Marvel Champions Review - Gambit-Level Cardplay

[@alexhuddleston3950]

When we thought Matt couldn't top his worm appearances, he blesses us with a Bat-disruption.

[@rupert7565]

Mattman

[@OriginalPiMan]

Almost as good as the worm. Not better.

[@orlandonerz2999]

The ,,smile,, at the end nearly broke me

[@kwekvonscaf]

To explain a Marvel game

[@adamxpaul]

Wow, I... somehow, I didn't realize this part of the joke. Brilliant.

[@iamthetim]

The differences between the two games was actually a huge relief for me and mine. Marvel is for when we want to just have fun and throw down some cards, whereas Arkham is for when a group of us have a full Saturday open to sink our teeth deep into some soul-destroying, rich horror. Despite their similarities, we've found them very different thankfully.

[@ClownCar666]

Exactly my thoughts. Love these games!

[@reihidezero]

Sentinels of the multiverse you might like

[@TuberTugger]

Got some cool friends? Buy Arkham Horror Got one okay friend and a few lonely nights? Buy Marvel Champions. I'll be ordering my box of Marvel and tub of ice cream now.

[@Teachermook]

Welcome to the solo gaming club friend. I recommend Final Girl and Falling Skies next.

[@Trav18]

I now want a tshirt that says "Sausage rolls are pretty eldritch."

[@Naxvarus]

Can the back also say "haunting meat sausage" (21:00)

[@dreadknot69]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but the whole "I can do 8 on my turn and you do 7 on your turn and he's dead" thing is usually followed by a "Thank God because we were JUST about to lose!" That's pretty exciting to me. I've never had a game that wasn't tense right up until that last turn. It just leaves me admiring the game design every time.

[@watersports1381]

No it doesnt...its really anticlimactic if you can just crunch up the numbers to defeat....even the campaign is kinda dissapointing in the end, fun but doesnt feel its good in the end

[@coppershark1973]

Yep, SUSD can be critical for strange reasons.

[@shoppingforleaves3162]

@@coppershark1973 Being different to you is not a "strange reason" for thinking something.

[@DrVagax]

If anyone is in doubt, give Arkham Horror a shot, the fact a card game can give so much tension and atmosphere is something you need to witness

[@coppershark1973]

Marvel Champions kicked Arkham into touch for me. I think I hit Cthulhu burnout.

[@chadripp9196]

You're absolutely right: Arkham is phenomenal! You know what's too heavy for a non-gamer wife, too gory for kids, and too long for the FLGS game night?... yeah also Arkham. :( Know which game lets a 9yo web kick the bad guy while Ironman is pew pewing the minions around him - Champions, and that is why I jumped in. I know it's not the 3 course meal like Arkham, but its still hearty snack, and I get to share it with way more people. I think they are both going to continue to be super successful.

[@JamesFincham]

Exactly this. I love Arkham and have the first few cycles sitting in a box, pimped with coin capsules and hardly played. The reason? It's just a little too dark and heavy for my family... and it is as mean as Quinns says. I like mean but the family actively dislikes setting everything up only to draw an auto-fail from the bag! Marvel Champions has been the go to game for me and my youngest (8). There is actually a fair amount of co-op here as we play open handed, discussing how we can assist each other. The fact that you can call for an action from another player to assist really helps. Plenty of value in the core box and each pack really is optional (unlike Arkham). The game is definitely a winner.

[@DrMcFly28]

And then you randomly try playing Port Royale with kids and it becomes a card game that beats all card games and no other card game could come close even those that have Marvel characters on them. >:(

[@ANAKHA8]

@@DrMcFly28 Port royal is pretty good though

[@bearhustler]

It's horses for courses. My non-gaming family have no issue with it, I think that's more of a problem if you want to play it *well* and part of the fun of all things Cthulhu is losing. Also, maybe I've not played far enough through (nearly at the end of Dunwch) I've not found it especially dark, my son (11 when he started playing it) enjoys it

[@Cergorach]

Are you saying that while Arkham is too heavy for a non-gamer partner, Marvel Champions isn't? Unless that non-gamer partner is a big Marvel fan, this game isn't for them either. And if the kids, non-gamer partner are Marvel fans, you already have Legendary, Dice Masters, Heroscape, and/or any of the other Marvel based games. Is this better then those and/or worth the money? Quins is obviously NOT a Marvel fan, I am sometimes, but I suspect I would play a ton of other games before I touched/bought this. I would probably prefer any of the other FFG card games over this (in print or out).

[@JentPlays]

As always, a very interesting and in-depth review. I will say that while I completely understand all the points made, I personally find that Marvel Champions gave me everything I wanted from Arkham Horror without all the bits I didn't want. Firstly, obviously the theme is going to be a major point of contention. I just generally find the Marvel theme to actually be very appealing compared to the dreary depressing nature of Lovecraftian works. I know some have issues with Marvel being everywhere right now, but for me it is refreshing to have such an iconic series stay consistent in quality and combine many genre's into an easily consumable form with well thought-out and iconic characters. With the Marvel theming, I find myself actually feeling more attached to the events than I do with investigators that I'm not incredibly familiar with. Secondly, as was briefly mentioned in this review and I believe has been mentioned in past when they've talked about AHLCG - it's brutal. And to me, it's so brutal that I just feel down after playing it a lot. Sure, Marvel Champions is a bit of a number crunch and I will admit that I did occasionally find the end to be anti-climactic (possibly due to the lack of randomness that's present in AH's bag system), but I feel like MC makes us work for it, constantly managing things while chipping away, and it starts slow and hits that point similar to the second act of a movie, where you feel like maybe it's impossible to beat the villain. But then, your upgrades give you something you need, and that happens for the other players too, and suddenly you're doing more damage, and it feels like a scene from The Avengers where the camera is panning around the heroes as they clean up minion after minion and their plan falls together perfectly. Of course, some people may feel this in AH, and I did a few times as well, but more often than not, it was a constant beatdown with only glimmers of hope, and if we did win, it felt good, but the constant beating from the game had already drained me a lot. From memory, I also feel like I was always able to do SOMETHING in Marvel, while in AH there were turns where I felt like I was useless, I didn't pick up the right cards or I got stuck with an encounter that really screwed over my next few turns so I can't help at all. I DO wish that Marvel Champions offered that more Campaign approach, because that is absolutely a highlight of AH, but generally I find the gameplay more satisfying, still challenging but more like a fun Sudoku where you're constantly getting closer to a solution, rather than a 9x9 Rubik's Cube that constantly yells at you for making the wrong moves and every wrong move you make just gets you further from the solution. Although re-reading that, it sounds like I dislike AH. Not true at all, it's still one of my top games I've ever played. But much like Quinn's can't see himself wanting to play Marvel Champions in favour of AH, I can't see myself wanting to go back to AH now. HOWEVER, great review as always!

