No Komrades: A review

[Black_Wolf]

Some games are not created with the hope of greatness.

Some games are simply created for fun.

I suspect that fun was the focus for creator Brian Niro when he came up with Front Line No Komrades.

No Komrades is what can only be described as a filler card game. There isn't enough here that you would pull this one out for an evening's entertainment, but it is a fine night starter as you await a straggler or two, or as a light wind-up after a couple of hours of a more brain burning game.

A huge plus for No Komrades, published by Anvil Eight Games, is that it plays two to eight players. That is a ton of flexibility if you are having a games gathering.

The art by Kwanchai Moriya is great, especially in the character cards, which are rendered in a comic book caricature style that fits the focus of fun to a 'T'.

So this is a card game, with a pretty simple premise; you and your 'komrades' are on the front line and you are trying to avoid being shot, or gassed, or stepping on a mine. In attempting to avoid the fates of life on the front lines you have come to the conclusion that hiding behind your mates, or maybe pushing them on to a landmine or two, are quite acceptable as ways to stay yourself.

Players have cards in hand that allow them to maneuver their player cards into safer spots on the 'line' or to force others into spots of danger.

The danger each round comes from another stack of cards, fun things like snipers and gas attacks.

The theme is a tad dark, so it might not be for everyone, but it is carried out here with a healthy sense of whimsy that mitigates the darker aspects. There is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humour, and a healthy sense of 'get your buddies' with this one, that makes it a fun filler.

Check it out at www.anvil-eight.com

Thanks to fellow gamers Jeff Chasse, Trevor Lyons and Adam Daniels for their help in running through this game for review.