The first electronic-enabled games I played in my youth were from the 1980s: Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game and Dark Tower. It’s hard to believe it now, but those games were unique and probably cutting-edge for their time. Fast forward to today, and now app-driven games are much more common, and the technology around games is vastly more innovative.
This brings us to today’s review of Light Speed Arena from Pegasus Spiele. This real-time tabletop shooter uses an integrated app that runs the player battle and handles game scoring. Light Speed Arena can be played by 1-4 players and takes about 10 minutes to play.
Gameplay Overview:
Set-up is easy and straightforward. Download the app and find and place the 4 corner titles of your play area, which will create your arena (should be a 30” by 30” square). Each player is given a random faction, 2 random asteroids are placed into the arena, and players will do the same to their faction base title.
Once all players have shuffled their faction’s spaceship titles (will vary depending on player count), then the app timer can start. Each round (equal to the number of ships being placed), a player will get 10 seconds to draw and place their random ship into the arena. Players may reposition their spaceship but must maintain contact with it until the timer runs out and cannot adjust it in future rounds. Once all ships are placed, you take a picture with the app, making sure all tiles are detected in the arena.
The app will handle the arena battle and scoring. The battle in the app will begin in initiative order, starting with the lowest numbered (faction spaceships are numbered 1-8) for each faction’s spaceship. Players will score points for hits and destroying opponent’s spaceships or bases, extracting minerals from hitting asteroids, and protecting your base if it survives until the end of the battle. The player with the highest score is the winner, and in the case of a tie, the victory is shared.
Game Experience:
Light Speed Arena is easy to learn and super-fast to the table. Set-up takes seconds, and teaching takes a few minutes, tops. Plus, there’s really nothing in the rules to trip players up, especially since the turns are real-time and last 10 seconds. Overall, there’s not much that new or seasoned gamers shouldn’t quickly master.
Now, this might not be popular with old-school gamers, but the best part of Light Speed Arena is the companion app. The fact that it handles each turn of the battle and scoring is slick, and I love that I don’t have to keep track of anything. After the picture of the arena is taken and the battle begins, each player will literally huddle around the device, watching each turn of the battle unfold. It’s just a ton of fun watching your opponents, your ships, and asteroids getting blasted, and by the end the app tells you who wins. I mean, what’s not to love about that?
Now, what I really think is key about Light Speed Arena is that it’s not meant to be taken too seriously. I think most players would honestly not care if they win or lose, but the overall experience is what’s best. I mean, it’s hilarious when anyone blows up their own ships or base (yes, even your own), and Light Speed offers all players a silly distraction for about 10 minutes and about 5 after replaying the good, bad, and ugly about your ship placement strategy.
The last positive I want to mention is that each faction has variable powers, and asteroids give different game rewards if hit. Now, with 10 seconds a turn, you’re not focusing on unique powers, but it adds great variety to the gameplay. The asteroids add different rewards when hit and help players, but are not game-changing since you generally are targeting your opponents. Overall, I enjoy the variety in the base game factions and asteroids, and these help with replay value.
Personally, I have no negatives about Light Speed Arena, but I know an app-centric game can turn some gamers off. I would say, try it and then judge. I think most would be pleasantly surprised and have a few chuckles, especially during the battle, but maybe they just hate fun. Now, I will note that there’s an Analog Downgrade expansion where players do not use the app and handle the battle and scoring manually. I mean, maybe that would be a great option for players who again hate fun. Yeah, I’m sticking with the app.
Final Thoughts:
Light Speed Arena is not only a blast, but it’s addicting for all players who generally want to play multiple times. Now, it’s a filler game, but it’s a great one that offers fast and quick plays for a light and silly distraction for all involved thanks to the companion app. I would guess that most players will not care if they win or lose but hopefully will have a fun experience where not much needs to be taken too seriously.
Players who shy away from app-centric games will miss out on the Light Speed Arena experience. So, again, I would ask you to try it before you say that it is not a game for me. It will hopefully surprise you like it did my game group and family.
Final Score: 5 Stars – The app is where it’s at! Love it!
Hits:
• Easy to learn and fast to the table
• Companion app makes the game
• Not a game to take too seriously
• Variable faction spaceship powers help replay
Misses:
• Some might avoid app centric games