[@DominikSchwindt]

Exactly this!! Totally how I feel about those two, great games! Thanks for putting so nicely JentPlays!

[@saintseiyablade]

FFG have already announced that they will release campaigns for Marvel Champions

[@reidwilkins972]

Very well said. Arkham Horror LCG may be a brilliantly crafted game, but it often isn't as fun as it is clever. When I finish a game of AH, I don't feel like I want to play again because it just batters you. Marvel makes me feel like I want to take another run at it. Also, his assertion that Marvel often ends with algebra is generally accurate, but not unique. AH can end that way, as can many, many other games. It will certainly come down to personal preference. Marvel Champions is mine over AH.

[@stevefratus1546]

Watch Rahdo’s review of it. He said basically that it could be his game of the year for the year he reviewed it. This guy’s review sucks. So far I own everything except for Thor and Ms. Marvel and I love everything about this game.

[@Noland55]

Well said

[@narsil0420]

Good points, as a player of both I like that in Marvel I feel more powerful on my turn and also that it's quicker, I wasn't getting Arkham to the table as much (even playing solo) because it's so much set-up and maintenance. I'd think I want to play but then realize it'll take me half an hour to upgrade my deck, record that online, and then set up the new scenario. With Marvel i can set up and play in half an hour.

[@NemesisEG]

MC for a quick lunchtime nibble; AH if you have the day off, a packet of Good Quality digestives, the tea brewing, and the pitter patter of rain against the window.

[@sirspate]

Alternate title: Two reviews and a boom.

[@JohnnyLeyenda]

As a serious LCG player who owns a lot of Arkham Horror and a lot of Netrunner too, I still find Champions delightful. I can actually get through a solo or two-handed game in an hour, and replayability is higher IMO. While not as complex or deep, and of course lacking any narrative (which I can totally see the potential for) it's good that's not a reskin of Arkham but watered down, and rather its own solid game.

[@ACGreviews]

Good review. I have to ask though did I miss you covering "asking for actions" thats a sort of key component to how we played and is actually a big coop part of the game. I probably missed it or something.

[@mbousse]

Exactly!

[@xGarrettThiefx]

A board and card game aficionado as well ? Kudos to you !

[@lugaruclone]

I was gonna post about it but I decided instead to 'agree' with your post. Playing the game correctly you are always asking friends for help... like for them to punch a guard so you do not need to waste your 'finisher' on him or for them to grant you an extra card so you can pay for something. Heck, you can even 'upgrade' your friends with a few cards that can be played in front of any player. If you are playing Marvel Champions correctly it has a lot of opportunities for teamwork where these opportunities are a lot more limited in Arkham (we work towards the same goal, but often in different rooms and with a very different set of skills). Both are great games and I can see hardcore gamers prefering Arkham, just not for the Teamwork reason.

[@TheAmazingYeti]

That moment when the best video game reviewer on the web makes a comment on the best board game reviewers page. *head explodes*

[@ACGreviews]

@Christian Leber I see thanks. With so many ways to use it and options for coop actions, it seems like something that might have alleviated the solo play feeling that he seemed to experience.

[@Slicknslice]

I appreciate you talking about Eldritch because I was wondering which of the 2 I would want. It's like this video was made for me

[@experimentsininsanity4478]

Great review, and thanks for the comparison w/ AHCG. Just one thing I'd like to add: when I've played, there's a bit more cooperation between the players. One of the things you can do on your turn is request actions from other players. I often find myself saying "could you really use an extra card this turn to pull off something great?" Additionally, because every player can attack every minion and engage with every scheme, it becomes a group puzzle where each player has some of the pieces. Things like "can you handle this scheme and I'll focus on this enemy?" or "if you can deal some chip damage to this minion, I can use my spider tracker to take out this scheme." It doesn't have the depth or the atmosphere of AHCG, and it does have a problem with anticlimactic endings, but it's a bit lighter and easier to introduce to people. My wife enjoyed it. I'm planning on introducing her to Arkham Horror this weekend, so we'll see which she favours.

[@ChrisM-xx6cf]

This is what I was wondering. I have an Arkham core box and the Dunwich Legacy expansion (no Mythos packs yet though), and I've played a bit, but have not yet managed to get my wife to play with me. I've been tempted by Marvel Champions since it's meant for single scenarios rather than a campaign, and I thought it might be an easier game for her to get into, and then maybe try out Arkham later. Just not sure I want to drop $60 on the equivalent of a playability experiment.

[@NemesisEG]

I would say your first scenario in AH is beginner friendly so just run that!

[@BigJonGrady]

My wallet and I are so relieved when we get a mid-review turnaround from you guys and I don't have to immediately go order a new game.

[@datonkallandor8687]

I find that the fact that all the "draw an extra card" things are Actions helps the pacing a lot. You don't have to wait until it's your turn to do your draw extra card things. You can do them on another players turn and start to plan your action immediately. And you should, because once everyone has done their selfish actions immediately after the player phase starts, everyone on the table can start to coordinate. There are a lot of cross-player actions that let players help each other out. Absolutely agreed on the scenario and story issues though. Hopefully the upcoming story box will bring something more connected rather than just a collection of schemes.

[@claptrap22]

Some of the strongest criticisms of the game are resolved when playing the game solo, which is significant.

[@adamniko1209]

Christopher Lebron absolutely, Champions is a great solo or “dual hand” play that I really enjoy. It does miss some of the story and excitement of Arkham, but the actions and events are all pretty thematic and alive in my imagination. Also to be honest Arkham feels even more formulaic and by the numbers to me. Go to the places, “investigate”, bad guys, draw tokens, super boss that sometimes borders on impossible..... of course you could boil down Champions in the same way too, I guess I love both games, and to be honest it depends what mood you’re in. And whether you have a spare 100 hours to setup a game of Arkham ;D “find the whipperwhills set, find grounds keeper bob, find the secret door set......

[@Merlinmagi]

@@adamniko1209 I primarily bought it to play solo and playing it solo is great.

[@WiIICheck]

Arkham Horror LCG is my personal favorite tabletop game of all time. This video only reminds me of why. Thank you, SU&SD!

[@keithhammons2605]

I skipped Marvel Champions as we're die hard Arkham Horror LCG fans (and I'm not a millionaire) - mostly due to the lack of a campaign element. You hit the nail on the head as to why Arkham is my favorite game of all time. No other game combines the narrative with mechanics nearly as well. I'll wait for a friend to pick up a copy of MC and give it a shot then.

[@sergeant_ruh_rh8537]

There’s a expansion that has a story to it

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

Compared to Arkham, this game looks terrible

[@Merlandese]

The algebra angle at the end reminds me of the Sentinels of the Multiverse review

[@bendavy1816]

It's way better than Sentinels though, all the heroes feel very different, something I can't say for Sentinels.

