Puzzle Strike

[Gerald]

Puzzle Strike is a card game played with wooden chips instead of cards that simulates a puzzle video game called puzzle fighter that, in-turn, simulates the fighting game street fighter that is emulated in puzzle fighter

If you don’t understand any of that, that’s ok! Puzzle Strike is a complete game in a box that has the fun of a customizable card game without the marketing scheme of selling you parts of the game in random packs. You build your deck *as* you play the game. Every game is different because the bank starts with a different set of chips each game. Also, there are 10 characters to choose from, each with different gameplay. Between all that, there are over 411 MILLION starting conditions in a 4-player game.

A built-in comeback mechanic means that when you're on the edge of losing, you're also able to do even more combos than usual.

Shuffling cards takes too long and is boring, so in Puzzle Strike you just put your chips in a bag and shake them up to shuffle! Plus, it’s pretty ballin’ to play a game with chips. Play it on your yacht, impress potential mates, etc.

Though the game is fun even if you're terrible at it, it's also balanced for high level play by veteran asymmetric game balancer David Sirlin (Street Fighter HD Remix, Puzzle Fighter HD Remix, Kongai, Yomi, and Flash Duel.)

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Tried this out today and it was a blast. However, while we had a great time, I felt that playing with three was not as good as a 2 player or four player (2 vs 2) as you can only attack the person to your left. I feel this is a bit of a letdown as some characters have skills/abilities much more suited for one on one play.

Ostensibly this is to disallow 2 players to collude, but it really sucks when you get to attack the turtle and the guy attacking you is in super beat down dragon form. Ha ha ha. Anyway, gripes aside, its a really good game and has a high level of interaction. I really like the in-built timer of "gem ante" as it really adds pressure to attack off the bat.     

[Earl]

Who has this?

Thanks!

I'm hearing good things about Sirlin games but their prices are a bit steep if you get the boxed sets.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Gerald has this.

[Gerald]

Actually Earl, in my opinion, medyo fairly priced naman yung Puzzle Strike (as long as you don't pay SRP), compared to Yomi (which is ALOT more expensive).  Okay naman yung chips and bags nya sa loob, and the insert accommodates every chip perfectly.  Although I wish it slid deeper into the box, para kasya yung mga bags on top of the insert, rather than me having to shove them underneath it.

Sa next gaming day I'll bring this and laro tayo.  Pero wag mo ako wasakin sa game kasi di pa ako magaling!  Hahahahaha...

As Mark says, while the game is great with three players, it seems to be better suited for two players as the beat-'em-up aspect becomes more furious, fast and direct. Also, each character can use various strategies to win, so okay din sya ksi very varied.  Iba-iba talaga powers ng bawa't tao e.

I really should write a review for this game soon.  Hehehehe...

[Earl]

Thanks Ge.

Appreciate the comment on the game and looking forward to playing it with you.

you have time to practice pa..baka madali ka nga beginner's luck.hehe.

[togashi]

I'm game. Want to try this too

[viscoos]

LOL no beginner's luck with this game

Maganda yung components niya, Im not sure with Yomi's cards
but this one is good maganda yung bag and the chips are nice.  They even included inserts for the chips with labels

[Talismanic (Mark)]

There's an online version at: http://www.fantasystrike.com/dev/ Still in testing phase though the game is fully playable.

[Gaebril]

Is it - is it okay to say negative things? I got the Puzzle Strike PnP kit about the same time I got Yomi, and I wasn't really impressed. Yomi is a much better game by far, quibbles about material quality aside.

[viscoos]

Why are you asking permission if its ok to say negative things? Of course its ok as long as theres basis and there are no direct attacks on anyone. And people should respect your opinion, as long as you keep an open mind and respect other's opinion as well

So whats your gripe abt puzzle strike?

