Planet of the Apes (2017) Board Game

Planet of the Apes is a popular science fiction franchise that originated from the French novel La Planète des Singes by Pierre Boulle in in 2017. The story revolves around a world where humans and intelligent apes coexist, with the apes being the dominant species. The franchise has spawned numerous films, TV series, and merchandise, capturing the imagination of sci-fi fans around the world.

Game Components of Planet of the Apes

Game Board: Representing the planet and its various environments

Character Cards: Each player controls an aspect of Colonel George Taylor’s psyche

Encounter Cards: Introducing feral foes, deadly environments, and psychological horror

Dice: Used for resolving encounters and actions

Tokens and Markers: For tracking progress and status

How To Setup Planet of the Apes

To set up the game, players need to assemble the game board, shuffle and distribute the character cards, and prepare the encounter deck. Each player chooses a character card, which outlines their unique abilities and contributions to the group. The game board is set up to reflect the planet’s terrain and key locations from the original film.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together to survive on the planet.

Push Your Luck: Players must balance risk and caution when facing encounters.

Dice Rolling: Used to resolve actions and encounters.

Card Management: Players use character and encounter cards to navigate the game.

Objective: The goal is to survive the planet’s dangers and achieve the mission objectives, which are tied to the plot of the original film.

Player Experience

Playing the Planet of the Apes board game immerses players in a thrilling adventure filled with danger and uncertainty. Each player takes on a different aspect of Colonel George Taylor’s psyche, such as Reason, Emotion, or Will, and must work together to overcome challenges. The game’s narrative is driven by the encounter cards, which introduce various obstacles and enemies from the franchise.

Pros

Immersive Story: The game closely follows the plot of the original Planet of the Apes film.

Cooperative Mechanics: Encourages teamwork and strategy among players.

Dynamic Encounters: The encounter cards add a high level of replayability and unpredictability.

Thematic Integrity: Faithfully represents the psychological horror and adventure of the film.

Cons

Complex Setup: Initial setup can be time-consuming due to the number of components and rules.

Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the rules and mechanics challenging to grasp initially.

Dice Dependency: Some players may find the reliance on dice rolls too random or unpredictable.

Personal Thoughts on Planet of the Apes

This game is ideal for fans of the Planet of the Apes franchise and those who enjoy cooperative, story-driven board games. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with deep narrative elements and dynamic gameplay mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking simple, quick games or those who prefer competitive gameplay.

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