[@dimmok8344]

Ben Davy wut? The heroes in SotM feel very different to me. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@xanderfurash9938]

Ben Davy what. Sentinels characters are crazy different

[@bendavy1816]

@@xanderfurash9938 All the decks basically have the same characters. Once I had played 6 or so games they all felt the same.

[@ryanmorris323]

@@bendavy1816 The whole draw for Sentinels, for me, is that each hero is SO. VERY. UNIQUE. It's the chaotic randomness of everything else happening that can sometimes ruin the experience.

[@Corn_DOG]

12:40 THANK YOU! Gambit is totally the best!

[@maleficmax]

What is the best to read about him?

[@jaysherman9138]

Yessss

[@Roxfox]

Finally someone willing to acknowledge the truth!!

[@kane2742]

Depends on who's writing him. He can be a thief with a heart of gold, or just a total skeez.

[@headsetguy3805]

Was searching for this comment, I love gambit! Still waiting for the movie...

[@bigsucculenta1]

When my wife (playing Captain Marvel) finished off Rhino after he had just killed me (Spiderman) I totally saw the cinematic moment in my head. Such a great game and incredible solo!

[@sedlak87]

yeah each game is one full comic book. also the story box comming in July

[@Blakestefer]

My gf has no interest in superheroes so sadly I haven't been able to play this. My local boardgame cafe has a copy, might just have to go in and play solo.

[@wittebaard]

@@Blakestefer This game works perfect as a solo game! It's actually the only game I truly enjoy when my gf doesn't feel like playing and I decide to go at it alone.

[@Roxfox]

The concept of secret identities in a superhero game made me imagine a hidden role worker placement type thing where everyone picks one hero card and one normal dude card, and everyone is basically Batman trying to figure out the secret identities of other players while simultaneously trying to stop evil. Everyone would know which player is which hero and they'd go into battle together and play combat cards and fight bad guys cooperatively, but inbetween fights everyone pairs their identity with a matching location card to go collect resources or whatnot, and they get shuffled into a pile so nobody knows whose card is whose, and everyone's trying to deduce which player might go where and for what reason. I guess you can't take the location cards back without revealing where you went, so maybe you can only visit each location once or twice.. Which would make the deduction part easier the longer the game progresses! I don't know what benefit there would be to figuring out someone else's secret identity, but you can cram some mechanics into that to make it exciting, I'm sure. If all else fails, use victory points, I suppose.

[@ModularLanding]

What a fantastic review. I have watched a lot of your videos and this is one of the best. You do such a great job of talking about the innovative and fun aspects of Marvel Champions, and then it suddenly shifts to your love of Arkham Horror. I just started playing Arkham Horror a month ago and it's absolutely fantastic! The campaign aspects, the immersive atmosphere, and the interaction among players is truly wonderful. If I do end up checking out Marvel Champions, it will mainly be to study the game design aspects (which you do a great job of highlighting). Incidentally, I wonder if you guys develop games yourselves, given your sophisticated understanding of mechanics? Another game I'm just starting is Lord of the Rings LCG, which is a different kettle of fish again...! Never heard of KeyForge until now so I'll check it out.

[@urloony]

Both are great games. As a longtime player of LOTR LCG, Marvel Champions has very similar game mechanics. I've just gotten into Arkham Horror and have just begun my collection with the first three cycles. I think one of the underestimated aspects of Marvel Champions is that solo, you can whip through a game in 30 minutes or less. Both setup and playthrough are much simpler than Arkham or LOTR. That doesn't make it better, just gives it a nice niche.

[@ColboltKey1313]

I appreciate your reviews. I was on the fence with getting this game and Unmatched. And you made me appreciate that I've been still playing Arkham Horror into 2021.

[@ashleygray1632]

Honestly this is the type of review that annoys me about SU&SD. Marvel champions is a highly regarded game in its own right and there really is no need to compare it to AH (For the record I don't like AH) It's a great game that's highly thematic, fun to play, easy to pick up and with fair prices content. Personally I sold AH but own most MC content. The review really should never have compared the two games.

[@wittebaard]

I definitely respect your opinion about the game not being all up to par when compared to Arkham Horror. I do believe these two can't completely be compared though. Arkham Horror gives you the sensation of experiencing an immersive story through cards, where Marvel Champions wants to give you the feeling of being a powerful hero who knows how to punch hard through cards. Conclusively, I think that a game like Marvel Champions can be viewed as a game that is more "arcade-like" for people who don't feel like playing a heavy game.

[@Shintigercurl]

it's like comparing "earthbound" to "final fight". both are great games but not really comparable. like i tell everyone, know what you want and what you are getting when you buy a game.

[@williamburrows6215]

Thank you for the insight as always you guys! I just got the arkham lcg due to your review and am happy with my choice after hearing your thoughts 🙏

[@Karujin277]

I really consider this game a solo experience. It is puzzly and really quick playing if you know what you are doing. The main appeal is If the decks are ready I can play a game in under 20 minutes. It is definitely not thematic but it is a ton of fun to "figure out".

[@Athenor]

Having a complete collection of all of FFG's LCGs except 3, I feel ya on the story aspects and campaign. That said? There's a few things that separate marvel Champions for me and put it into a different class of game. First, there's a smaller initial buy. Because they included full playsets of every card in the base game (making it $60 instead of $40) it is overall cheaper to get into the deckbuilding aspect. Second, the hero packs are complete decks like the starters are - so if you want to try a new character, you don't have to think about deckbuilding. And third.. . Well, the lack of a huge, juicy story means it is a lighter, quicker game. And sometimes you want that. The ability to just throw down and teach someone to play and let them be superheroes is fun. But I can imagine playing it over and over in a short period could get tedious.

[@Moxbox99]

Athenor THIS. I’ve played all three and got frustrated by being terrible at deck construction for Arkham Horror and Lord of the Rings, but Marvel Champions is so streamlined and quick that I can actually play the game and not feel like it’s going to take too long but still feel really satisfying. I love the simplicity of just choosing a single aspect to work with and I love how much I really FEEL like I’m actually playing a hero. I think they’re all good in their own ways but I just find Marvel Champions to be the most inviting for me personally.

[@haukikannel]

Yes. Marwell is much more simpler that Lotr or AH. It can be a boon to some and bane to other. I personally like AH much better, but Marwell is much more easier to new player and non card players. Allmost the same level as Dominion. And yeah... I don`t like dominion, because it is too simple, it is solitair game that you play with friends. Marwell is better but still your turn is quite solitair type. But I understand why other people like Marwell more, it is nice beer and donits game. Very easy to play very easy to teach. So good introduction game to card game genre!

