A little over a year ago, I took a dive into the entry-level skirmish game Heroscape. Long considered a “grail game”, Renegade Games Studios brought Heroscape back to the masses with brand new content (fully compatible with the original). Not to be content there, they have since released a number of expansions to keep the pipeline flowing.
However, I’ve been really intrigued by the new release of the licensed G.I. JOE Heroscape: Rumble at the Rift. This new Battle Box acts as both more content for your existing amies, and also an entry point for new players. Is this another worthy addition to the lineup or just a cash grab fueled by nostalgia? Let’s find out.
Gameplay Overview:
Other than a few new terrain pieces, the gameplay of G.I. JOE Heroscape is exactly the same as the core set. So if you’ve been enjoying your time with Age of Annihilation or other Heroscape titles, you can jump right into the game and just enjoy the new figures.
For those of you who are new, I’d suggest checking out my Age of Annihilation review for the full ins and outs of the game system. But the basics are that you set up the terrain, choose your team, and then battle for the scenario goals.
Each round, you will activate your squad of heroes in an I Go, You Go order. On a hero’s turn, they can move and make an attack. Attacks are handled via opposed dice checks, and every character also has unique special powers to give them an advantage.
Game Experience:
So this one is a little difficult to review because this is Heroscape through and through. The gameplay is unchanged; what is really new here are the characters. As G.I .Joe was a massive part of my childhood, I have a soft spot for the IP. I’ll play just about any game with this theme, and for the most part, there have been a lot of really good options.
So, what do you get in this new edition? On the Joe’s side are Duke, Scarlett, Roadblock, and Snake Eyes. For the Cobra forces, you get Cobra Commander, Dr. Mindbender, Destro, and Storm Shadow.
Duke is the leader of the Joes, and his character card shows that. He has a power that allows him to activate 2 heroes instead of just himself when he reveals his first order marker of the round. In addition to that, after he’s gone, he adds +1 to his allies’ attacks. He’s a solid buffer and leader for any squad.
Scarlett is a great operative and is good at intel gathering. She can peek at enemy order markers and make adjustments to her team based on what she sees. She can move 2 spaces and make a free attack after attacking. And whenever she makes an attack, the target lowers its defense for each order marker it has on it.
Roadblock is the most straightforward character in the set. He carries around a huge machine gun and can lay down some serious firepower with it. As a special power, he can attack 3 different targets with it. Spray and pray, baby!
Snake Eyes is the last member of the squad, and of course, the fan favorite ninja had to be included. As you might expect, Snake Eyes is great at moving around the board and sneakily attacking people. He can move through enemies, and gets a bonus when he attacks someone by himself.
Moving on to the other team, you first have Cobra Commander. While Duke is an amazing leader, Cobra Commander, as you might expect, is not. He is good at stabbing people, as he gets an automatic hit when he attacks with his sword. He’s also good at running away, as after he suffered a wound, he gets a free move, which feels really on theme for Cobra Commander.
Destro is a fantastic addition to any lineup, as he has an array of tech he can hand out to his team. His signature mask also gives him a defense bonus and he can make a second attack, albeit weaker, after making a normal one.
Dr Mindbenders, as you might expect, is good at controlling other characters. At the start of his turn, he can move adjacent friendly figures 3 spaces. His Mindbend power, if you’re able to roll high enough to activate it, lets him take control of an enemy unit and take a turn with it. Nothing is sweeter than watching Snake Eyes use his assassinate power on his buddy Scarlett.
And of course, you have the other ninja. Storm Shadow can really deal out some punishment. While Snake Eyes is a lethal assassin, Storm Shadow is more kitted out to deal damage. He can keep making attacks as long as he attacks different characters in an action. So drop him in the middle of some enemies and unload. He can also drop smoke grenades for cover and move freely like Snake Eyes can. The only weird thing about him is that he has a metal head, like Destro. Not sure why his mask isn’t the classic white…
Final Thoughts:
Overall, G.I. JOE Heroscape: Rumble at the Rift is both a great entry point into Heroscape for new fans, and also a nice addition for people who are already deep down the rabbit hole. There is a nice mix of character abilities and both melee and ranged units. The box set comes with a modest amount of terrain, this time with an urban feel (which feels very close to the terrain that came with Marvel Heroscape back in the day). I think the biggest miss with this set is that the characters lack any kind of squad cohesion, and instead, all just feel like individual units. I’m sure this will be addressed in future expansions, but for the core set, it’s not present.
Final Score: 4 Stars – The reimplementation of Heroscape continues to impress, and this time it’s in a world where knowing is half the battle!
Hits:
• Great jumping on point for new players
• G.I. Joe theme is more than just pasted on
• Nice variety of units
Misses:
• No squad powers
• Storm Shadow has a metal mask?
Disclosure: Someone who works with Renegade Games also writes for Board Game Quest. He had no influence over the opinions expressed in this review.
