Heroes of Metro City (2013) Board Game

Heroes of Metro City is a deck-building card game that was released in in 2013. Designed by David Boostrom and featuring artwork by 3Some Games, Inc., the game is set in a comic book-style universe filled with superheroes and villains. Players take on the role of heroes tasked with defending Metro City from various threats while building up their own decks and abilities.

Game Components of Heroes of Metro City

Player Boards: Each player has a Hero board for managing powers and energy.

Power Cards: Over twenty explosive Power cards, including Melee and Ranged types.

Energy Sources: Various iconic Energy Source cards.

Origin Story Cards: Starting cards for each player’s deck.

Spark of Energy Cards: Initial Energy cards for each player.

Minion, Villain, and Archenemy Cards: Enemies to battle.

Plot Points: Used for buying cards.

Metro City Cards: Stacks of cards representing the city.

Dice (D12): For resolving City Destruction phases.

How To Setup Heroes of Metro City

To set up the game, start by building Metro City using stacks of cards. Each game includes the Origin Story and Spark of Energy cards, along with two additional stacks of Energy cards and eight stacks of Power cards (three of which must be Melee or Ranged). Shuffle the Minion, Villain, and Archenemy cards, turning the top card of each stack face up. Each player begins with five Origin Story cards and five Spark of Energy cards, then selects additional cards to build their initial deck. Players choose a name for their Hero and draw five cards to start the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck-Building: Players build their decks by acquiring Power cards and Energy Sources.

Power Management: Use the Hero Placard to manage Energy and activate Powers.

Battle Enemies: Defeat Minions, Villains, and the Archenemy to win.

City Destruction: Enemies can destroy parts of Metro City, which players must mitigate.

Game Objective: The first player to defeat the Archenemy wins, unless Metro City is destroyed.

Player Experience

In Heroes of Metro City, players immerse themselves in a dynamic world where they design and power up their own superheroes. The game is played over six phases: Reinforce Enemies, Activate Powers, Battle Enemies, Story Development, City Destruction, and Clean-up. This structure allows for strategic depth and varied gameplay experiences. Players must balance resource management with combat and city defense, making each game unique and challenging.

Pros

Customization: Thousands of possibilities for character development.

Dynamic Gameplay: Randomized card selection and six distinct phases keep the game exciting.

Thematic Integration: The game’s mechanics and components are well-integrated with the superhero theme.

Strategic Depth: Players need to manage resources and powers effectively.

Cons

City Destruction Mechanics: Can feel odd and sometimes beneficial to sacrifice cards, which can be counterintuitive in a deck-building game.

Setup Time: Greater than five minutes, which can be time-consuming.

Personal Thoughts on Heroes of Metro City

Heroes of Metro City is ideal for fans of deck-building games and superhero enthusiasts. It offers a rich, customizable experience with a strong thematic appeal. The game is suitable for players aged 12+ and supports 2-4 players, making it a great addition to any board game collection. However, the game’s complexity and setup time may deter casual players, so it’s best suited for those who enjoy strategic gameplay and are willing to invest time in learning the rules.

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