Have you ever kept yourself up at night, unable to sleep, wondering what American Football (yes, I DO require the “American” prefix), would be like if it were played by fantasy races in an inconceivably brutal manner?
Well wonder no more! As Cyanide Studios have been generous enough to create a video game based on that very principle.
There’s an SG Review coming your way, after the touchdown!
In 2004, Cyanide Studios (formed by 8 ex-Ubisoft employees in 2000), released a PC game by the name of Chaos League. The game was a fantasy sports sim, and it was generally well received by fans of another fantasy sport franchise, by the name of Blood Bowl. So much so in fact, that Games Workshop (owners of Blood Bowl), decided to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement. Details of the case aside, the result was that Games Workshop would grant Cyanide Studios license to create an official video game adaptation of Blood Bowl. The game was released this past Friday on PC (26th June 2009), and it’s hella fun.
Blood Bowl is a perfect adaptation of the Games Workshop miniatures game. Combining a turn-based sport sim with team management options. If you decide to undertake the epically lengthy campaign, you will receive a starting budget of one million gold (gp), with which to purchase your players as well as any cheerleaders, bonus re-rolls or apothecaries you may deem required.
First off, you’ll be choosing your team’s race. The races in the miniatures game are numerous, but Cyanide have seen fit to present you with 8 classic races to select from, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Humans - The all rounders of the game. Capable attackers and defenders, excelling or lacking in neither department and therefore capable of adapting to any situation.
Dwarves - Slow, but sturdy. The Dwarves can make their way down the field at a steady rate with next to no fear of being caught off-balance. When a Dwarf team establishes a defensive line, you should plan your attacks carefully.
Skaven - These “Rat-People” are the fastest movers in the game, capable of crossing half the field in one turn. Their extreme speed is traded off by their lack of strength, however, allowing for their virtually guaranteed defeat in any physical struggle. Of course, an opponent would have to catch one first.
Orcs – Brutish and less-than-intellectual, the Orc teams believe exclusively in attaining the ball, and touchdowns for that matter, via the means of violence. Orcs will tend to be very strong, but their agility is somewhat lacking. If you have the ball, be sure to stay out of their range, as they will break your neck in order to attain it.
Lizardmen – These guys serve as another balanced side, but unlike the humans, this is not defined on a player-by-player basis, but rather spread over the team. A single Lizardman may have either a high strength and armour stat, with movement trailing behind, or will have high movement, with low strength and mediocre armour. Each player has a specific role, and those roles vary considerably.
Goblins - They’re not quick, they’re not strong, they’re not agile, and they’re not tough. So what benefits do they have? They’re sneaky… Sneaky like Ninjas! A goblin can sneak through tackle zones, and if your team has a troll recruited, a goblin is light enough that it can be thrown around the field not unlike the ball. This is a particularly useful ability for setting up touchdown plays and evading enemy defenses. Also, they’re a little crazy, and have been known to sneak chainsaws into a match, but more on that later.
Wood Elves - The most agile of all the races in the game, Wood Elves are excellent at evading tackles. They rely on the long pass, using it effectively to get the ball from player to player reliably (a feat rarely succeeded amongst the other teams). If you see a Wood Elf in open space, you’ll be wanting to close him down, as he’s likely awaiting an unlikely pass. They’re not especially tough, but are able to recruit a single Treeman to their team to act as a brute force (think Ents from Lord Of The Rings, and just as powerful).
Chaos – Our final race is Chaos, and that name is extremely fitting. Although they’re capable of scoring touchdowns to win a game, a Chaos team would prefer to win by killing or at the very least, removing limbs from every player on the opposing team. A win by default is after all, still a win. And for Chaos, a pleasurable win at that.
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