Hera and Zeus (2000)

Players are opposing gods from Greek mythology, Hera and Zeus, bent on destroying each other because each kidnapped the other's favorite mortal. Players lay out cards in opposite three-column, four-row matrices. Cards on the leading edges of the opposing columns can be used to attack, which means the combat value of the cards are compared and the loser is destroyed. However, cards are played facedown until they're engaged, adding an element of bluff and doubt to the game. Each turn, players have as many actions as they have columns, and actions can be used to attack, draw cards or play special action cards. To win, you need to reduce the other player to zero columns, capture his hostage card from his hand, or make sure your opponent cannot use all of his actions during his turn.

Hera & Zeus is part of the Kosmos two-player series.

Although this intriguing little card game been described as a more elegant, non-collectable version of Wizards of the Coast's ill-fated game, Netrunner, keep in mind it is not a re-theming, and that Richard Borg and Richard Garfield are not the same person. Many Netrunner afficionados take issue with this comparison.

Components:

• 1 rule book
• 1 Hera block figure
• 1 Zeus block figure
• 2 summary cards
• 86 cards (43 for each player deck)
  • 22 cards with numbers and mythological symbols
    • 1 Pandora-0, 2 Pythia-0, 1 Io/Argus-0, 4 Medusa-0, 9 Pegasus-1, 5 Amazon/Hero-2
  • 15 cards only with numbers
    • 5 Fury/Centaur-3, 4 Harpy/Cylops-4, 3 Hydra/Giant-5, 2 Artemis/Apollo-6, 1 Nemesis/Poseidon-7
  • 6 cards only with mythological symbols
    • 2 Dionysus, 1 Hades, 1 Hera/Zeus, 1 Persephone, 1 Sirens