Project: Elite Review - A Game That Genuinely Surprised Us

#boardgames #review #projectelite
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A review copy of Project: Elite was provided by AsmodeeUK
Music by:
Juanitos
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[@NoPunIncluded]

Before you leave that Kitchen Rush comment kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fYh35pZrSMqqs

[@jacobthomas6876]

The “this just says ‘Plastic’” and “what’s overcooked?” gags in this were fantastic. Great job on the video Efka and Elaine!

[@malcolmmacdonald9238]

Don't tell me what to do.

[@Khift]

It's funny that you mention this is the first CMoN game you've liked, because... this is one of CMoN's few games they've released that CMoN didn't develop in house. This was entirely Artipia's brainchild, and it shows when you compare it to the rest of CMoN's lineup. I have the original OG non-CMoN version of this game in my library, and it's one of my prized board game possessions. Definitely a game we come back to week in and week out.

[@mella4376]

I found this game sooo shallow and repetitive after the first couple of plays, how do you keep it fresh despite it getting to the table so often for your group?

[@Khift]

@@mella4376 Admittedly, it's probably because we have all the extras. Randomized game modes, randomized maps, so many events we've seen some of them only once, loads of different random elite enemies, etc etc mixes it up really well. If we just had the base box, I could definitely see it getting stale after a couple plays, but it's built on one of those engines that really benefits from what is normally KS bloat, and all that extra content creates new permutations every game.

[@mechasduo004]

Magic Maze was the first game I ever (quietly) pushed my chair away from the table and tapped out (6 players). The stress induced by that game is maddening. I was also told the game was called Mute Mall and couldn't find it on BGG for a week.

[@DarkEyedBlues]

The main problem with CMon is if you didn't back the kickstarter your going to miss 50%-75% of the game

[@Brotzkopf]

I hate kickstarter exclusive content, but there is not much missing in blood rage. Only bad monsters and bad cards. If you don't have the kickstarter edition you have to buy the expansions though. Money grab. Yay.

[@VaultBoy13]

Yeah, but it means avoiding 50-75% of poorly developed content.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Rushed stretch goals are the bane of kickstarted games.

[@SynGirl32]

Forget CMON, the biggest offender in my opinion is Awaken Realms. During the Nemesis: Lockdown run, Not only did they make one stretch goal per day, but all of it was kickstarter exclusive, meaning that you missed out one a literal metric ton of stuff.

[@igorpersin7484]

@@SynGirl32 then simple, back em :) They have good value KS vise.

[@gamegraves]

just played for the first time last week, your humor and descriptions where very much on point

[@BAD-Canon]

As always the best reviews and you can tell a lot of work goes into what you both want to say. Keep it up!

[@TabletopGamesBlog]

Another great video. Thank you. But what is that music in the background? Especially the song at the end? It sounds familiar, but I can't place it...

[@luigiscazzari4724]

Nothing spicier than a late night board game review. Truly, the art is a rip-off of any human Vs aliens game, but it has the merit to have sealed into my mind the image of xenomorphs dancing the conga.

[@z-beeblebrox]

They're called Frosties in the UK? That's interesting, do you know if they've got that trademark on lock? Cuz famously, in the US where they're called Frosted Flakes, it turned out that phrase couldn't be trademarked and so it's also what generic Frosted Flakes are labeled.

[@halilkardicali7738]

Still halfway painting the game. I had entered KS sol got lots of stuff with it. Really good representative of how a real time board game should be. I thing Blood Rage and Rising Sun are both very interesting games, but all to it’s own ofcourse. It is maybe a weird thing to say but the plastic is part of the CMON experience. The visual and physical experience you get is hard to compete with. Also as a painter I get double benefit from game.

[@KXC42069]

But what is that song playing in the background?? It is very familiar...

[@Danny_DaKid]

If you guys liked Overcooked check out Moving Out! It’s by the same developers and it’s also a crazy fun time!

[@NoPunIncluded]

Many good evenings were lost to Overcooked in the NPI household.

[@ezeekiel101]

I do think a reference to the original printing is would have been valid as I believe there is almost no changes. As some one who went through that painful kickstarter the minis could be worse!

[@KristoVaher]

I still adore XCOM the most of games with real time elements. Asymmetry of decisions is so wonderful.

[@aalever]

I'm surprised you didn't like Blood Rage. We bought the retail version way after the kickstarter (we didn't even realise it was a kickstarter) and we loved it.

