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Kyle Weinandy
Eagle Games
2 - 6 Players
180 mins
12 and up
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Theme: Finally we have a game about mobsters that really fits the theme. This light war game, with a strong under tone of economics, takes place in modern times during a savage gang war in New York. Players control one of up to 6 Mob Families bitterly fighting for control of New York underbelly. Through corrupting police, turf warfare and organizing illicit activities a would be crime boss is able to dominate his rival wise guys. As a boss becomes more successful he is able to buy luxuries such as speedboats, penthouse suites and even a helicopter.
Components: This game really demonstrates what the hobby has suffered with the loss of Eagle Games. The game come in a large sturdy box and is pack full of components. First there is a very large board that displays New York broken up into boroughs then further broken down to districts. There are an uncountable amount of miniatures in this game. The are 6 figures ( 5 family, 1 boss) in 5 colors to represent the different crime families. There are 3 large bags packed with miniatures to represent thugs, henchmen, and hit men. There are many buildings that represent illicit activities and the penthouses. The game has with it miniature for limos, speed boats, and even helicopters that have spinning propellers. There are plastic markers to show police corruption. There are two huge sheets of counters for control markers. The only down side is there is paper money (shutter). You don’t really need the money though. You will get an ungodly income each round that is easier to just right down and spend then use the paper money for packet change. The one component this game doesn’t have that it really needs is a calculator. The game has an easy to read and pretty through rule book that explains gameplay and gives many examples of the harder to understand mechanics. Despite the rule book being well written it may have been best for this game to have one of the old Avalon Hill epic style rule books to cover all of the conditions that may come up during…
Gameplay: Fast, Violent, and Unpredictable just the way a mafia game should be. Eurogamers be warned. This is a light war dicefest that may contain player elimination. Each boss will start out controlling a small part of New York. On your turn you are able to spread out and take control of districts that will increase your income. You may place Illicit Activities building on your new found districts to further. You may then use this income to recruit your crew, buy more elicit activities, and vehicles. Did I mention there are freakin helicopters with movable propellers because there are. These vehicles will allow you to move your crew quickly through the city and some even over your competitors front line making nowhere safe. Combat is quite simple. There are 3 levels of hirelings with different attack values. Cheaper thugs are removed first then moving up to the more expensive hitmen. There is a strong advantage to attacking as the attackers wounded get an extra attack before dying. That is pretty much the game. You increase your income and expand your territory till you either kill all the other bosses or your income reaches $6000. Nothing ground breaking but the mechanics are presented in a very interesting way. There is variant included in the rules that has the person who completely controls Manhattan wins the game. I have not tried this variant yet but I probably will next time I play.
Replay Value: Rather high but a dominate strategy may ruin the replay. Going for a strong income seems to be much easier than expanding and wiping out your opponent. I am afraid that now that my group knows this future games will involve turtling with minor skirmishes around border disputes instead of the all out warfare that we have been playing.
If I were an up and comeing wiseguy who had a promising future in organized crime till my connected friend was waked for retaliation and my other friend was trying to kill me and my family due to drug dealing litigations would this game remind me of the good old days while I am on the lamb from Mob in protective custody? Yes, Right before I found out about this game I was thinking that I really needed a Mafia games that had a stronger connection to its theme then several of the light Euros and card games that have been released recently. While I still think that this is a theme that should be revisited this is one of the few mafia games that I can think of that emphasizes thematic gameplay with appropriate mechanics.
Drink Recommendation: Cement Mixers Come on. Labor Contracts, Teamsters, Swimming with the fishes what other choice is there. It’s very simple every time someone losses a Family Member that person must do a Cement mixer. Dump one jigger of lime juice in your mouth followed by a jigger of Baileys Irish Cream. Mix it in your mouth and the concoction will form into a cottage cheese like texture. Have a bucket nearby because these things are gross.
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