Blood Bowl (computer game, 2009)
| Blood Bowl | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Cyanide Studios | ||
| Publisher | Focus Home Interactive | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
June 26, 2009 | ||
| platform | Windows , Xbox 360 , PSP , NDS , iOS | ||
| genre | Turn-based strategy game , sports simulation | ||
| Subject | Warhammer , American football | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer | ||
| medium | DVD-ROM , download | ||
| language | English German | ||
| copy protection | Securom | ||
| Age rating |
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| information | PEGI 12 for NDS version | ||
Blood Bowl from the French developer Cyanide Studios is a computer game based on American football in a Warhammer fantasy scenario. It is based on the Games Workshop board game of the same name and is the second software implementation of the topic after Blood Bowl from 1995. It was first published in June 2009 via Focus Home Interactive . In addition to the first publication, two extended versions were released with the addition of Legendary Edition and Chaos Edition .
Gameplay
General
Blood Bowl is a parodic simulation of the sport of American football against the backdrop of the violent Warhammer Fantasy scenario. Two teams with eleven players each compete against each other. The aim is to carry the ball into the opponent's end zone as in football and thus achieve a touchdown . Opposing players can also be specifically knocked down and injured or, in the worst case, even killed. Therefore, the game can be won not only by most points, but also by eliminating the opposing team.
The template was the turn-based board game of the same name from Games Workshop, which is why Cyanide's software implementation is essentially turn-based, but also offers a real-time mode. However, the player must commit himself before starting the game and cannot switch between these modes at will. In one round, the player moves his entire team and tries to secure tactically promising positions, e.g. B. Surrounding an opposing player to increase the chance of a tackle. If the opposing player becomes unconscious, you can permanently injure him, but you risk being sent off. However, if your own player is knocked out or there is a bad pass, the round ends immediately and it is the opponent's turn again. The outcome of many actions depends on the character values of the team members and the invisible results of the dice, not on the reaction of the player or the placement of the game pieces. In real-time mode, the game can be switched to the so-called concentration mode, ie paused by pressing a button in order to give instructions to your own team members and determine behavior.
| Races / teams | Initial release | Legendary Edition | Chaos Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| People | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dwarfs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orcs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood elves | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Goblins | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chaos warrior | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lizard people | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skaven | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dark elves | partly (as a patch) | Yes | Yes |
| Amazons | No | Yes | Yes |
| Elves | No | Yes | Yes |
| Halflings | No | Yes | Yes |
| High elves | No | Yes | Yes |
| Khemri | No | Yes | Yes |
| Necromancers | No | Yes | Yes |
| Norse | No | Yes | Yes |
| Nurgle | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ogre | No | Yes | Yes |
| living Dead | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vampires | No | Yes | Yes |
| Chaos dwarves | No | No | Yes |
| Underworld | No | No | Yes |
| Demons of Khorne | No | No | Yes |
Depending on the edition, the eight to 23 different teams (see table) are each made up of representatives of the same races - e.g. B. Orcs, Elves, Skaven or humans - together. Even before a game, the player can increase his team's chances of winning by buying extras (e.g. paramedics, bribes for referees), better equipment or the commitment of a star player. In campaign mode, the team fund is used for this, which is filled with bonuses from the winning games. There is a transfer market and sponsorship agreements as further sources of income. Players experience and level up, which also improves their skills.
Multiplayer mode
Blood Bowl can be played against other human players over the network, direct IP connection or in hotseat mode . There is also the option of opening an online league with up to 60 additional players.
Story mode
With the release of the Legendary Edition , Cyanide integrated a single player campaign with a narrative background. The player slips into the role of a coach who primarily hires various teams in search of his personal livelihood. It's not always about winning, for example, about losing with a completely superior team in order to collect the betting bonus. Or to survive at least a few rounds without total losses with a physically completely inferior halfling team. In the further course, the player also trains some of the teams known from the rulebook and learns more about the historical background of the sport.
development
License
Back in the 2000s, Cyanide contacted the Blood Bowl makers at Games Workshop and asked for a license, but was turned down. Cyanide therefore developed a game clearly inspired by Blood Bowl called Chaos League . An impending legal dispute between the two companies was settled out of court. The agreement called for Cyanide to stop selling Chaos League and transfer the rights to Games Workshop. In return, the French received the license to develop an official Blood Bowl game.