[@speedwaygamer]

Suprise Dog should be in every review

[@stephengray3401]

This is how you do a bloody game review. Freakin hilarious. Thanks as always.

[@DenisRyan]

YOU HAD ME AT DOLF LUNDGREN!!

[@estebanrodriguez5409]

That man wouldn't have troubles with explaining basic trigonometry in the middle of an alien slaughter house

[@JudgeParsos]

"you have exactly two minutes to run away from this box" with two mins left of the video. Nice.

[@acomaslip5212]

Nice Hudson quote!

[@IslanKleinknecht]

Forget about Overcooked, what about Kitchen Rush?

[@NoPunIncluded]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fYh35pZrSMqqs

[@dominikg4818]

No Pun Included The new version (by Pegasus) doesn’t start with all rules in the first game and has a sort of tutorial campaign.

[@Valcurdra]

Kitchen Rush by David Turczi is a real time cooking game, it's also absolutely awesome, in pretty sure you would like it more than project elite

[@AliciaDarky]

This is the only game I'd ever wanted to back to get all of it since I love Escape: The Curse of the Temple. I just know it'd be my favorite game of all time... I couldn't back it so I don't know if I'll ever get a retail copy of it because I'd feel like I'm missing on a lot of content 😔. I love how it looks as well. All the monster models being bizarre and disgusting is so refreshing to me 😌. Hope I can find someone that just wants to sell it at the price they got it because they didn't like it or something. One can dream 😣.

[@Twineandribbon]

We bought it retail and found it to be a full complete experience out of the box. We have played about 14 games out of the core box and everyone still wants to play more. Don't let the feeling that you can't get literally everything ever made for the game without paying an exorbitant price hold you back from experiencing one of the best games out there - especially when you already know you like this style of game.

[@dylannorthrup5439]

Glad you enjoyed the game! I went all-in on the Kickstarter, party because the game also integrates with Zombicide: Invader and Dark Side, lol… and I enjoy sci-if themes. Sadly, I still haven’t got this to the table… in fact, I still need to unbox the mountain of content sitting in the corner of my games room. Soon! That being said… I absolutely agree with you that Kickstarter Exclusive Content for all of these CMON games is incredibly annoying and aggravating to the retail customer (as I feel towards every project I skip and later regret missing). However, the extra content is far from “free”, despite what they say… once you factor in currency conversion, shipping, and the fact your money is spent 18-24 months before you get it, and then consider the games are always cheaper at retail than their supposed MSRP. We definitely pay for the extras… that being said, I don’t see why they can’t sell the Kickstarter Extras at an appropriate inflated price to people who didn’t back the Kickstarter. People would buy it… isn’t that better for business? Honestly, the completionist in me is reluctant to pick up the base game at all if I know it will be nearly impossible to track down expansions and the extra content that was Kickstarter exclusive without paying far more than they are worth. If it was all available at retail, and only cheaper for those who pre-ordered on Kickstarter, then it would be a win-win - more money for the publisher, and happier customers.

[@maxmustermann9036]

so this is Legends of Andor Real Time Plastic Edition? mh... I might like that

[@chadrowe2275]

I didn't realize how hard it is to find colored miniature base covers until I thought of it as a solution to the sea of beige.

[@KXC42069]

Paint?

[@chadrowe2275]

Some people aren't into that.

[@alexanderbarlow8155]

Say what you will about CMON's Kickstarter shenanigans but Bloodrage and Arcadia Quest are some of my favorite games (maybe that's just Eric Lang though) which I bought after the kickstarters

[@cobleau]

“Nobody ever says ( 4:19 ) ‘Dammit! How could this have happened’ “ Aaron Sorkin (s’ continuous ad)

[@KXC42069]

Nice

[@michaelmuchness]

Not my type of game. I want it! This review is awesome! The right balance of entertainment and real info.

[@fireant202]

Looks amazing but I've given up on trying to get my crew to embrace real time games. They're too stressful for us sadly though I enjoy them. It just always feels like everyone needs to understand the rules equally well for them to really ring true.

[@moocowp4970]

I haven't played this yet (although looks right up my alley!) but has your group tried XCOM (probably my favourite board game)? Decisions have to be made in real time, so you still get the stress of making snap decisions, however the timers are done in turns ("Frank! 10 seconds to choose one of your cards! Gogogo!" "Done!" "Okay, Sally! 15 seconds to make this decision!" . It means that you don't have to wait for the newer player to keep up as much. Also, the roles are asymmetrical, and since everyone is trying to figure out what they will need to do next turn, there is almost never any criticism of a player's turn choice because noone else knows what options they were choosing between or has time to check/criticise. So if it's the stress of real time decisions that's the problem, maybe don't bother with XCOM either; but if it's the problem of someone feeling like they're letting the team down, XCOM solved that problem.

