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The second sequel to Steve Jackson’s pay check actually succeeds in adding something new too the game. More importantly, it’s got the best theme ever in the game line.
But as before, we start with the actual game.
It’s still about killing monsters, taking there treasure and occasionally backstabbing the other players. But wait, the classes are gone!
Instead, they are replaced by powers. These mimic some of the abilities from races and classes in previous games, while adding a few new. Powers are rated from 1-3. You can have as many Powers as you have levels. So at level 5, you could for example have a Power 2 and a Power 3 card.
Basically, it allows you to create your own careers as you play.
There’s a new feature in the shape of Bats. They basically replace the Wandering Monsters. If a player is in combat with any type of Bat, other players are allowed to play more Bats from their hands as Wandering Monsters.
Also, the game feels a bit more balanced, like the first two where just experiments to make this one work. Not that there has been any gameplay added. It’s still just random cards and luck.
One thing annoys me though. There are plenty of traps and curses that affect special types of treasures, but very few of the treasures are actually of these types. For instance, there are only three Headgears in the game. That makes the "Lose Your Headgear" card pretty useless.
But as before, a Munchkin Game is all about theme. Munchkin Bites is no different. And what a theme we have this time! As a White Wolf fan, I find this game to be ridiculously funny. Being a monster killing other monsters somehow fits right in to my gaming group. And who doesn’t like to make fun of depressed Goths?
So we’ve come to the scoring then. Gameplay is a bit stronger then before, even though it’s non-existent. I’d really like to claim that it’s better then the original game, but there just isn’t enough game in here to justify anything higher then 4 points.
The theme is however pure brilliance this time. I give any game that allows me to make fun of Goths and Emos a sparkling 10 points.
Well, that means Munchkin Bites gets an impressive 7 points then. Not bad for a game that doesn’t contain any actual game.
And then there is the expansion; Munchkin Bites 2: The Pants Macabre.
Apart from the great title, there really isn’t much here. You get a new race and some new powers, but nothing that actually tries to change the game. The only reason to buy it is to get enough cards to last a full game.
As a side note, I wouldn’t mind if SJG could release one more expansion for the sequels. Some new cards would be nice. As mentioned above, there needs to be more cards tagged as Footgear, Headgear and Armour for Munchkin Bites.
Not to mention, the original game has seven expansions at the moment. I think it can survive on that for a little while.
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
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"Best Munchkin so far" is kind of like "Best Reality TV show so far" or "Best Pyramid Scheme so far."
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Ian Klinck
Canada
Toronto
Ontario
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Munchkin is all about theme, so whichever theme appeals to you most is going to be "best" for you.
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