[@benjamindavid7371]

@@haukikannel I'm curious what's Marwell? XD

[@Moxbox99]

haukikannel yeah the simplicity has really won me over. I was terrible at AH but I think it’s honestly a great system. Just not for me! Maybe I’ll give it a try again sometime though because if I can maybe use decks other people have created, it would be a better experience. I’m just not great with the combat and so I failed a lot 😭😭

[@stevenightfall6634]

Just as an FYI, from the FFG website regarding future espansions: "Campaign Expansions - The larger Campaign Expansions introduce a series of three to five linked scenarios that let you live out your favorite comic book stories! These boxes contain both new heroes and villains to expand your game of Marvel Champions!"

[@jenspoder8322]

Steve Nightfall he mentions that :)

[@stevenightfall6634]

@@jenspoder8322 Oh, sorry, I must have completely missed that.

[@estrathmeyer]

21:05

[@sebastianaljian8679]

What Quinns said about Arkham making you feel like a hero really hits home for me. The Arkham LCG is my favorite board game ever (favorite game maybe even). That is a large part of the reason why.

[@NamRegSumSar]

I love the little jokes like Tom holding the sausage roll wail Matt takes a bite of it or Paul throwing the pear in the background in the Dead of Winter review, I will sometimes just get one of those images in my heard and I can't stop smiling! 😆😆

[@6O8gamer07]

This review is woefully outdated at this point. There are scenarios you literally can’t even win with just dealing damage. And you can create amazing unique scenarios. Like what if? Rhino got the infinity gauntlet and joined forces with the Brotherhood of Mutants? This game is absolutely massive now. Should get an update review.

[@Teachermook]

I both agree and disagree. Oh I do think they got it wrong..... but at the same time I will admit arkham horror is a very nice campaign game, a more defined version of what lord ofnthe rings should have been. That being said I prefer marvel champions because it feels like a comic book or superhero movie just like arkham feels like a horror movie. Guess which genre I cannot stand. It's just personal preference honestly. Both games are a lot of fun and while I prefer this one, I do see why these guys like arkham more.

[@SgtWilko1979]

@@Teachermook While I agree with what you are saying here, I don't like the fact that their review spent so much time comparing it to another game, seemed reductive. Thankfully, as always, they did a good job of explaining the game and showing me that I would like it even if they didn't. Then a quick updated google around about the expansions and it was a solid Christmas present for me this year!

[@TravisPrebble]

I've been enjoying Marvel Champions, but in a fast food kind of way. It's good for a quick bite. In terms of player interaction, while you largely play your own cards, you do want to spend some time discussing with the other players how you want to balance thwarting vs attacking depending on the schemes in play. There's also the ability to ask to use another player's action cards during your turn, pulling in the feel of tag teaming against the villain. For me, Marvel Champions will likely see more play than Arkham Horror or Lord of the Rings just because I can easily fit it into a 30-45 minute session if I'm playing solo.

[@iand920]

During a game with my wife who was playing as Cap, I was able to call for a shield toss was critical for winning the game. So fun!

[@onofreshoots]

Precisely. I’m always going to love AHLCG because it is absolutely phenomenal, but I’ve been able to get Marvel to the table more and it’s, as you say, a nice, quick snack. It scratches the co-op deckbuilding itch when I’ve got around an hour or so to play, which I think it accomplishes well. So, why not have both!

[@MrBongoking]

Thanks for this. Having recently got very heavily into AHLCG off the back of your enthusiasm when it first got released, I was wondering if you are still playing it. Glad to know it hasn’t lost its lustre

[@Golachab]

Ok, I am getting Arhham Horror LCG as my main go, and maybe Marvel Champions for my lunch breaks. You do excellent videos btw.

[@truerockfan]

I can honestly say that I do enjoy this game. Also, I know you said that Marvel Champions is lacking the Campaign of Arkham Horror, but since this review has come out, they have released a few Campaign add ons that add about 5 supervillains to take on that can be linked together into a campaign as well as 2 additional heroes. Also, with the hero decks, I feel like you may have left out that with the character packs that get released, they not only add new cards that can be shared across all heroes, but each gives new ways to play any of the heroes since the aspect decks can be bounced around to any hero giving each a fresh feel. I love the review and the reviews you guys put out as well. I just thought I'd pop in my own thoughts lol I have thought about playing Arkham horror, but with the amount of things released with it and for as long as it's been going on, it has honestly scared me away. At least with Marvel Champions, I can just pick up a Hero I like or since I have a core box, people can grab a hero they like and we can swap stuff around

[@beansperkins]

Why do we have to keep sacrificing Black Widow? Rude.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Because "It's okay, Clint." - Natasha Romanova

[@wittebaard]

Well, soon you can play as her, so you don't have to sacrifice her anymore (unless your going for that Endgame feeling-like game)

[@slappywhite2747]

I like this review, a lot of fair points and appreciation for what this game is, and isn't. Of course it's the subjectivity that makes us all different. I love it because you CAN play it in a short period of time - I did not like Arkham as much, although it is obviously a well thought out and produced game with a lot of theme itself, because of the campaigns which are too long for me. Also, I feel just the opposite about the comment that Champions does not make you feel like a hero. I believe it captures EXACTLY what it would be like to be these heroes in card game form, as they all have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps the difference of opinion comes from how much you love or loved superhero comics growing up, and into adult hood. Good review.

[@mkrool]

i have to say as somebody who has never played arkham lcg but have over 50 games of marvel champions under my belt with the core set.... your criticisms of the game are spot on, the funny part of your review is that it made me want to give arkham a try lol

[@reinreed]

12:31 Boom Mic III: The Reflection

[@Nelsn3]

18:20 Boom Mic IV: The Return of Boom Mic

[@chauveet]

I came back to watch this video again. I'm curious if you guys feel any differently or have come back to Champions since this review. I am noting that while you are somewhat positive, the negative feedback really overshadows anything good. I mean, your positive thoughts are punctuated by the fact that you're getting rid of the game soon as the review is over. You also seem to gloss over the fact that well Arkham Horror is fantastic (I think it's one of the best LCGs ever), One of the main appeals of Champions that makes it so delightfully and intensely popular is that it is far more accessible, easy to set up, easy to deckbuild, and easy to play together. Campaign games like Arkham Horror seem to be harder and harder to get groups together that will play eight scenarios in a row.