[@Merlandese]

"Dammit! How could this have happened!" XD

[@isaacthimbleby8926]

I feel like you guys might also enjoy Council of Four ... which again, while it is a CMON game, was originally published by someone else ... and I suspect I'd prefer the original.

[@spectralboardgamer]

Please enable or provide subtitles for your international audience :-) Thanks a lot for your enjoyable videos!

[@spectralboardgamer]

Thank you!!! :-)

[@ludwigamadeushaydn706]

I saw this at the top of Tom Vasel's rankings in a video and have heard literally nothing else about this game.

[@Vsankari]

That had to be a bought spot... it was so out of place and Zees and Sams reactions were spot on.

[@VaultBoy13]

@@Vsankari Knowing the games Tom likes? No. It wasn't. He tends to really like games that are dumb-fun.

[@g8kpr3000]

@@VaultBoy13 @vsankari also Tom was the person who got CMON and the original publisher together to make a new edition. So yeah, he likes it and was the one who helped spearhead the 2nd edition.

[@brianlong9100]

7:01 "That's a lotta damage"

[@beazer32]

My 2 year old is named Malcolm and now I'm hoping he grows up to look like Gherid.

[@Patricia_Taxxon]

Real time co-op games about cooking? I haven't played it but I heard Kitchen Rush fits that bill.

[@NoPunIncluded]

We reviewed Kitchen Rush in the past and it wasn't our favourite game.

[@Patricia_Taxxon]

@@NoPunIncluded Oh, was that line a joke that I just walked into

[@NoPunIncluded]

Not exactly. That line was awkward to write because we had to pick either Overcooked or Kitchen Rush for the joke, both essentially real time co-operative cooking themed games, knowing that whichever one we picked, folks would shout-out the other one. We decided to go with Overcooked because despite not being a board game, it's a much better execution.

[@Patricia_Taxxon]

@@NoPunIncluded ah, i get it, sorry. that must have been really annoying

[@NoPunIncluded]

Oh, not at all annoying! If anything, pleased about the enthusiasm of our audience.

[@DocBhoy]

This is waiting to be played on my shelf. I prefer Rush MD to Kitchen Rush...

[@albertk3038]

Whats the 1 cmon game you recommend before this?

[@NoPunIncluded]

Railroad Ink

[@eddieharr]

man! Yall need to try "Death May Die" by CMON. BY FAR the best game they have come out with. Truly an actual great game and not just a kickstarter mess of plastic.

[@Tharukan]

Blood Rage is by Cmon, innit? Try that then. What I've heard that game is pretty.. unshallow. :D

[@brotherhorus4316]

Blood rage is a very goid game as is The Others.

[@A6by]

Kinda looks like what would happen if someone tried to make a larger-scale spiritual successor to Space Hulk Death Angel. Which I adore. So... interesting.

[@styfen]

When I look this game up. I discover it's a reprint of a non CMON game and suddenly it makes sense why it's good.

[@ishotmyboss]

You guys just call them Frosties?

[@twinkle04evr]

We love Kitchen Rush and Fuse

[@jonedvinz]

Soooo... I agree with Efka. What is overcooked? I think I heard it on the SUSD podcast... Maybe your next review?

[@NoPunIncluded]

We don't review video games, but there's plenty of other KZbin videos on it.

[@negoc78]

Cool Video - my approach to CMON: Wont buy anything from them anymore - I was AllIn in the Bloodborne Kickstarter, but they overbend my FOMO - i cancelled and will never be at any of their campaings again - and retail? Lol as you said - its a punch into the face with a smile telling you: ha idiot, give us money now and think about not beeing at the kickstarter for our next game.

[@malcolmdouglasmichaluk8263]

Haha couldn't resist

[@IslanKleinknecht]

I wonder exactly how much of a different experience I'd have playing this rather than Escape: Curse of the Temple.

