really good for adding a little but of character to scenarios.

[@pcuimac]

I got a used Kickstarter Version with Stretch goals. The Version for shops doesn't have enough content.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I won't know for sure until I'm playing, but I'm more than happy with the core box for the price I paid at the moment. I will have to see what the next few weeks brings as I formulate my review.

[@alistairmyles4260]

I've been eyeing this on Amazon, too. I am quite tempted as I like the Hellboy films and I've enjoyed the Mantic games that I've played, I got some minis from the game in a Mantic mystery box and they were pretty decent. However...... I've just bought Cursed City and I'm refreshing and renewing my paint collection with a couple of boxes of Vallejo Game Colour so I can't really justify buying into yet another game system right now (famous last words before being served with divorce papers) Maybe if I convince the kids that hot food and shelter are overrated I could swing it??

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

It's a decent price, I think, but you can only play so many games at a time. I try to keep my collection relatively small and pass on the stuff I don't play. This and Cursed City should keep me busy for a while!

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

There are 2 animated movies, stand-alone prequels & voice-acted by the actors of the del Toro movies! Haven't seen the Reboot yet, though I don't care thaaat much anyway. Never read the comics, but I wanted to, just never happend (money, time, space...). About this game, somehow this doesn't tickle my balls, not at all. Doesn't look bad though. I like the idea that Mantic Games can use comics for boardgames, which is cool, more comics should be used...

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Yeah, I was only referring to the live-action movies, the latest of which is an absolute mess with a few stand-out scenes that are genuinely good. I think there's a lot to like about the board game, but I'm not sure yet if a lot of the perceived strategies and cool things like destructible furniture will play that big of a role in the game. Getting more games under my belt will reveal that.

[@wishmeheaven]

That is a really good video, thanks. Does the fact that you didn't upload another one with a conclusion and final thought about the game imply that it left you with a bitter taste, disappointed, or brokenhearted..?

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Sadly, yes. I disliked the game. On paper, it was a winner, but when I came to play it I found it fiddly and dull. I was trying to put together a review, but in the end I couldn't find a way to approach writing the review that I was happy with so I just moved the game on to a new home.

[@wishmeheaven]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Thank you for the honest response. Are you familiar with any other dungeon crawlers that use interesting (if not thrilling) dice mechanics (at least on paper, I guess) as Hellboy offers..?

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

@@wishmeheaven Lots of Dungeon Crawlers have interesting dice combat. Dungeons of Doria uses 2D10 with two levels of critical success (review of that game is in the works), Advanced HeroQuest has exploding D12s, Dungeon Saga does a highest vs highest D6 dice-off. I did a video some time ago about different fun dice systems. You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIG3hJSlmrR2fpI

[@pinchejuan93]

Hope you enjoy the game. Love the comics and the game does a good job of doing what if scenarios through the storylines of the books. I’d say to try to aim to get the BPRD archives expansion next since it will let you play randomly generated games, if you end up liking it! P.S. you can play solo or regular with mandatory 2 players but also 3-4.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

The archives expansion has werewolves, I believe, which makes it instantly cool.

[@pinchejuan93]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring FYI theirs a chance to grab the Giant Robot Hellboy on the KS if you want at the pledge manager (at the end of the campaign). That figure allows you to play pure solo since he’s the only character you’re controlling.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Thanks. I did spot the giant robot. I don't think it's something I would really want to get, but it's a fun idea.

[@S.Grenier]

Did you end up enjoying this one ? I was looking into it today and noticed you had a video about it but no review/final thoughts. It seems like it has cool ideas.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Unfortunately, I did not. I was doing a Stick to the Script review for it, but it stalled. I do plan to go back and do that review at some point, but I'm not keen on writing negative reviews and it was a really hard one to put together.

[@Ariranhaa]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Why not?

[@bradp6452]

Mantic has just put League of Infamy up on preorder. It is by James and Sophie and sort of blends dungeon saga and hellboy together.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

If I recall correctly, League of Infamy is one of those sometime co-op sometimes competitive games. I'm not a big fan of that, and I feel it often doesn't work quite right. I'm sure if anyone can do it, James can. Regardless, it's on my list of games to look into in more detail down the road.

[@bradp6452]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring That is correct. The Villains have to work together to complete the missions but they also are trying to get the most Loot and Experience for themselves since that gives them first choice of treasure items and upgrades after the missions. They have disorder cards that they play that let them affect other villains like snag their loot or redirect an enemy attack at another villain.

