Resident Evil 2: The Board Game (2019) Board Game

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game is based on the popular video game series of the same name. Released in 2019, this board game adaptation brings the survival horror and zombie apocalypse theme to the tabletop. Designed by Thomas Lishman and with stunning artwork by Steamforged Games Ltd., this game aims to capture the essence of the video game franchise in a cooperative board game experience.

Game Components of Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

Tile-based boards: Representing various locations in Raccoon City, such as the police department.

Character minis: Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, and Robert Kendo, each with unique skills.

Zombie and monster minis: Including Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and other enemies from the video game.

Item cards: For resources and tools necessary for survival.

Tension Deck: A deck of cards that introduces challenges and random events.

Doorway and wall tokens: To create a dynamic board setup.

Typewriter and storage box tokens: For specific scenario objectives.

How To Setup Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

Setting up the game is quite extensive and time-consuming. Players must follow the scenario book to arrange the tile-shaped boards in the correct order. This involves placing door tokens, wall tokens, zombie minis, and other tokens like typewriters and storage boxes. The Tension Deck and Item Decks (A and B) need to be shuffled and specific cards placed on the board according to the scenario. Setup can take around 30-45 minutes for the first few scenarios.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative gameplay: 1-4 players work together to survive.

Tile-based movement: Players navigate through a dynamic, scenario-specific board layout.

Scenario objectives: Each scenario has unique objectives to complete, such as finding keys to unlock doors or reaching specific rooms.

Resource management: Players must manage resources carefully, as fighting is not always the best option.

Tension Deck: Introduces random events and challenges to increase tension and difficulty.

Combat and evasion: Players can choose to fight or evade enemies, with evasion often being a more successful strategy.

Player Experience

Players immerse themselves in a survival horror experience, navigating the zombie-infested streets and buildings of Raccoon City. The game captures the essence of the video game, with detailed miniatures and scenario layouts that mirror the original game. However, the dark artwork on the board tiles and tokens can make setup and gameplay challenging under normal lighting conditions. The cooperative nature of the game requires teamwork and strategic decision-making to survive.

Pros

Loyal to the source material: Faithfully recreates the atmosphere and scenarios from the Resident Evil 2 video game.

Cooperative gameplay: Encourages teamwork and strategy among players.

Dynamic scenarios: Each scenario offers a unique setup and objective, enhancing replayability.

World-class miniatures: High-quality miniatures of characters and monsters.

Cons

Extensive setup time: Setup can take as long as the scenario itself, which can be frustrating.

Dark artwork: Board tiles and tokens are very dark, making them hard to see under normal lighting.

Limited replayability without expansions: The base game has limited content, requiring expansions for full story and replay value.

Personal Thoughts on Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

This game is ideal for fans of the Resident Evil series and those who enjoy cooperative survival horror games. While it has its drawbacks, such as extensive setup times and dark artwork, it offers a compelling and immersive experience that stays true to the original video game. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy strategic gameplay and resource management in a horror-themed setting. However, those looking for a more polished experience might find the subsequent games in the series, like Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 1, to be more refined.

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