Neuroshima Hex – Review

Our rating:

By: Big Daddy Creations

Version #: 1.01

Date Released: 2010-10-01

Developer:

Price: 2.99

User Rating:

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The world has been overrun with robots, and humanity is on the brink of extinction. We have seen this post-apocalyptic theme over and over again with video games, but what about on a board game…for the iPhone. Big Daddy’s Creations has licensed the hit Polish tactical board game, Neuroshima Hex, and ported the game, original artwork and all, to the iOS platform. If I grabbed your attention with the mention of "hex", and board game, then get ready for a powerhouse of a game that will test your skills and send you home crying to mommy.

For those of you that may not have their finger on the pulse of the board game world, Neruoshima Hex is turn-based board game based on an table top RPG. In this game you control one of four factions, do battle on a hex grid to either destroy or do more damage to your opponent(s) than they do to you. This game can be played hot-seat with 2-4 players, and while online multiplayer is not available yet, the developer has said that it will be coming in a future update. One thing that really sets this game apart is that each faction has their own unique units to deploy. I don’t mean one or two special units. Each faction has a completely different set of soldiers to deploy, and each faction has  different tactics, with various strengths and weaknesses. This variety is well rounded, and I never felt like one faction was not able to take on any other. I, of course, found my favorites that match my playing style.

The game utilizes the original artwork, so for those of you that are already familiar with this game, you will feel right at home. The game utilizes the iOS devices multitouch for rotating tiles and for zooming in and out on the board. Each game can be configured with a combination of human and computer players. The AI is aggressive, but shouldn’t be too hard once you have gotten the hang of the game. For those of us that have never played, there is a built in manual with a complete run down on the rules and descriptions of each tile in each faction. This is great for making a quick reference when you are in a middle of a game and forget what one of the many symbols do.

This is an engrossing game that has so much depth that many gamers can find themselves lost at first. The game offers no suggestions for strategy, and I was hard-pressed to find English sites that discussed the finer points of gameplay. Some may find this aspect intimidating, and I will admit that there is quite a bit of a learning curve to be able to be competent at Neuroshima Hex. Much like classic strategy games, like chess or backgammon, the reward is in the perseverance and it doesn’t take long before you begin to develop successful tactics.

Neruoshima Hex is a challenging game that is rich with strategy and class. It is currently $2.99 and is sure to be a hit with fans of strategy board games. Below is a trailer that demonstrates the game play. Enjoy!