[Gaebril]

Well okay, first off the proper comparison for Puzzle Strike is Dominion. Puzzle Strike is basically Dominion with:
1) A lifebar (Gem Pile) instead of a VP count
2) Damage dealers (Crash Gems) instead of VP cards
3) Different starting decks (characters)

#1 & #2 go together, and I actually like it on several levels. It makes the game easier to learn than Dominion, since even if both players build a crappy deck it will just implode and then you can try again immediately. (Unlike Dominion where the learning game can be quite impenetrable and unforgiving, and thus drag on forever since nobody knows how to buy provinces). It feels more interactive to pass gems and count your gem pile on the go, rather than counting VP at the end (even if they're ultimately the same thing). I actually also like the idea of #3 - sometimes you want to play an asymmetric game.

Somewhere between #2 and #3 though, this problem comes up. Your starting deck has 3 actions, most of them terminal (ie, no additional actions). Sometimes all of them are terminal! Crash Gems (and double Crash Gems) are also terminal, and you need crashes to win. So basically I am overflowing with terminal actions, I am not going to buy even more terminals unless there's a +2 Action on the table. Except that "+2 Actions" costs 5 all by iteslf. It has to! Since you know, your deck is overflowing with actions. And even if I could afford the deckspace in for another terminal, I actually would probably be perfectly happy just getting another Crash Gem. For a deckbuilding game, I don't seem to have an incentive to actually buy the random chips in the bank. Unlike Dominion, I already know what I want to spend my actions on. (Obv Setsuki is the biggest exception to this)

A secondary problem with Puzzle Strike is that it's mainly a 2-player game, with the additional rules for 3 or 4. Attack Left is kinda unsatisfying, plus the usual problems with player elimination. Well I guess it was either that, or politics/kingmaking. So yeah, stick with 2-player, but that's not even really a big deal - there's a place for two player games.

Note that this is just the PnP version (which I paid cash monies for, btw). I can't comment on the components or graphic design or the joy of not having to shuffle, heh.

[Gerald]

I agree with Gaebril to an extent.  It is difficult to pull off some moves due to the "terminal" nature of some chips... often times, I end up with a bunch of useful chips in hand, and only end up using 1 of 'em... but alot of chips included allow you to gain additional actions for cheaper costs, though there're some consequences to using them (i.e. Recklessness [+3 Actions but also add wound token(s)]).  I've also found the piggy bank action to be quite useful in attaining combos for future use.  Also, finding a right mix of different colored "arrows" helps tremendously.  The character chips also felt limited at the start, but my personal style has been to trash one or two of 'em and focus on a certain skill set tailored to my personal style.  Of course, this all depends on the character I use.

But, unlike Yomi that can reward you with a LONG chain of combos based on a little luck and skillful hand management, the combos in Puzzle Strike will almost always be alot shorter and less devastating.  I guess they did this because you only have 10HP in Puzzle Strike.  I myself believe that there are merits to both, which is good, as it helps define and differentiate two wonderful games.

I think the main difference between "crash gems" and "provinces" is that crash gems serve a purpose other than VP's at the end of the game.

I also dislike the whole "hit the player to your left thing", because this can lead to some unwanted pairings, but I think the 2v2 tournament scenario does alot to alleviate this.  Still, I also agree that its mainly a two player game (or two team game).

What I like about both Puzzle Strike and Yomi though, is that the more experienced player will almost always win, though of course luck does play a small part in the grand scheme of things.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Yeah, most of the powers lack additional actions (only 6 of the 24, not counting combine) to go with them thus a combo chain will usually be just 2-3 chips in length, so if the set-up has no extra actions each turn you may be drawing a lot of "dead" chips. In such a set-up the characters with trashing abilities are at even more of an advantage. A possible conservative approach, in my opinion and from watching PS online, is to buy /load up on "combine" chips and crash gems.

The flaw that I see with the game is that some of the powers are just not on par with others, and this becomes very apparent in 3 player games. Still, the game is quite fast and fun so I can forgive it its "warts".   

[Gerald]

Got to play four games of Puzzle Strike w/ the Little Adrian awhile ago... and I must say, so far, more plays have only made this game stand-out more, as I'm getting a better feel for my favorite characters and some of the not so obvious combos are revealing themselves.  Great fun.