[@onofreshoots]

Oh boy... I had a feeling this would happen. Unfortunately, this review is very misleading imo. While Arkham and Marvel are cooperative LCGs, I believe they’re both entirely different. I absolutely adore AHLCG and it is hands down my favorite deckbuilding game, but Marvel is much easier to get to a table because of players’ familiarity to the characters. It’s also a faster game (AHLCG can take HOURS while I’ve had Marvel take about 60-75 minutes max), so players are more likely to choose that option. Plus, getting people to play a regular campaign can be difficult to schedule consistently; Marvel just requires the one session to beat the one bad guy. And the deckbuilding in Marvel is ridiculously simpler than AHLCG. With Arkham, every investigator has peculiar and particular deckbuilding rules, and with the going-on-fifth cycle, it can be a lot for new deckbuilders to grasp and make a competent deck. With Marvel, you pick a hero, pick an aspect, and basically go, with subtle tweaking here and there. As far as team play goes in cooperative LCGs, it’s not as if you can’t discuss what you’re thinking and what your plans are for the turn, and in Marvel, you can even ask you teammate to trigger a card effect to help on your turn. I believe FFG’s cooperative LCGs like LotR, AH, and now Marvel are some of the best deckbuilding experiences out there, and Marvel is a great gateway to these other titles, even if the missions are one-and-done. Not every game needs to be a campaign to enjoy. This review greatly misses the mark, and I believe you’ve misled a lot of viewers from a very enjoyable game.

[@kayseidilla]

I mostly agree with you here, but I do agree with them on how the endings can feel somewhat flat and turn into "do we have enough damage to just ignore everything else and kill the villain this turn?" Overall though I agree with you on having different LCGs filling different roles. I love how quick and easy and "one and done" Marvel Champions LCG is to get to the table and bang out, which in turn allows the deck building to be a lot more iterative than the limited XP style RPG progression from Arkham LCG. Both are fantastic games and it feels somewhat odd to undercut one by comparing it to the other, but I suppose it makes sense if people only have enough time/money to invest into a single LCG.

[@TravisPrebble]

For those who do want a campaign experience, the MC Story Boxes (not my rap name, I promise) should scratch that itch. However, the first one isn't scheduled to ship until July.

[@artstsym]

It's fine to have a different opinion, but nearly every point you've brought up was explicitly stated in the video. You can just like different things.

[@Electroporcupine]

I... Don't thing anything you said here contradicts the review? They generally recommend the game, contrast it with Arkham Horror, and ultimately say they prefer Arkham. Its a pretty big thing to say that a review is misleading, especially when you don't seem to have anything to back that claim up.

[@haukikannel]

Yes, They say exactly that in this review!

[@thearno2885]

Matt Newman of Arkham LCG designer fame is now on the Marvel LCG team so watch this space. Also, I find Marvel a great introduction to non gamers to card games so that is a big positive.

[@BBGaming420]

Thank you so much. Was debating between the two myself.. You made it Easier!! Arkham Horror it is!!!

[@CopperLontra]

I love the way this review went. I bought into Arkham early and have kept up and its been excellent. I bought Marvel Champions soon after release and I enjoy it, it is faster and more accessible but far less compelling or interactive. I will keep it since i still get occasional plays and i will buy the occasional expansion but i will not keep current with it.

[@citriccomics]

Thank you for putting my favorite marvel, mr batman, in the review since fantasy flight apparently forgot to put my boy in the game

[@TheRanudo]

Last night I played my first Marvel champions game with 3 more people and I got to say that you are absolutely right about the experience when playing. I entered the game almost blind, but expected a cooperative game to be more cooperative hahaha. In any case, I think you got to taylor your own experiencie with this one, and play solo or with 1 more friend and that's it. The deckbuilding sounds interesting when trying to overcome a difficult threat, so I will give it that.

[@TheDevilsAdvocate415]

Great review; not only am I a HUGE fan of Arkham Horror LCG; but you've perfectly described the engagement of Marvel and Arkham for the same reasons I prefer Call of Cthulhu to Dungeons and Dragons. Arkham and CoC are intense narratives that have solid engines of their respective games and keep the tone and energy in the room, engagement high and truly feeling like you are your friends are a part of the story/game! Marvel and DnD... they always resort back to heavy number crunching, deterioration of engagement aka "can we just kill this thing already" and "is it my turn? whats happened?" and overall just... a lot of bland energy and the majority of the fun coming from just the social gathering; and not the game + the gathering.

[@garygrant6987]

Fantastic Review. Truly. Incredibly entertaining and informative. - On a personal note, I like Marvel Champions and Arkham Horror equally ... they simply have different feels to them.

[@MelodieMalicieuse]

Thank you for the video ! Funny and interesting. I actually had the reverse opinion, I sold back Arkham and have great fun with Marvel. Less lore, stories in Marvel, but much quicker to play than Arkham, which is sooo long to put in place and start playing. And I liked the easy deckbuilding, and very good community for fan made cards

[@smolle8906]

Same for me

[@haukikannel]

Very different games. I like AH better for the same reasons you don`t like it as much and vice versa! And it is good that They Are different enough to do that! Do everybody has time and will to play more complex games and prefer quicker easier games! To each Gaming croup there is good choise that is just different!

[@papertalesfantasyroleplayi3102]

I understand the "anti-climactic" ending notion, but I'd say now that the card pool is larger (and more specifically, the encounter modules) the villain's turn can change what you thought might have been a winning next turn pretty regularly and easily. And while it is possible to have that last turn of crunching numbers and determining if you've won, there are lots of other times when a combo can allow you to draw cards that extend your turn and give you a chance to defeat the villain that will almost certainly win on his/her next turn. Is it a perfect situation every play-through, no... in fact, Rhino and probably some other villains, can simply scheme out on you in one turn and ruin the entire play.... but, overall, I think I've had a lot of enjoyable end of the game experiences with MC and highly suggest trying it (with two caveats): 1) You're willing and able to buy some additional content to boost the experience of the core box. 2) You think you'll get just as much enjoyment out of solving the riddle that is building a deck to combat a villain's strengths as you would if you were to be caught up in table talk and interaction with your friends. Very fair review and huge thanks to SU&SD for providing great content!!!

[@heckman42]

"No one wants to hear you say all the card names." ....Thats exactly how my group of 4 always plays 🥺 haha we always announce everything we're doing and anything we're even considering. It helps make a turn that would otherwise be solitary into a more collective experience.

[@decanck-deryncktim-lot4804]

Great review! Though I was interested in Marvel Champions, after seeing this review I'm now convinced we are still playing the best game. Arkham is amazing!

[@phoenixhazard]

Amazing review as usual. The conclusion makes me wonder how it compares solo.

[@refreshdaemon]

It's the story and campaign that drew me into AH:LCG, which is the reason why I never stayed to play more of LotR:LCG after trying the core box and the first set of expansions. As Marvel Champions simply just seems more like LotR:LCG in how discreet the experience is, I decided not to buy into it and stick with AH as my only LCG for the time being. This might change if MC:LCG picks up a campaign mode too, but I'll wait and give my wallet a break until then.

