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Thunder and Lightning
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Description
In Thunder and Lightning, players take on the role of Thor or Loki and fight their way through an army in an epic mythological showdown. Because Loki has already stolen Odin's Crown, the Allfather has entrusted his son Thor with his prized ring of power, Draupnir, to help him defeat the vile trickster. But who really has what it takes to gain control over both relics and therefore claim the throne of Asgard?
Thunder & Lightning, a reimplementation of Hera and Zeus, features the same gameplay as the earlier design, but with larger decks of cards with a different distribution of powers.
In the game, each player starts with nine cards in hand, then places three cards face down in their first row, with these rows butting against one another and each player having space for four rows in their playing area. If a player loses a card in a row, then any cards in the same column behind this card slide forward to fill the empty slot. On a turn, a player has as many action points as the number of columns they have in the playing area. They can use these action points to draw cards, play cards to the battlefield, play a mythological card for its power, or challenge an opponent's card.
To challenge, the player chooses a card in their first row that abuts an opponent's card, then reveals both of them. Most cards have a strength value (0-7), and the card with the lower strength value is discarded, with the opponent's other cards in the same column then sliding forward.
If a player cannot use all of their actions or has no actions (due to having no cards on the battlefield) or loses control of Odin's Crown/Ring, then they lose the game.
Norse culture and mythology are currently conquering themes within popular entertainment and media, and thank the gods for us Viking fanatics, the board game industry is an outstanding contributor to this serge.
No matter what your taste in board or card game, there is a Norse game that’s got you covered. Whether you prefer the light-hearted strategy of games such as Vikings Gone Wild or delving into the experience of the Viking way of life in A Feast For Odin, you’re guaranteed to find a game that satisfies your thirst for mighty beasts and noble Nordic warriors.
Asgard has fallen into chaos, and so our hero Thor has been tasked with the retrieval of Odin’s crown from none other than the treacherous Loki. With the sound of the storm and a clap of thunder, the epic army building game, Thunder and Lightning begins.
In this two-player card game, blessed to us by designer Richard Borg, players build and battle their armies of giants and heroes. Alongside their magical gifts of the gods, players challenge their might and wit for the favour of Odin and the throne of Asgard. But, do you choose the path of the righteous warrior Thor or the cunning trickster Loki?
Thunder and Lightning Gameplay
Both rivals draw their hand of nine cards, consisting of either minions or spells, then place three of their cards face-down in the first row against one another in a 15-40-minute battle. Expand your army with each player having a limit of four rows each in their playing area, if a card is lost in a row then the cards in the same column slide forward to fill the empty slot on the battle field.
Minion cards follow the simplistic top-trump rule being the card with the highest damage is victorious, which is a huge bonus for players like myself who don’t find numbers particularly fun, allowing for fast pace action. Or perhaps take your time to unravel your opponent’s plot in an information control play or put your poker face to the test, after all this game adds an additional layer of secretive strategy in-which players reckon with risk and chance.
As for the spell cards, they add an extra dimension to create alternative paths and lines of attack and defence. Alongside the explanatory text upon the cards and within the detailed game guide, any complications or ambiguities can be removed which a quick reference to the guide.
Components
While there aren’t many components to Thunder and Lightning, consisting of just two decks of cards, two player tokens and a guide book, the quality and art is pleasing to say the least. The card art is very appealing to any fantasy or mythology lovers, with each card fulfilling the Nordic flavour of the game. The wooden engraved player tokens add to the Norse spirit of the game, whilst giving a high-quality finish and enhancing the overall experience.
Final Thoughts on Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and Lightning has a lot of depth with various strategic approaches, without having any unnecessary components or systems for the sake of systems. I appreciate the developer’s choice to hold the raw mechanics of the game to the highest priority, the phrase quality over quantity comes to mind.
Overall, Thunder and Lightning is a great addition to any Viking enthusiast, mythology lover, or a general card game collector who is looking for something unique and visually striking to add to their collection.
Zatu Score
You might like
- Quick set-up and packing away.
- Varied gameplay and strategies.
- Great art and design.
- Compact and travel size.
- Historical/cultural accuracy.
Might not like
- Overwhelming amount of card effects for first time players.