[@clivecrous]

I own and play both. I'd say the biggest differences can be summarized as follows: 1) Project Elite isn't one long timed rush, it's short 2 minute bursts where you get to take breaks in between and restrategise while the aliens take "their turn" - for me this makes it less draining (on me) as a whole. 2) you don't have rolled locked dice you need to unlock, rather you choose to lock dice to resolve a particular objective if you can reach it and put your dice on it, but only for that round and they automatically unlock again at the end of those two minutes. 3) One dice face, moving random aliens, and you still needing to shoot and kill them as well. Most weapons have a particular dice face combo that you have to allocate "at once" for a single shot, and then you roll for damage, between them all moving around you and you needing to shoot them, and move yourself while also attempting to resolve objectives leads to, in my opinion, a bit more "meat" in the choice buffet of your allotted 2 minutes, this is great for variety of gameplay or strategy but bad if you're subject to analysis paralysis.

[@KXC42069]

It also feels more serious, and is a has a weak end (when you realize you'll win but have to still play the last round) - curse of the temple is better for family and has more dice to chuck!

[@eriksjogren800]

Thanks

[@johncorrigan268]

Hudson!

[@leeperry7068]

Hey CMON... just as one data point, I'd like to own this game (I love this sort of thing, and Space Hulk is all things gaming to me). I will not buy it however, since the mention about how you only include 6 characters in the over the shelf version, and 15 in the kickstarter version. I'm just not going to hunt down a used KS version, and I won't buy something new that is SOOOO gimped from the KS version. That disparity is WAY too high, guys... it made up my mind about the purchase.

[@mella4376]

Hey gang how is part 2 of the Arkham Horror marathon coming together?

[@markusschmidt9260]

Hope, they get it out, before Innsmouth arrives. :)

[@_The_Rake]

Hmm...after watching this video I'd be interested in picking up this game. After seeing what the Kickstarter has versus the retail, I will not be touching it.

[@kristiantornkvist2084]

You're better off looking for the old version online much more content allthough not a campaign line sadly. And apart from the red bosses and some of the heroes the aliens look really good, except if you got that awful first essen version that they later reembursed. They are also extremelu sturdy. I always showcase their sturdiness by throwing them into a wall with new players. Left a mark on the wall once.

[@Twineandribbon]

We bought the game blind without knowing about the kickstarter content and have been fully satisfied with it. 14+ games so far and we're not slowing down anytime soon.

[@AthexTube]

Time for you to pickup kitchen rush I think

[@fairdav]

11:32 if an alien with boobs surprises you, you should not look at Kingdom Death : Monster xDD

[@tinstargames]

What’s overcooked???

[@markusschmidt9260]

A videogame, similar to Kitchen Rush.

[@barrettvelker198]

Damn it guys. I was gonna pass on this one. But this looks awesome

[@Twineandribbon]

Yep, it's awesome :)

[@TheAthenaum]

Lol I mean what about Kitchen Rush?

[@hadzhere]

i too hate CMON (i backed the actual original game by artipia years ago, love it!!)

[@Fluxquark]

One really funny thing about this game is that you want to kill all the aliens on the board but as you do so, you're left with fewer choices for how to allocate your alien moves. This can lead to a situation where you have one alien sprinting towards your base with no way to catch up because you and your friends only realised this when it was already too late

[@kristiantornkvist2084]

I did not back this due to the fact I own the original and CMON actually manage to make it worse, gameplay wise. And at the same time manage to squeeze an extra 150% extra dollars and only finishing at the line whit what i own from that kickstarter in the way of content.

[@haltherobot2830]

Ngl this game reminds me a lot of Mechs vs Minions

[@Skippan]

I see that in the movement, but I kept thinking this is more like Zombicide with timers

[@markusschmidt9260]

MvM is much more finicky. Not surprisingly, as it has has the real time mechanism only while drafting cards.

[@Iamwrongbut]

But what about blood rage!?

[@markusschmidt9260]

No cooking theme.

[@daodasbrot4817]

ah, forget. I love the game. Fast, hard and the stress the fight should have. But I also like S&S...so, maybe thats the problem.

[@johnjones6115]

Roll to move? What is this, 1985?

[@MattNinety]

It's not exactly like that.

[@KXC42069]

It's worse

[@swav1986lewandowski]

Scrolling to see if any Malcolms commented... 😂

[@SynGirl32]

This sounds like what I want Descent to be: An easy to pick-up coop dungeon crawler that can be played by the whole party. I'd look into it, but my wallet is screaming in agony right now.

[@bricelory9534]

Keep in mind the real-time element is a very real thing in this game. Makes it frenetic in a way your standard turn-based dungeon crawlers just can't be. As long as that seems appealing, this may be up your alley.