[@dgeci]

SO HAPPY you made this particular comparison and SO HAPPY about the conclusion. Lovecraft is so everything I like and knowing that ARKHAM HORROR is still and will remain for long the Best living card game ou there does fill me with Joy :). I just need to start buying everything :)...

[@8triagrammer]

I watched this review and after looking at the overall reviews from many sources decided to give it a shot. I've only played it solo, but based on that I'll say this game is at least an 8/10, maybe a 9. The fun factor is huge. The mechanics are deep enough to be interesting but simple enough that you don't get bogged down. It's relatively fast to set up. During play you have so many choices and all of them feel relevant. If you lose you can look back and think "maybe had I done this differently...", which is a good thing. Each hero/villain combination has a learning curve and it usually takes a few games to beat the villain, IF you can beat it. The coolest aspect for me is that there is a deck-construction part of it! If you like VTES, MtG, L5R, etc. then you'll love this part of the game. Yes the beginning card pool is limited so there aren't that many choices, but just adding or removing 2-3 cards is significant in a 40 card deck (you usually stick to the minimum of 40). For anyone on the fence on this one I'd say definitely get it.

[@seanthornton3461]

what you were saying near the end is my problem with deck builders. people tend to not interact with each other and are more concerned with what they are going to do. Everyone just plays a game in silence and checks in at the end to see how they all made out.

[@ultralurker7579]

Solitaire is a boring game. I avoid solitaire games whenever possible. A good red flag is when there is no shared gamespace or map. Or when everyplayer has their own little dinner Matt and everyone goes around taking a bite of their dinner then telling everyone how it tastes

[@onofreshoots]

I’ve never had this experience in all my playing of LotR, AH, and now Marvel, but ymmv I guess

[@seanthornton3461]

@@onofreshoots maybe i should give AH a chance at least out of the three. i had this problem more with games like dominion. i have not tried another co-op deck builder yet other than sentinels of the multiverse. I realize i will probably make a lot of people upset who really like dominion by saying that.

[@onofreshoots]

Sean Thornton Just depends on the group honestly. I’ve been lucky that all my groups haven’t had any quarterbacking going on and we all plan out our moves together, so I’m probably more fortunate than most tbh. But I live the storylines in Arkham, and I’ve got a partner who is fully engaged, so I’m in a good spot with coop games.

[@nguinguingui]

For Marvel, I do feel like I AM the hero. I agree everything else about why Arkham Horror LCG is a better game, according to SU&SD. ...but I'm a superhero. I fight and heal, fight and heal. I get support from allies and more bad guys come out. This is why I am keeping both games in my collection.

[@williamskogen9895]

I like your review, but want to echo a lot of what the other comments are saying. Love Arkham Horror, just started playing it with friends for the first time. I have played through Dunwich and Carcosa solo and have Forgotten Age waiting. Also just played Champions for the first time, also solo. Playing Arkham is like reading a Lovecraft novel. Playing Champions is like reading a comic book. You enjoy both, but for very different reasons, and the love of one does not mean you can't love the other as well. Arkham takes some heavy lifting to build a deck to play successfully. Champions, with it's pre-built decks, is ready to go right out of the box. Building a new deck in Champions is as simple as swapping the Justice cards from Spider-Man's deck with the Aggression cards from Captain Marvel. Doing this is quick and easy, and will give you an entirely new experience with each hero. I worried about the lack of campaign and locations in Champions, but now appreciate the lack of that complexity in Champions. I think it is to Champions benefit that it is not simply Arkham Horror played with Marvel super heroes.

[@et2neoh]

WOAH WOAH WOAH, we need a prequel to explain how the mantle of bat-critic man got passed down to Matt!!

[@edwardlane1255]

rumour has it that the mantle was won a game of Vs System

[@Atlas-FM8]

I personally prefer Marvel Champions over Arkham Horror LCG. I found the variance and randomness of tokens draws in Arkham to be more annoying than exciting and that the story/campaign elements of Arkham made me less likely to replay scenarios because I felt like I'd already seen what there was to see. Also I find Champions much more accessible and a lot easier to set up. I will say I definitely like Marvel Champions most as a solo game.

[@ShadowNinjaDestiny]

Interesting review. On one hand, I want a how-to play as well as the review but that isn't fair. The review explained the highlights, pacing, and whether I enjoy it. Good stuff.

[@jeremyglover8733]

I really appreciate your review that explored both sides of the game.

[@mRboylls]

I’ve been debating on getting Arkham horror card game for awhile and just as I was about the ask if this was better you pulled Arkham horror box out from under the table

[@dylantrentin3028]

Arkham the card game is a diamond.

[@sesskie]

Its an outstanding experience that will wrap you in its tentacled grasp and filch your wallet while you are enthralled with your fun suffering.

[@mRboylls]

Dran would you say that it’s enjoyable to just have the base game? I’ve heard there isn’t all that much game too it unless you keep huying

[@sesskie]

mRboylls No, unfortunately the base game is just about 6-7 hours worth of campaign play, and while its quite replayable and you can go at it with different investigators and setups... for all intents and purposes its a demo. The real experience is going through a whole cycle. Dunwich + the 6 related mythos packs are a hefty price, but the experience is amazing and theres probably easily 25h of content in the Dunwich campaign on your first playthrough alone. Ill agree with Quinns though, its not a game for everyone, the core serves as a taste to see if you are enough of a masochist to enjoy the experience.

[@sesskie]

mRboylls incidentally even if you are done with some cycles the community behind the game is thriving and theres dozens of fan created scenarios you can print, play and enjoy. Google Arkham Central.

[@aaronregifoo3985]

One thing i wish you talked about in the review is how this game holds up to Marvel-Legendary seeing how similar the 2 are in concept and likely in entertainment value based off this review

[@gabrielr7511]

I've gone pretty heavy into Legendary and that been the largest factor into me hesitating on getting this.

[@TracerQQ]

It's closer to Sentinels of the Multiverse than Legendary Marvel, and is better than Legendary. The complete lack of interaction in Legendary, coupled with not much ramping of the bad guy, just makes it a deck building exercise. Whereby once you hit a certain threshold you know you've won a legendary game. Champions smacks you around. Keep in mind, we're still in the game's infancy, and I expect the expansion boxes to really ramp up the difficulty, and perhaps give us a campaign.

[@LPTheGas]

Way better than Legendary, just because it actually feels like you’re playing a specific hero rather than some unseen figure calling in a random assortment of strikes from several different heroes, who all sit on the sidelines doing nothing whenever you aren’t calling on them.

[@lugaruclone]

Played correctly you should be asking for assistance or offering it during players turns. That way you can coordinate, have players remove threats in your way or have them give you more resources and cards. Here is the ruling: • Ask another player to trigger an “Action” ability on a card in play they control or on an event card they might have in hand. The other player then decides whether or not to trigger the ability. (Another player may offer to use an action during the active player’s turn, as well.)

