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Sidekick Saga (2019) Board Game

ByMichail

Sidekick Saga is a cooperative card game that was released in in 2019. Designed by Phil Cho, William Liberto, and Cristina Murphy, this game takes players on an adventure through a comic book world, where they must explore, fight, and uncover secrets to defeat the villain.

Game Components of Sidekick Saga

  • Deck of cards featuring heroes, villains, and locations
  • Player boards with unique abilities
  • Tokens for tracking health and resources
  • Rulebook with detailed instructions

    • How To Setup Sidekick Saga

  • Shuffle the deck of cards and place it in the center of the table.
  • Each player chooses a hero and takes the corresponding player board and tokens.
  • Set up the villain and location cards according to the scenario chosen.
  • Begin the game with the starting resources and follow the setup instructions in the rulebook.

    • Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    In Sidekick Saga, players work together to defeat the villain by strategically playing cards from their hands. Each hero has unique abilities that can be used to their advantage. The game involves hand management, open drafting, simultaneous action selection, and variable player powers. The objective is to uncover the villain’s plan, gather clues, and defeat them before time runs out.

    Player Experience

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    Pros:

  • Cooperative gameplay encourages teamwork and strategy
  • Unique player boards add depth and replayability
  • Artwork and theme immerses players in a comic book world

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    Cons:

  • Some scenarios may feel repetitive after multiple plays
  • Luck of the draw can heavily influence the outcome

    • Personal Thoughts on Sidekick Saga

    Sidekick Saga offers an engaging and thematic experience for fans of adventure and comic books. The game’s mechanics are well-balanced, and the artwork is visually appealing. However, the pricing and availability of Sidekick Saga may vary, so it’s worth checking different retailers for the best deal.

    Overall, Sidekick Saga is worth your time if you enjoy cooperative games with a superhero theme. It is suitable for players aged 14 and above, and those who appreciate hand management and strategic decision-making will likely find it enjoyable. However, if you prefer competitive games or are not a fan of comic book themes, Sidekick Saga may not be the best fit for you.

    Game Components of Sidekick Saga

  • Scenario books designed as comic book “issues”
  • Location decks
  • Character cards
  • Bad news cards
  • Hacking mechanics cards
  • Enemy cards
  • Power upgrade cards
  • Skirmish mode components

    How To Setup Sidekick Saga

    To set up Sidekick Saga, players first select the scenario they wish to play, each represented by a comic book-style issue. The game board is then prepared with the appropriate location decks and enemy cards. Each player chooses a sidekick character and receives the corresponding character card and starting equipment. The bad news deck, which helps time the game, is also shuffled and prepared.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Exploration: Players move around the city, visiting various locations.
  • Drafting: Players choose actions and abilities from location decks.
  • Variable Player Powers: Each sidekick has unique abilities and upgrades.
  • Hand Management: Managing cards to optimize actions.
  • Combat: Engaging and defeating enemies using combat and hacking mechanics.
  • Objective: The ultimate goal is to take out the main villain of the scenario by working through lesser enemies and gathering resources.

    Player Experience

    Playing Sidekick Saga involves a mix of combat, strategy, and resource management. Players can choose to act as their heroic sidekick or in their regular form, each offering different capabilities. The game introduces new rules, keywords, and characters over multiple scenarios, enhancing the gameplay experience. A skirmish mode is also available for challenges outside the main storyline.

    Pros

  • Dynamic Storytelling: New mechanisms and story elements are introduced over multiple scenarios.
  • Hacking Mechanics: Allows players to temporarily disable enemies, adding strategy to combat.
  • Skirmish Mode: Offers additional challenges and replayability.
  • Power Upgrades: Timed upgrades that enhance player abilities.

    Cons

  • Rulebook and Graphic Design: Needs editing and improvement; graphic design can be chaotic.
  • Playtesting: Some aspects could have been smoothed out with more playtesting.
  • Market Competition: Faces strong competition from other superhero-themed games.
  • Engagement: Can feel more like managing systems than embodying a superhero.

    Personal Thoughts on Sidekick Saga

    Sidekick Saga is for those who are enthusiastic about superhero themes and are looking for a light legacy game experience. While it shows promise with its dynamic storytelling and hacking mechanics, it may not stand out in a market saturated with strong superhero games like Sentinels of the Multiverse and Marvel Champions. It is recommended for those who are eager for another superhero game, but it may not be the top choice for everyone.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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