Customer Reviews

Blood Bowl

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Blood Bowl is one of the storied board games. A combination of hand painted miniatures, board and comprehensive rules it commands a devoted following. Blood Bowl games are a staple in any gamming room BUT the game was never successfully computerized. The first try resulted in a better than nothing game that had the title and some of the ideas but lacked the depth and complexity of the board game.
This version maintains the depth of the board game while adding a real time game. Based on the "live rules" and faithful to them, this is a very good computerized version of the board game. The turn-based game is the board game with an assistant handling all the rules and die rolls. In addition, there is an opponent always ready to play and no set up or clean up time required. In the "Blitz Mode", you play in real time with all the rules and options included.
The graphics are a joy! The true to type races are in constant movement. Cheerleaders, refs and spectators add to the eye candy. The varied places for the pitch show real thought and care.
There is a learning curve! This is NOT a beer n pretzel game and that carries into this version. In addition to many rules, you will need to master the computer controls. It took me a couple of tries and some reading to just move my players. Now I am adjusting to dangers or advantages in selecting their path. Blitz mode beckons but right now the traditional turn based game is what I play.
The Internet contains a very active Blood Bowl presence. The computer game is well represented and fully supported by the developers. When ready, there is a full on-line world of competition waiting for me. The game's AI is not bad and very lucky on some forums or a cheater on others. The important thing is this game has an AI that plays rather well and can win or tie a good deal of the time.
This version contains the new Dark Elf race in addition to Humans, Orcs, Dwarfs, Skaven, Lizardmen, Goblins, Chaos and Wood Elves. Each fully animated race has different strengths and weaknesses. When you learn to win with one race, switching to another produces a new set of challenges. We hope to see additional races from the board game added over time. The Dark Elves were a free download from the Blood Bowl site.
The game allows you to play single turn based or real time game with predefined teams for all the races. There is a full campaign version included and instructions for on-line play in leagues.
What is Blood Bowl? Many years from now, in a world very different from ours, where magic works and the races are always at war, they found a copy of football rules. Little by little, the game stopped war by allowing the races to work off their aggressions and frustrations on the pitch. They did not really understand all of the rules and modified the game to fit their personalities. Bribing the Ref, fouling a player, injuries and death are all part of a normal game. Watch out for the fans, that twelfth whatever is a clear and present danger!

This is one of the worst Games Workshop Computer games I have ever played. If you're a fan of the minature game, don't play this. The AI is geared to favor the computer 80% of the time, and the player is at a major disadvantage in both team players (stat's) and the money needed to higher them. This game also does not make it easy for beginning players to try this game. It's easy level is on pare with most games difficult level. Again, don't play. It's a waste of money.

It's a very fun game when you get into it but somewhat limited.

The pros:

-Accurate representation of the tabletop game
-Gameplay is smooth and interesting
-Very strategy based
-Campaign like system makes every game interesting
-Single player and multiplayer tournament and league styles allow for a wide range of formats
-Graphics aren't great but get the job done

The cons:

-Computer players can get predictable in play style
-When playing other people there is a high tendency for games to not come to completion due to the game simulating to end any time a player accidentally leaves. I would really like to see it give you the option to allow players more time to return for games with friends or family when you know your opponent will be right back and only momentarily lost signal.
-Races are very imbalanced. Some races (goblins) are unplayable while others have somewhat of an unfair advantage. It would be nice to see this balanced more.
-Team limitations: Some teams have only a few options while others have many different types of characters, the game could be improved by adding just a few types of players to the races to make them mor customizable and interesting.

Game is not compatible with other versions. AI is horrible. This game had so much potential but did not do the tabletop version any justice.

If you like Chess, D&D, and football this can be an addictive game. Eventually you will want to play against people as the computer makes some bad moves and for multiplayer you will want the Legendary Edition. It costs less on Amazon.uk for some reason so you might want to check that out.

If you have played BB on a table top and you definitely want this game, just buy the Legendary Edition. It has most races (no chaos dwarves) and many people play it on line.

Pretty good game. Its highly addictive. This game is alright compared to the latest "Legendary Edition" whose subtleties really makes a difference. Overall, cant go wrong for the price.

I am used to playing the miniatures game version of blood bowl, so it is neat to see different stadiums and other animations.

I have been dissapointed with the AI, as others have been. It is far too easy to crush the computer, even on the most difficult levels. There are also a few bugs with the rules which can be confusing, as well as the odd way the game tries to set up your players on kick offs.

However, it is a great way to experiment with new teams and builds. Playing on line games against real opponents also takes care of the challenged AI. Seeing animated versions of the players I have only known as static miniatures is a blast!

Never played the board game, but bought the PC version when it got so cheap. In short, it's a blast! The multiplayer can be a little finicky and generally requires you to forward a port on your firewall, and there are some niggling bugs, but overall this game is tremendous fun. The developers got all the little touches right. Each team has its own unique personality, the commentators are hilarious, the menu music is rousing, I could go on. This has turned out to be my surprise favorite purchase of the year. Highly recommended. Also keep an eye out for the Legendary Edition which should come out some time in the fall of 2010. It adds 12 more teams to the mix.

This games reminds me of a turned based Mutant League Football. It has some HARd things to learn at first, and it can be frustrating. It can also feel slightly out-of-skew when you see "live action" because it really isn't as much live as it is turn-based almost all the time. Still, it has some interesting things you can do.

One of the nicest things you can do is cheat, maim, take things and turn them to your advantage, and genreally do your best at being bad. Some teams are built like mack trucks and do this well: sometimes, when starting out, a specific team is better for a person. Later, when you want it to be harder, kick it up by using a softer species. You can also go classic rules versus a lot of odd rules and you can play a lot of different settings.

Online is not the way I like BUt it does have a bit of fun to it - some people think this is the best feautre. If this is what you want, another reviewer has done an EXCELLENT job breaking all the features for that down. If you want a quick game or a league, then you can also play with some interesting stuff. First, you have to buy some players, pick out what they can do, and then you pick out sponsors. They basically give you mney for guarantees and they get you better. You can help this out by getting a healer to keep your guys from dropping like flies, can pay off refs, can pay off refs to keep from them being paid off, can block players from being paid off or pay off players yourself, and all sorts of other stuff.

Basically, it is complex.

I like it but it has its naysayers. Basically, if you love the sound of the game you should try it because there isn't much to lose now. The cost is GREAt - it goes good with experiments. That's why I got it and, really, I'm still learning.
For the non-conventional all the way.

Game is fine. Some refinements would be make it great. I wish it had been marketed better in the US. Not great on a laptop.