[@andyscout]

I picked up Marvel Champions and I've been enjoying it a lot. Arkham looks cool too, but I think that'd be a harder sell to get to the table with my girlfriend compared to letting her play as characters she knows and loves from the movies and comics. Not sure if my larger board game group has played the Arkham card game, it might be easier to get them to play but idk. Still nice review, and I can agree that Champions has some flaws but I'm still excited to get some more expansions and such for it.

[@aresx666]

This review sold me more on Arkham Horror then the Arkham Horror review did I may just have to buy that game now

[@bearhustler]

It really is excellent, it shouldn't work as well as it does but it's great.

[@truce11]

Speaking of boom mic... Has SU&SD ever talked about their current video camera setup (camera body, lens, mic, audio recorder, etc)? Love the quality now despite endeared to the old SUSD vids

[@JonSolo85]

The algebra at the end of the game where you say the damage you can do is not allowed according to the rule book. Instead it's more like Gloomhaven where you say "I can hit him but not very hard". I feel this difference is worth pointing out because it allows the theme (If you are into that) to over shadow the math. In my group this has been a great ending experience. That said I too like AH LCG slightly better but I am keeping both. I do think this is a fair review though :)

[@dahSweep]

I've been trying to find this in the rulebook, but I can't see it anywhere. Can you reference a page number and paragraph? Been discussing this with a friend and I want to see if it's actually a rule. Thanks!

[@JonSolo85]

@@dahSweep I believe I'm actually incorrect here. I forgot I left this comment a few years back but I was playing with AH LCG and Gloomhaven in mind when I learned this game and got my rules crossed over. In Champions you can talk number specific damage like they say you can in the video.

[@ShackledDev]

Some minor review spoilers below I personally disagree with the comparisons of AHCG and Marvel Champions. Firstly, I feel that not every game needs a campaign to be fun. With a group that meets as inconsistently as mine and who has constantly shifting desires, it's nice to be able to find games that we can play in one night. While my wife and I do play and enjoy AH, it's really the only campaign game we have time for, and I'm worried that the extreme push for campaigns in SO many games means that other game ideas might be left on the drawing board. Secondly, I feel that, as you kind of stated, AH and Marvel have two very different feels, yet you also compared them as if they were similar. AH makes you feel like you are fighting a force beyond your own strength. You are suffocating in a world out to destroy you, and you are working together to keep above water long enough to push through. Marvel Champions is a game where, over time, you get to feel like a superhero, a champion. You don't feel weak. You feel empowered. And, just like superhero films, the punches can be devastating on both sides. You may be able to do a quarter of the villain's health in one turn if you can play just right, but the villain can also sometimes take you from full health to just one or two in that same time frame, meaning you always have to be just a bit on edge. I do, however, agree that turns could feel a little more interactive between players, and I definitely respect your preference for other games. Just thought I would give some counter-thoughts. Good review overall!

[@Turtlewax88]

Ah guys, I had to pause the video after the Bat-Disruption because I was laughing too hard! Good work, now I will finish up the video!

[@davidforsling2467]

OK I am pretty convinced I am gonna buy Arkham horror the card game

[@MrPicklerwoof]

He's absolutely right though when he says it isn't for everybody. The random meanness of it wasn't my cup of tea at all, and we never replayed it beyond the first couple of weeks. Just felt like we were banging our heads against a brick wall much of the time. All depends what sort of gaming experience you're looking for.

[@lugaruclone]

@@MrPicklerwoof If it is any consolation the community is very sympathetic and are like 'by all means play on easy' or 'use house rules to make it more fun'. That is if you have not sold it yet.

[@urahi830]

there's quite a bit of randomness involved but honestly it makes the game more fun rather than frustrating, I see it as a good thing. Also the fact that you can always know the odds and even change them if you are really struggling is a major plus

[@christianalvarez9930]

Matt is happy

[@Kilerazn423]

For me it was just too much playing solo. Too much fiddlyness and keeping track of everything plus 2 investigators. Would only play it again with another person

[@BetterBoardGames]

Great review :) entertaining and informative!

[@MrScrawnjuan]

Lol I like how this just became an ad for Arkham Horror. If I could get my friends to play it I definitely would. I think my friend group would play Marvel before Arkham unfortunately

[@lootnscoot50]

I am so glad you pointed out some of the flaws in this game. I pre ordered it and was so excited for this game. I’m a huge Marvel fan. When I played it I was like...is this it? I felt conflicted and guilty. I really really wanted to love this game, but I just didn’t.

[@alwaysfallingshort]

Aw shit, I want this and I'm ashamed of it. 12 year old me would've been so into it. I think our table would have fun narrating our turns and coming up with a story that fits our moves.

[@Futuristic271]

I wouldn't be embarrassed. My group loves sentinels of the multiverse for similar reasons and it's a similar game. I would just worry the novelty may fade quickly but they still play sentinels to this day

[@artstsym]

There's nothing to be ashamed of. Our interests change over time, but that doesn't make ones we've outgrown invalid. I have been a straight mechanics person for most of my life, but I don't regret the phase where I would buy anything with a dinosaur on it.

[@Bodyknock]

Good review. One nit pick, a problem with comparing Marvel to Keyforge is that Marvel is cooperative while Keyforge is competitive. If I'm a player who prefers cooperative games over competitive ones the game mechanics of Keyforge won't make me like that game more than Marvel, and vice versa if I don't like cooperative games. So I think a better comparison would be to judge Marvel against similar weight cooperative games, such as Legendary Marvel, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Aeon's End, Harry Potter, etc. Because those are the games someone looking for a fun cooperative card game would gravitate toward and want to know if Marvel Champions is worth it. Personally I like Marvel Champions as a solo game and with two players but not enough to buy it for myself, I prefer Legendary Marvel. Marvel Champions has some interesting game mechanics such as the alter ego flipping, but Legendary is just a fantastic solo deck building game with a -ton- of replayability and expansions. And if I want to play a four player superhero game I'd go with Sentinels of the Multiverse (which Quinns didn't like because it's fiddly, but my friends and I love occasionally. :) )

[@loodinek]

I wouldn't have noticed the boom mic unless that comment "hello i am boom mic" came up and now I can't stop looking at it. :p

[@Bllurr1]

Probably not even worth mentioning there's also the L5R card game, as well. :) Fantasy Flight really likes these LCG's of late.

[@valerahime]

Gambit has been my favorite superhero since high school, thank you for the validation Quinns!

