Pandemic Hot Zone: Europe Review - with Zee Garcia

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Pandemic franchise now going full Ticket To Ride.

[@dhmcarver]

Great review -- I like that Pandemic is going the Ticket to Ride route of smaller, shorter games with the same flavor as the original, as many of us (families with young children, for example) sometimes only have small windows in which we can play games, and I enjoy being able to get these abbreviated versions to the table. As a side note, can I say that your TARGET framework is simply brilliant -- I know you have been doing it for years. What I don't understand is why other reviewers are not ripping it off. It gives a tremendous structure and grounding to your reviews.

[@duncanbarker6051]

From what they are saying you will be able to mix up the hot zone games to play different variants. One includes players playing on different boards but being able to move between the boards could lead to some interesting ideas.

[@fludzbehindme]

It is perfect for me and my co worker. In down time we whip it out for a quick game. We work at a game store. So helps with the sell.

[@HackWeight]

I feel like these games are also like a travel version of Pandemic. If I'm traveling somewhere and want to bring something small so we could maybe play in our hotel room or something, this is a good choice. I'll probably buy this and just put the new roles, events, and mutation cards into the North America game. Should all fit. Then I'll have a more replayable travel version.

[@dhmcarver]

That's a great thought.

[@SumerNivek]

Yes, this was my thought as well when Zee said "Who is this for?" Everyone! For travel! :D

[@rasmusolesen5307]

DIY Expansion. Play a game of Copenhagen each time you move to that space.

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

You can add Lisboa and Paris to your DIY.

[@tonygilbert5256]

When they come out with the next one, I hope it has more interesting things about it. I feel like Zee is right, in that they give you a little bit of the regular game and a drop or two of something new. I think the third one really needs to tie things together and to also give players a reason to go out and purchase all three, to have a Pandemic game that gives something fresh and new.

[@82ndmi]

oh man hemisphere mode when there's 4 of these might be amazing.

[@KSweeney36]

I like the idea for a smaller one to play with the kids. Also being European, the map will help.

[@en4crcdn]

You'd think we'd all be sick of Pandemic but I just played it again last night. A great game/puzzle to kill an hour or two with. Don't think I'll pick up any of these Hot Zone titles but am considering grabbing In the Lab exp or Rising Tide in the near future. Thanks for the review! Enjoyed it.

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

It is a really great game! As far as spin-offs are concerned, many people like Iberia, Rise of Cthulhu is also an interesting twist if you like the theme. If you enjoy the base game, I would recommend picking up On the Brink first, because there are parts of In the Lab that require it. (Unless you ONLY plan to play the "Lab" module, which does not require any components from OtB)

[@en4crcdn]

@@BoardGamesBricksHobbies I'd definitely get Iberia but I cant find an English version locally and it looks out of print everywhere. I have on the brink ordered so I'll see how that one goes before deciding on in the lab and state of emergency. Thanks for the input.

[@LegoAssassin098]

@@en4crcdn I recommend In the Lab before state of emergency.

[@en4crcdn]

@@LegoAssassin098 Thanks. Sounds like State of Emergency is the weakest of the bunch. I guess eventually expansions run the risk of just feeling bloated.

[@dhmcarver]

@@en4crcdn I was able to get Pandemic: Iberia early on in the actual pandemic we have all been experiencing, but I got lucky. I hope they bring it back, because of all of the expansions and spin offs, it seems to be the one people like best. It is very cool. I also really like Fall of Rome, if you want your Pandemic where the "virus" is the barbarian tribes penetrating the Roman Empire.

[@LegoAssassin098]

I have the original with all expansions and have looked into legacy, Iberia, and such. The only reason I am keeping an eye on these is for the big game. That sounds fun.

[@ghyslainabel]

What I got from this video. Zee's words: yes it is a good game. Zee's face and tone: no, it is a waste of time, you would be better served with regular Pandemic. Come on man, it is OK to say that it is objectively a good entry level game and yet you personally dislike it.

[@Robikscube]

Pandemic but as a filler is my take away. Personally I really like pandemic but find it a little to simple and my group would then want to spend that time on something else. With these little once we get that pandemic feel as a filler rather than a full game.

[@alexanderpopov3587]

Pandemic : The Cure is awesome for shorter Pandemic experience without being a cut down version, but instead different. Higher replayability than this one.

[@danielangevine1346]

diiiiiiiiice!!!! i love the cure + expansion. we're big pandemic junkies with the family (during pandemic no less!) and i quite like the cure. the faster nature and can't as easily quarter back as the dice are unknown

[@alexanderpopov3587]

We also find it ideal for vacation due to its smaller tablespace requirements and shorter time. Expansion included.

[@avj317]

love these titles, great for travelling and get our gaming on!

[@salamonlaszlolibrarian]

Rule from original pandemic is not in this game: If no cubes of this color are on the board, this disease is now eradicated. Flip its cure marker from its “vial” side to its “ ” side. Am I right?

[@lupitajones7]

Pandemic Iberia ❤️

[@DrMcFly28]

I'll choose to believe that the cities from my country are not present on the map because we are just too damn efficient at fighting pandemics it would make little sense for them to be there

[@LizGamerGirl]

Man! I was hoping for something new in the bad module additions. Basically they are 2 of the historical diseases from Iberia and one virulent strain epidemic card from the base games expansion. It is interesting that it could be any of the three colors.

[@valreznic]

After all the pandemic games I’ve played… i dont know why this is needed. 🤷‍♂️… no for me 🙅‍♂️

[@gabrielnorena]

These smaller Pandemic games are really unnecessary, Asmodee is just milking the cash cow. Pandemic is already simple and short enough, a great game, but already simple and short.

[@kevinbhieey9188]

I mildly tolerated the existence of the first one of these. Yes, it was basically My First Pandemic, but at least it seemed like they tried a little harder than the dreadful Ticket to Ride city games. But now that there are two, and more on the way, I'm genuinely annoyed. Z-Man just flat refuses to understand the importance of replayability in base games. Well, more like they refuse to care. The only reason anyone buys On the Brink is for the extra characters. Then they went and pulled the same crap with The Cure. So now they come out with games that only have 4 characters? "Well if they want replayability THEY CAN BUY A WHOLE 'NOTHER GAME!" So one day you will have this big, stupid game that you paid $60+ for and it won't fit on your table and it will be convoluted and the cards are tiny and that same $60 would've gotten you the original and On the Brink! Yay? I could possibly ignore this, except creating this crap means time taken away from developing an actual game for their gigantic fan base. Like, say, another entry in their Survival Series line that maybe DOESN'T take place in Europe. Or... expansions for Iberia, Rising Tide, Fall of Rome and Cthulhu. I hate anything and everything Cthulhu and I still bought it and would like it to be a little better! (And give me more characters!) Make that Population mechanic work better in Rising Tide! (And give me more characters!) And make it more difficult! And make Rome more difficult too! (I hesitate to ask for more for that game as it's already a visual onslaught. That said, give me more characters!) Z-Man just seems done with the people who have given them money over the years. The app was hot garbage for months and months because someone felt it was more important for it to look the same as the Steam version than it was to actually work. Yeah, it wasn't Z-Man making the app, but I don't recall anyone telling the app developers to go back to the old app until the new app COULD BOTHER TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE GAME. It's been over a year and both console and app versions still have randomization issues. They're diluting the brand, so maybe it's good they got these $15 games that they can sell to people looking for a gift for their nurse friend.