Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend is a cooperative board game set in a distant future where players take on the roles of heroes fighting against the darkness threatening their world. Designed by Kamil ‘Sanex’ Cieśla, Robert Plesowicz, and Łukasz Włodarczyk, this game promises an immersive experience with its strategic gameplay and stunning miniatures.
Game Components of Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend
Player Boards: Each player has a console to manage their tokens and abilities.Tokens: Yellow (reroll), red (extra dice in combat), green (shielding), and blue (memory for upgrades) tokens are used for bag-building and pattern-matching.Dice: Used for combat and resolving various game actions.Cards: Scenario books, skill cards, enemy cards, and upgrade cards.Scenario Books: Contain the story and setup for each mission.Bags: Players use these for bag-building operations.Miniatures/Standees: Optional miniatures or standees representing characters and enemies.Punchout Sheets: Various components such as player boards, tokens, and cards.Reference Cards: To help players navigate the game rules.
How To Setup Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend
Setting up the game involves preparing the player boards, distributing the initial tokens, and arranging the scenario-specific components. The rulebook provides a detailed setup guide, and there is a special setup sheet for first-time players. The game includes a modular city map that players explore, flipping tiles to reveal new locations and challenges.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Bag-Building: Players manage and upgrade their token bags throughout the game.Pattern-Matching: Tokens are arranged to form patterns to launch programs and use abilities.Combat Phase: Players roll dice to attack enemies attached to them.World Phase: The time track advances, and scenario-dependent events occur.Exploration: Players explore a modular city map, discovering new locations.Upgrades: Players can upgrade their bodies and skills using memory and experience points.Objective: The goal is to achieve the scenario’s objectives while managing the threat of corrupted data tokens. The game ends with either a loss (when corrupted data tokens accumulate) or a win (when scenario goals are met).
Player Experience
Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend offers a highly immersive experience with its rich storytelling, branching scenarios, and diverse gameplay mechanics. Players can choose from different classes and bodies, each with unique abilities, and progress through missions in any order. The game’s modular design ensures high replayability, with new cards and scenarios unlocking as players complete missions. The game’s balance between exploration, combat, and strategic decision-making keeps players engaged and challenged.
Pros
Immersive Theme: The cyberpunk theme is well-integrated into the gameplay and story.High Replayability: Modular board and branching scenarios ensure varied gameplay.Engaging Mechanics: Bag-building and pattern-matching add a unique twist to the game.Diverse Heroes: Players can choose from multiple classes and bodies with distinct powers.Non-Linear Campaign: Flexibility in mission order adds to the game’s replay value.
Cons
Complex Rules: The game has a lot of rules, which can be overwhelming for new players.Rulebook Quality: Some reviewers have noted that the rulebook is subpar.Length of Play: Missions can take anywhere from 60 to 180 minutes, which may be too long for some players.No Miniatures in Base Version: The base game does not include miniatures, which are available separately.
Personal Thoughts on Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend
Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend is ideal for fans of cooperative board games and cyberpunk themes. It appeals to players who enjoy strategic gameplay, exploration, and storytelling. While it may have a steep learning curve due to its complex rules, the game offers immense depth and replayability, making it a great addition to any board game collection. However, it is recommended for experienced players or those willing to invest time in learning the game mechanics.
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