An Exciting Board Game, Simpler and Portable
Digitized board games aren't a new phenomenon. For most board games it's unnecessary. Simulated Parcheesi isn't any worse than the real thing but there are no marked improvements about the experience either. There is a class of board games however which dwell on a level that most people never discover. These are elaborate affairs where there can be multiple decks of cards, a vast array of tokens and numerous permutations in which the basic rules of the game shift as a result of various actions. Games that require up to a half hour for the initial setup and fairly lengthy tracking of actions and consequences can benefit greatly from an electronic conversion.
Small World 2 doesn't go all the way down the rabbit hole but the game is complex enough that I appreciate the streamlined nature of playing it on a device that does the entirety grunt work for me. This being a board game, there's no real plot or story. The goal is simply to outperform your opponents, be they computer or human. Each turn a player sends forth his or her creatures into a continent that is divided into discrete chunks with the intention of conquering as many regions as possible. You earn 'victory coins' at the end of your turn based on how many areas you hold.
Despite how simple this sounds, the game is full of subtlety, strategy and nuance. Each player chooses a fantasy race that is randomly paired with one of a set number of skills. The options include elves, wizards and ghouls just to name a few. A key twist in the gameplay comes when you decide to abandon your race and pick up another race with different capabilities that can help you crush your foes. Of course your opponents have the same option, so choosing the right moment is always crucial. This is not a game in which whimsy and chance can win the day over keen-eyed logic.
This is not a flashy game full of bells and whistles. The art style has a fun, cartoonish bent, but the few animations are utilitarian in nature. The creatures are represented entirely in token form and you won't get to see a clash between fiendish ratmen and plucky humans. The music and sound effects are fun at first but after a while you'll find yourself turning down the volume. Even your favorite song grows tiresome when you've been listening to it for an hour straight. All of the negatives about this title spring from the unalloyed fact that this is simply a digital board game. There are no egregious wrongs, no bugs or annoying control schemes to struggle against, but there also aren't any real risks to take or boundaries to push.
If you crave the satisfaction that comes from seeing a carefully planned strategy come to fruition, then Small World 2 will hit all your sweet spots. Since few board games are enjoyable on their own the developers focused on making it possible to play with others. If you're alone you can challenge one or more bots. Playing against other flesh and blood humans can be done in person or online. And as with most board games there is a lot of replay value, particularly since there are several mini expansions available that add a few extra races to the mix.
For fans of tabletop gaming looking for a portable option Small World 2 is a dream come true, but if you're looking for something that breaks new ground in terms of style, gameplay or story, this isn't the app you're looking for.
The game carries a steep pricetag of $10 perhaps because it caters to a niche audience. But for those of us who always thought the problem with Monopoly was one of depth rather than length, this is a sound investment- particularly if you know you'll have someone to play with. It's not the most complex or nuanced board game I've ever played, but the fantasy trappings give it a punch it would be missing had a more mundane setting been overlaid on the game. The straightforward nature of Small World 2 means you're not going to get super fancy bells and whistles. Instead you're buying a solidly fun Android board game that you'll come back to again and again.