Versions
After its release, the game was initially fixed and expanded with several patches. Patch 1.1.2.1 from November 2009 adds the Dark Elves to the selection as a new team. With patch 1.1.3.3 a new mechanism for sideways steps was introduced.
At the end of 2010, Cyanide published an extended version with all bug fixes as a so-called Legendary Edition . In addition to the dark elves, eleven other races have been added as teams, a story campaign and the Dungeonbowl game mode. The Chaos Edition added three more teams, a new arena and a world championship game mode to the game.
In comparison, the versions for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable lack customization options and the online leagues. The multiplayer mode includes turn-based hot seat, on the PSP also wireless multiplayer. In the iOS version, the player can initially only choose humans and orcs as a team in a single game. The remaining teams must be bought in via in-app purchase.
reception
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Blood Bowl received mixed ratings on the PC ( Metacritic : 74 out of 100) and rather negative ratings on the consoles and mobile platforms (Xbox: 61 / NDS: 52 / PSP: 61 / iOS: 62).
"Funny football tactics, a bit monotonous in the long run."
"Sometimes entertaining, often frustrating Brutal Sports license, which is mainly fun online."
"There's just too much work for too little fun for anyone who isn't already attuned to what Blood Bowl is about."
"There's just too much work in there for too little fun for anyone who isn't already prepared for what Blood Bowl is about."
“A rushed port of a clumsy adaptation can't disguise the quality game shining underneath”
"A hasty porting of an awkward adaptation cannot hide the quality game that shines through underneath."
Sequels
In 2012, Cyanide released Dungeonbowl, a separate offshoot and in September 2015, Blood Bowl 2, a successor to Blood Bowl . Blood Bowl: Kerrunch was released for mobile devices on October 25, 2015 . On July 24, 2018, Cyanide entered the Early Access program with Blood Bowl: Death Zone .
Web links
- Official website
- Blood Bowl at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition . In: Eurogamer.de . ( eurogamer.de [accessed September 15, 2018]).
- ↑ The unlikely origin of Cyanide's Blood Bowl. Retrieved September 15, 2018 (UK English).
- ↑ Tim Surette: Cyanide now plays in Blood Bowl. In: GameSpot. June 27, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2018 (American English).
- ↑ Blood Bowl - Patch v1.1.2.1 introduces a new race - GameStar . ( gamestar.de [accessed September 15, 2018]).
- ↑ Blood Bowl - Patch to version 1.1.3.3 released - GameStar . ( gamestar.de [accessed September 15, 2018]).
-
↑ Blood For The Blood
GodBowl! In: Rock Paper Shotgun . ( rockpapershotgun.com [accessed September 15, 2018]). - ↑ Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition Announced, First Screenshots Unveiled . In: DualShockers . May 4, 2012 ( dualshockers.com [accessed September 15, 2018]).
- ↑ a b c Blood Bowl (Tablets) Review . In: Pocket Gamer . ( pocketgamer.co.uk [accessed September 15, 2018]).
- ↑ a b https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/blood-bowl
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/blood-bowl-legendary-edition
- ↑ a b https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/blood-bowl
- ↑ a b https://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/blood-bowl
- ↑ a b https://www.metacritic.com/game/psp/blood-bowl
- ↑ a b https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/blood-bowl
- ↑ a b http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/14988/64498/0/Blood_Bowl.html
- ↑ https://www.eurogamer.de/articles/blood-bowl-test_4
- ↑ https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/blood-bowl-review_7
- ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/games/blood_bowl/b/xbox360/archive/2010/01/28/review-.aspx
- ↑ a b https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/blood-bowl-launige-aber-eintoenige-football-taktik,1957113.html
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/blood-bowl-review/1900-6213124/
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/blood-bowl-review/1900-6248454/
- ↑ a b http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/29/blood-bowl-review
- ↑ a b https://toucharcade.com/2014/08/05/blood-bowl-review/
- ↑ Blood Bowl: Kerrunch delivers a violent dose of monster football, out now . In: Pocket Gamer . ( pocketgamer.co.uk [accessed September 15, 2018]).
- ↑ Blood Bowl: Death Zone Announced, Available on Steam Early Access . In: Eurogamer.de . ( eurogamer.de [accessed September 15, 2018]).