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It seems as though the Unmatched series has been leaping from success to success. With this success has come a slew of new Unmatched sets, including Sun’s Origin, a two-character set focussing on two figures from Japanese history, Oda Nobunaga and Tomoe Gozen. This release is one of a growing list of Unmatched brining historical figures to life, joining the ranks of Shakespeare and Tesla. While the core mechanics are the same as all other Unmatched sets, there are some unique elements that I’ll be exploring here.
Contents and Gameplay
Fans of Unmatched have come to expect an incredibly high standard when it comes to series’ components. With its subtle style and beautiful sculpts, Sun’s Origin is no exception to this standard. Artist Yuta Onoda has delivered a set of beautifully coherent cards, with a new board that really lets the characters shine. Along with the cards, the miniatures themselves are imposing and distinct, standing out, even against the huge selection of other Unmatched sets.
It seems as well that beauty is much more than just skin deep. Along with striking visuals, Sun’s Origin packs some enjoyable features to set it apart from the rest of the family. However, these are rather restricted, only impacting Nobunaga in the form of his abilty. This means the set’s impact on the Unmatched series as a whole is limited to games played with either of the two characters. It is almost refreshing that play is focussed on the characters, rather than the board and its tricks.
For Nobunaga, this new feature brings in rules around ‘flanking’, when a character is adjacent to two or more of the opposing character’s fighters. While this feature would be very fun brought into other sets, it does help balance the scales and make melee/ranged gameplay feel a little more even. In this two-player set, flanking can make some exciting plays, with competitors having to think a little more on their toes to avoid finding themselves on the wrong end of Nobunaga’s sword.
Gozen’s style of play is focussed on her ability, allowing her to cause damage when an opponent leaves her zone. This is driven further by her deck containing cards that can push enemies, allowing for some powered-up combos if timed correctly.
Replayability and Closing Thoughts
Given the nicely balanced abilities of the set’s characters, Sun’s Origin is a great basis for some 1V1 action. How players chose to make the most out of Nobunaga’s flanking rules, or Gozen’s forced movement, make each game feel different and each matchup can be made or broken in a single round. It is worth nothing, however, that while Gozen and Nobunaga pair up quite nicely, their useability on larger boards or against different enemies falters slightly. Another element to consider is that while the abilities of the two characters can make for fantastic plays, they can be difficult to wrangle. This is especially true for newer or more inexperienced players, who may find it more frustrating than fun in the early days.
All things considered, Sun’s Origin is a fun addition to the family, and when played in isolation constitutes a great set. For a couple looking for a new challenge, or for the die-hard Unmatched collectors, this is a great opportunity to get your teeth into something a little more complex.
Scores:
Overall: 89%
Artwork – 5/5
Complexity – 4/5
Replayability – 4/5
Player Interaction – 5/5
Component Quality – 5/5