[@shineLouisShine]

Thanks for the overview. How do you like it after bring it to the table? How's the replay value? Does the game still a part of your collection?

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Thanks for watching. Unfortunately I disliked the game intensely. I always intended to put a review together, but found there was just nothing there for me to connect to that would make me invest in writing it. It's a shame, because on paper it's a game that I should have really enjoyed, but sometimes that happens and something just fails to click. Funnily enough, one of the things I thought was really cool in theory - the dice system - turned out to be one of the things I liked the least. I got rid of the game quite some time ago, now.

[@shineLouisShine]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Thank you. I truly am appreciate the honest response.

[@shineLouisShine]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoringSo... Which gamers in the genre (dungeon crawlers and/or co-op and/or miniatures) you like the most..?

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

That's a big question. A quick glance around my channel will furnish a lot of answers, but I would recommend watching my series of five videos covering my favourite top 50 games of all time, where I go into that in quite some detail. DungeonQuest and Advanced Heroquest are my favourite fantasy dungeon crawlers. I also like HeroQuest, the D&D adventure game series, Dungeons and Dragons the Fantasy Adventure Board Game, Dark Souls, Dragon Strike, Hybrid, the modern Warhammer Quest games, Space Crusade, Advanced Space Crusade, Labyrinth of the Necrons, Fireteam Zero.

[@shineLouisShine]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Thank you :) I really appreciate the detailed response..

[@benjames193]

Great video! Out of curiosity, are you planning on getting any of the expansions? I've heard the Hellboy is a great game but the core box just does not have enough content.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I couldn't say at the moment. I only expand games I really love and intend to play a lot (it's an incredibly small number of games!). I have the mindset of, I will expand a game if I love the core experience and WANT more; I won't expand a game if I thought the core experience was lacking and I NEED more to make it fun. I'm happy with what I got for my money so far, so it really depends how it goes.

[@glenndean6]

Do you have Hewitt's Blitz Bowl?

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I'm in the UK and it was never released here. If they ever do release it here I'll pick it up, but it's not something I'm going to go through the effort to import.

[@glenndean6]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Great casual game, you're missing out.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

@@glenndean6 well that’s GWs fault for not releasing it in the UK, I guess.

[@marktattersall9149]

BTW the films don't hold a candle to the comics.

[@pcuimac]

I found the last reboot quite funny and brutal. Everybody trashed the film (the trailer was terrible), but I enjoyed it massively.

[@DestroyerHivePro]

I hear Hellboy's dad makes good mayonnaise

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

Hey. I do the dad jokes round here!

[@DestroyerHivePro]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring Literally a dad joke XD

[@stuartmc4422]

I found Hellboy really dull. I played it pre-pandemic, and the majority of missions involved endlessly fighting frog men in sheds. Not a very compelling narrative or theme sadly. I appreciate it's all subjective, but there's no comparison to Silver Tower IMO.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

"Endless fighting frog men in sheds" is a great tag line for the box. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Considering how much I love Silver Tower the game has its work cut out, but hopefully I end up enjoying it more than you did.

[@stuartmc4422]

@@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring I hope you enjoy it too! £35 is a great price regardless.

[@Ariranhaa]

Hellboy retail is worst than Silver Tower (only frog men to fight), Hellboy KS is better than Silver Tower by far IMO. But I don't like WH Age of Sigmar, so maybe that's why it didn't stick to me.

[@antonimaruniewicz1361]

the game itself is great, but retail edition was butchered. Hate those KS exclusivity policies, especially when coming from a studio as big and well settled on the market as Mantic. It's a pity, I really enjoyed Hellboy TBG, but I'm not gonna support companies which exploit crowdfunding platforms.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

I understand your position. I'm not a fan of Kickstarter exclusives myself, but I tend to feel like many of them don't add significant value, and are rushed out to keep the Kickstarter hype going without any real incentive to playtest or develop them. I don't personally feel like the product I bought is butchered, or like I've missed out on anything. I'm in a positive mood about it. We shall see how I feel once I'm playing through the campaign.

[@Jezza_One]

The art work makes my eyes bleed.

[@AlwaysBoardNeverBoring]

You should probably get some drops or something for that. I really like Mignola's art, but I do wonder if it's a bit marmitey.