A while ago we reviewed the 2 player card game Pixel Tactics from Level 99 Games. This tactical card game has players quickly building an army on a 3×3 grid. If you haven’t read our review yet, I’d highly recommend starting there, as much of that information will be relevant here (and won’t be rehashed).
Pixel Tactics 2 is the newest offerings from the Pixel Tactics universe of games. For those looking for more cards and more variety to battle their opponents, you may have found what you are looking for. Is this sequel a worthy addition to the Pixel Tactics lineup of games? Read on!
Pixel Tactics 2 is a 2 player battle card game that plays in about 45 minutes.
Game Overview:
Pixel Tactics 2 builds on the success of its predecessor into a new, standalone game. Pixel Tactics 2 comes with 25 hero/leader new cards in 2 identical decks. One of the great things about Pixel Tactics 2 is that the game can be seamlessly integrated with Pixel Tactics 1. Players can choose a deck from either game when they face each other or, if they are feeling adventurous, build their own deck of 25 cards from among all 50 possibilities. Other than that, the game play is mostly identical to the original Pixel Tactics. The iconography has been cleaned up a little, but for the most part, it will be the same exact game play that you came to love with Pixel Tactics. So what does it add then?
Game Experience:
Pixel Tactics 2 could have a subtitle of “MORE!”, because that’s what you get in this little box. It’s more of everything that you love about Pixel Tactics. More characters, more heroes, more powers. One of the nice things about Pixel Tactics 2 is that it adds on a ton more options without increasing the complexity at all. You can sit down to play Pixel Tactics 2 and not even bother with the rulebook if you’ve played the first game. This makes for a seamless integration. It reminds me of my days play Magic: The Gathering when a new expansion would come out. I only had to rip open those booster packs to start playing.
That’s not to say there isn’t anything new for the Pixel Tactics fan. One of the new powers that jump out at you with Pixel Tactics 2 are the “ongoing orders”. These orders have a little scroll icon next to their name to indicate that when played, they stay in effect for a set amount of time. These cards are only played with the “order action” that is, played from your hand. These cards will be sure to annoy your opponent (much to my delight). For example, the Technologist says “For the rest of the round, your opponent gets 1 less action per wave.” and the Warlock order says “For the rest of the round, your opponent cannot recruit”. The ongoing orders were a nice addition to the game without adding any to the learning curve. They add a little bit more variety to the game play, which is a good thing.
Other than that the cards are exactly what you might expect from a Pixel Tactics hero and leader. They each have their own unique feel, the 4 diverse options and the same great artwork. The game also comes with its own playmat/rule book which helps to solve the problem of the first Pixel Tactics. Now if you have a rule question, you don’t have to worry about looking at the back of the playmat your cards are sitting on. You can just reference your other rulebook.
Final Thoughts:
If you are a fan of Pixel Tactics, then picking up this sequel is an absolute no-brainer. What you get are more cards, more options, more heroes and a seamless integration. On the other side of that coin, for those of you that didn’t enjoy the first game, then there is absolutely nothing new here that will change your mind. Pixel Tactics 2 makes a great game even better by increasing both the card variety and the replay value.
Pixel Tactics 2 is a fantastic addition to the Pixel Tactics lineup of games and I think it will add a lot more staying power to the game. If you are looking for more variety in Pixel Tactics, then your wish is granted. For those of you who have never played Pixel Tactics before, there is no reason you can’t jump right in with Pixel Tactics 2. The game play and learning curve are exactly the same as its predecessor. The game is also a lot of fun, so if you haven’t tried it yet, I’d highly recommend it.
If you are interested in getting a copy for yourself, it’s about $25.
Hits:
• Same great game play
• More card variety
• Deck construction now an option
• New ongoing orders work well
Misses:
• Still no way to fit the life tokens in the box
