James Ham
United States
New Jersey
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Let me throw it all out there from the very beginning: I am already biased toward Champions of the Galaxy and its twin Legends of Wrestling. This review, which is not so much a review as a public service announcement for COTG, is my first and probably only contribution to the Geek (despite years of lurking). In fact, just about the only reason I have for actually becoming a real member of BGG (Geekdo, whatever) is to specifically write this “review” as I love the Champions of the Galaxy gaming system and I feel it is greatly misrepresented on this site. This review is not intended as a parts manifest. And the actual gameplay is so simple that explaining it to you would probably take less words than this first paragraph. This review sets out to change your view point on what exactly Champions of the Galaxy is, and what exact type of reward you will get from the game.
For the past 25 or so years, Filsinger Games has been producing the best professional wrestling game in existence. That game is Champions of the Galaxy (Legends of Wrestling included). Now, before you lump this wild claim into your “He’s already biased” box, let me explain to you how Champions of the Galaxy simulates Pro Wrestling better than any other game out there.
It is not just the fast and exciting pace to the gameplay that makes COTG the best. It is not the wildly awesome and fittingly outrageous characters and storylines available that make COTG the king of the hill. COTG is the best of the best because it point-perfectly simulates the most overlooked yet most important aspect of Professional Wrestling: Storytelling.
Here’s a secret, I’m “Breaking Kayfabe” here if you will: Champions of the Galaxy, despite popular belief, is NOT a Fighting Game. Champions of the Galaxy is a game of STORYTELLING. It is a game of creating experiences, not going in for the kill.
I have read about, but never really played, games where multiple players, or even just one player, all sit down to a table with cards in their hands; each card holding a piece of narrative. Then, in a communal fashion, these players begin to construct fascinating, on the spot, wondrous stories. A story with twists and turns, protagonists and antagonists, conflict and resolution, beginning, middle and end, ALL through the players’ wills of imagination and natural ability and want to communicate a narrative. Now, there may be some sort of scoring involved in the game, but all of the players know (or should know) that the real point of the game is to spontaneously produce a wonderful, communal work of Storytelling. Well, it is much, much easier to play than they are, but Champions of the Galaxy is EXACTLY like those games in terms of objective! Except in COTG, instead of building a fairytale, or a murder-mystery, or relating Tales of the Arabian Knights, the stories created will be about Hand-to-Hand professional combat sports in the distant future!
Want to experience and tell a story about the far-flung future of Pro Wrestling? It’s in the game. Want to watch as bloodthirsty badasses beat the hell out of each other in what the UFC should be? It’s in the game. Want to tell a sweeping epic about a disastrous dimension-wide war fought for a strange, magical key to victory all inside a wrestling ring? Or, do you just want to know how awesome it would be for Harley Race (in his prime) to take on Bryan Danielsion? Champions of the Galaxy can do all that for you, in addition to ANYTHING ELSE that you yourself can dream up.
I’ll face it, as a straight up ‘fighting game’ COTG isn’t that wonderful. If you are looking for a straight-up fighting game, COTG will probably leave you wanting more. It’s not a very deep competitive system, and certain characters will always clearly have a better chance of success than others. Good thing, then that the combat system is simply a means to an end. When you sit down to play Champions of the Galaxy, whether by yourself of with a friend, it is not to see who is the more skillful player, nor is it to see who is luckier than the rest. To play COTG is to create an experience; literally like watching wrestling on television, except that you are in control. There are no game-breaking tactics, no skills to master, and no stone-set proclamations of rules. There is only you imagination and your desire to tell a good story.
Don’t like the current WWE product? Confused by TNA? Don’t get the channel ROH is on? Not a problem. Pull out the dice and cards for Champions of the Galaxy (or go to COTGOnline) and roll away. The game does the rest. The game playing itself is only as complicated as you make it. Just want to play a one-off random match? Then watch in wonder as this heroic Future Soldier survives the onslaught of a giant Fire Beast, only to pull a win out of his ass with seconds to spare. Want to spend weeks of sleepless nights writing segments and promos for said Future Soldier and Fire Beast, all leading up to a bloodbath of a showdown in a Cosmic Cage Match? Well then you’ve just created your very own narrative; and probably didn’t even realize you were doing it (except for how tired you’ve been lately). That’s really all there is to it. I promise. Well, that and actually paying for the (very inexpensive) products. But, basically, that’s all there is to it.
It’s an experience (in case I haven’t typed that already). Just for you. Or you and friends. For anyone. If you have ever liked wrestling in the slightest, or liked comic books, or liked science fiction, or liked MMA, or liked awesome 80’s action cartoons (you know the ones), or have just wanted to hear and create a unique story about dynamic man-to-man combat, you owe it to yourself to give COTG a try.
It plays in real-time (I’ve had 5 min squashes and 60 minute broadways), the stories write themselves, it is an excellent alternative (or compliment) to televised wrestling, and I can guarantee that no matter your interests, after your first few matches you will not be able to help but tell grand and awesome stories. Just from some cards and dice. I guarantee that within one night of matches, you will have AT LEAST one image in your mind, a defining experience, a ‘WrestleMania Moment’, that you will never be able to forget. It is that good. And there is NOTHING else like it.
It’s all about the sell in Pro Wrestling. It’s all about the story being told through blood and tears. Champions of the Galaxy is exactly the same. Sure, you can play competitively, but you will be missing 75% of the game. The game is in your head. It is in the cinematic battle you will be able to see in your mind. And at the end of the night, if you didn’t like the story you just witnessed, re-write it and move on. Don’t worry. Be happy that it wasn’t you injured in the Torture Chamber Match, but only the scrappy young upstart with the lightning flying out of his hands.
Hopefully, I have pounded into you that COTG is something entirely unique in that it is not about who wins and loses while playing the game, but how exciting the story told throughout your session was. If my admittedly more advertisement than intended ‘review’ has piqued your interest in the slightest bit, then I urge you to go to FilsingerGames.com, find the forums, sign up and starting asking questions immediately. You will not be ostracized for being a “Noob”, and you will not be yelled at for asking things others have already asked. There are no winners, losers, newbs, or pwners in COTG; simply those who have experienced their own immersive abilities of story-telling and those who have not played COTG yet. it's not a 'fighting game', and it's not an RPG. It is a wholly unique and engrossing EXPERIENCE.
Thanks for reading! My work here is done.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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You're absolutely right James, I'm also a big fan of the game, and for the exact same reasons.
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Luke Morris
United States
Eugene
Missouri
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Indeed! Enjoyed the read and its a good reminder of what gives this game its magical touch!
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