[@nellawaters8230]

Not enough Malcolm comments!

[@NoPunIncluded]

Agreed.

[@kristiantornkvist2084]

And the new dice that doesn't differate the actions by colours is just the tip of the iceberg where CMEM manage to committee this game into something worse than it was. This is the board game version of Justice League.

[@dannyp4174]

Do you own Blood Rage?

[@NoPunIncluded]

I used to. Briefly.

[@vonwoolf9963]

Kitchen Rush ?

[@NoPunIncluded]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fYh35pZrSMqqs

[@vonwoolf9963]

@@NoPunIncluded oh.

[@bigm9330]

Great review !!! ---- Project Elite & Zombicide Invader .... What else is needed in life besides these two games .... and Gloomhaven, Clank, Starcadia Quest, Star Wars Imperial Assault, Mage Knight, Dominion, .... but back to Project Elite - I've never played a game that had urgency stress that is fun. Perfect !!!

[@StevenAPowers]

This is actually one of the few plastic monsters I don't think I would like. To much dice rolling and I'm not a fan of the real time aspects.

[@smolle8906]

it's because artipia made this game and not cmon ;)

[@brotherhorus4316]

However I don't agree all cmon games are poor. Blood Rage and The Others are both really good.

[@RichardKurbis]

I thought it was pronounced: Sea-Em-Oh-En.

[@aliakel315]

This game begs for a digital adaptation

[@KXC42069]

Amen

[@Zilong09]

A trashy good time costs $100??? Christ there are $20 trashy good times... Still interested though

[@thelupishow]

I'm not Malcolm but on behalf of Malcolms everywhere...I'm not leaving a comment...great review.

[@aresx666]

so if you don't like Overcooked you WON'T like this... hmmm ok next game please :P

[@Daye04]

Luckily, my name is Daye, so I can leave a comment 😄

[@RiddleFlowOn]

Kitchen Rush

[@NoPunIncluded]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fYh35pZrSMqqs

[@moltenbullet]

If you think CMON is cursed, never work as a seaman.

[@adamanderson1979]

KITCHEN RUSH!!!!!!!!!

[@daodasbrot4817]

First game from cmon you recomend? What about blood rage, rising sun and death may die? Last one not good without the KS. Ok, give you that.

[@codydavis3100]

Unless it is completely out of print Death May Die offered a lot of its content at retail.

[@daodasbrot4817]

@@codydavis3100 With only two Elder ones? no, sorry.

[@codydavis3100]

@@daodasbrot4817 2 more elder gods were available at retail. And an expansion with 5 more scenarios and 10 more playable characters. So if you liked it you weren't locked out of a lot of content at retail.

[@daodasbrot4817]

@@codydavis3100 But you know what you get in the KS? This is what CMON is about, and ymy problem is not retail, but the base game. the base game is too few contant. with Blood rage and rising sun you don't have the problem.

[@codydavis3100]

@@daodasbrot4817 I got the kickstarter so yeah I know what you get. The base game is still a good value. 5 different scenarios and 2 gods. One more God would have made it great but you're only locked out of 1 God from the whole kickstarter. You can spend about the same amount in retail that people did in the kickstarter and all you're missing out on is 1 God, 3 scenarios (1 needs KS stuff specifically), and a good amount of heroes with some of them I'll never touch.

[@moocowp4970]

This looks exactly like the kind of game I'll like! But I don't know if can support a company that takes away 9/15 heroes just because you didn't back at the Kickstarter campaign!

[@AthexTube]

Just plastic, C'mon!

[@LMKlees]

I hated the art too. Its bland af. The rulebook was just tedious to look at. I finally got through it but the art is exhausting and sucks the theme out of the game.

[@Tania_Korol]

Ну, такое...

[@corradomorgana]

First! Wooooh!

[@tomangelripper2255]

I had the original game and man I hated it.

[@AndrewDayMortgage]

Too many attempted jokes… Not enough actual review.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

Did you say timer and real time! Sorry going to have to stop you right there chief. I am one of those people that DOES suffer from real time stress. I believe timers have NO PLACE in board games. none, zero, zip, period. I don't care how good the game is, If its got a timer, I'm out (with certain exceptions for last player timers like Robo Rally). Unless it has the ability to play without the round timer this is effectively a non starter for me. Thanks for the review. Now I don't have to look at it and wonder if its something I wold like.

[@KXC42069]

Shame youre missing out on the curse of the temple