[@GreenGearStudio]

I love Arkham Horror and have now played a couple of games of Marvel Champions. And let me say this, I see myself playing Marvel Champions way more often. By removing the campaign and pure torture of Arkham, it feels more casual. I can randomly generate a game, and then finish it within a lunch break. It's the Arkham puzzle, but kinder. I still prefer Arkham, but I don't know when I will take it out again if I have to choose between the two for a fun evening of gaming

[@davidwhitfield6025]

During Covid 19 lockdown I had the option to play Marvel Champions and Arkham Horror solo. Got bored with Arkham (and died a lot - as you do) but found Marvel Champions a treat Solo. I'm now playing on Heroic 3 level which is absolutely a killer to beat but I still come back to it so for me Marvel Champions is the more worth while game and cost wise sooooo much cheaper than all the expansions which I realised I was only going to play maybe twice and then never again = waste of money.

[@SadPizza4591]

"Awww that mathed out great" is the best thing Ive heard today

[@cjknotty]

Another enjoyable review. I love the way you build the game up with positives before bringing it back down with the negatives. Would you say the game works better as a solo play?

[@haukikannel]

c knott vs arkham? I have played Marwell and Arkham solo, with one or two or three players. Both games works fine as solo, but They Are very different in other ways. I personally like my games as Group mode better. They Are sosial events. In Marwell there is a Little bit more downtime when there Are more players. There Are some cards that can affect other players, but as it wa said. It is a Little bit solitair with friends where you agree what each player do. But would I play arkham or Marwell as a solitair... for me arkham because it is meatier. But I have heavy hard game backround. Is you Are Nit familiar with card games, Marwell most likely is better choise. But it depends on what kind of games you like. Marwell is simpler, easier and quicker. AH is meatier, harder, more time consuming.

[@dapperloser3025]

the only problem with these LCG games, (or any card game really) is that the amount of expansions and cards already made makes it a bit scary to get into

[@haukikannel]

dapper loser these coop games like Marwell and Arkham horror Are good in that way that you don`t need to have everything! In competative card games you ”have to have” all or you most likely will lose. In AH you want to get whole story to one spesific adventure, aka deluxe and 6 packs from the same cycle. But you don`t need all cycles and you don`t have to follow the release order of cycles. In Marwell just get those heroes and willains that you like. Leave everything else.

[@RabidHobbit]

Arkham Horror is Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines and Marvel Champions is Street Fighter*. So far I like them both equally and can't see myself getting rid of either. Pardon the obscure analogy, but I can't think of another action-filled, mystery themed story-RPG that lets you pick between fairly different character types... ... ... ...so I went with Street Fighter. Also, this is the best use of the First Player token that will ever be. I watched this review a year ago and missed it then. * -- okay, okay, Marvel vs Capcom. I know you were thinking it. PS -- Keyforge? Really??

[@Bobby-fn1us]

I don’t really care for Marvel and the like, except for the last 3 Batman films with that guy from Empire of the Sun; but, as a SUSD fan I watched and waited attentively for that magic moment in the review.. and then at 9:03 I was rewarded! and again at the 13:40 with that delicious clap sound when the rulebook is forever shut.

[@artstsym]

I love that not fighting crime is more lucrative than fighting crime. As mechanics go, that's ace. Of course, the second you said it wasn't serial like AH:TCG I was out, but still, flavor win there.

[@CD-zd6zr]

100% agree. I wish Marvel Champions was a lot more interactive and had story lines like AH:LCG

[@nickksyniuk6649]

Very quality video, Quinns. But you shoulda went for the sausig rolls lest they colden

[@joshuavelo4265]

Totally agree with this review. I enjoy the game, but it feels better when I'm playing by myself than it has the few times I've played with other friends. It's so solitaire and the lack of campaign will hurt the game in the long-run I think. Hopefully the promised campaign expansions actually work, and aren't some loosely-related set of villains that function like the normal core game.

[@andrewwilson895]

My enjoyment for Marvel Champions tricked me into trying out Arkham Horror, which was just so much less fun. The game forces you to spend precious actions moving, investigating, and fighting instead of what I actually want to be doing: playing cool cards. On top of that, I often have to spend my beloved cards for a CHANCE at succeeding at one of the mandatory boring actions. However, I'll admit I'd love to see campaigns and evolving decks in Marvel Champions.

[@bendavy1816]

Yeah that's my view of Arkham and I played Arkham when it first came out. I think marvel champions is way more fun and a better game.

[@saintseiyablade]

MC > AH. ... Also, campaign is coming.

[@Moxbox99]

Ah, a comment that gets where I’m coming from too lol I tried AH but just felt like I was getting destroyed. I like the combat in MC a lot better and that helps

[@TheAcad3mic]

Comparing them is like comparing Call of Duty with World of Warcraft because they're both online computer games. AH is a unique animal in the gaming sphere but its primary driver is difficulty, and cooperative campaign based gameplay. Its really more of a pen and paper RPG wrapped up inside a card game than it is a traditional card gaming experience, which is something Marvel hammers because you power up and trade blows and just use up so many damn cards.

[@pipstevenson5146]

Is that a "Tainted Grail: fall of Avalon" game in the background at 13mins? When is the review?

[@BenSilber]

I also see Glorantha: The God's War - and the blueish box above it kinda looks like anachrony

[@Nozdormu1982]

@@BenSilber which time marker?

[@danielmarchant6772]

Arkham Horror? Have you guys tried out the Lord of the Rings LCG? That's where the Arkham Horror mechanics came from.

[@Santanilla]

I love this game because of the theme and how well designed every character is, the art is great ( obviously) and it is perfectly played with a single hero , which Is how I play it 90% of the time. the campaigns are coming, let me tell you that when arkham horror card game came out , a lot of reviewers hated it because it wasn’t seen at its full potential. ( see the new no pun intended video about their second review for that game) , in a few words it is not fair to compare this new game which is out of the oven with a game that already had 4 complete cycle expansions worth 100 each and a lot of inertia and improvements with it, of course it is a must that you like marvel characters , and I don’t mean comic fans , I mean anyone that enjoys the mcu films is going to love this game. I believe the ending is not climatic because at the moment you defeat a villain and that’s it , tan tan , no upgrading your deck nor hurting it. ( which is the only thing I envy from arkham campaigns, the fact that you take from chapter to chapter your past experiences in the positives and negatives as well) that is the only thing this game misses and I am sure these campaigns are going to become awesome ( and I don’t consider red skull a campaign because the changes to the decks throughout each villain are minimal). Right now the core game is playing in the safe zone, its goal is to teach the basics without overwhelming with new mechanics etc. Those will come in the future.

[@ashleygray1632]

Honestly Marvel Champions is perfectly fine as it is. I honestly think this review is up there with one of the worst they have done. There is one important factor they are not touching on in this review and it's MC isn't AH (and it's not trying to be either) it's a card game brawler - end of story, and it's a bloody good one. Fans of MC shouldn't have to write a book to justify that. Imo it's a better game than AH because AH is boring at every time of the game to me, MC is not.