Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Saturday, December 16, 2023

RUKO RC TRUCK

ruko remote control truck toy review

Thanks to RUKO for sending me one of their new remote control toy trucks to take outside and try out. This girl dad is going to be having some off roading fun with his daughter playing with this pink and purple styled amphibious Ruko RC truck. YES, I said AMPHIBIOUS! This remote control toy truck has an IPX6 waterproof rating making it great for having fun with it at the beach, running it through mud puddles or playing in the rain.

The truck's chassis height is optimized for having 4X4 off road fun. Climb over obstacles, race through different terrains, or jump it over ramps and hill. This 1:10 scale [15.3 inches long, 10.3 inches wide and 8.2 inches high] is meant to get dirty and wet through rugged play. It is built durable enough to take a beating and keep on running to provide plenty of off-roading 4x4 excitement. 


The Ruko amphibious RC truck also has some nice features that enhance its useability and ease of use. This remote control toy truck includes rechargeable batteries to power it which provides approximately 50 minutes per charge of play time. Just plug it into a usb port to recharge. Oh yeah, they provide you with two batteries so you can run the toy while your other battery is recharging! 

The RC truck has an anti-collision design includes sturdy front and rear bumpers to avoid damage when it crashes into things. The rear bumper also serves as a carrying handle. Plus, the truck has working headlights and brake lights that look really sharp. 

Ruko 1601AMP3 Amphibious RC Truck for Girls

The only detraction with this toy is it has a very basic remote control. While the remote control works great for having this truck climb over obstacles, hurdling it through mud or having the toy spin around, steering it for turns or navigating a track can be challenging. Also, the remote control uses 2 AAA batteries which are not included. I had to make a special trip to the store just to get batteries for the remote control before we could use it. 

ruko waterproof rc toy truck

So yes there are some detractions for the vehicle, but all in all it is a well built, durable toy that has the potential to provide hours of playtime entertainment. I appreciate that Ruko intentionally styled the toy to make it attractive for girls. Having fun off-roading and playing with remote control cars and trucks shouldn't be a "boy" thing. Hopefully this color scheme that is meant to be appealing to ladies will result in some quality daddy-daughter / mommy-daughter experiences that will inspire girls to be excited about STEM and motor sports and entice them into being gearheads. 

I also appreciate the waterproof aspect of this toy that greatly expands upon the playability and durability of the toy. Create a ramp to jump it into a pool...take it along on a beach vacation...go outside on a rainy day to play in the mud. The IPX6 rating is a very nice aspect of this toy.

waterproof toy truck

This is a very nice entry level remote control toy at a reasonable price which can be exceptionally fun for either young children or adults to have fun playing with. Therefore, the Ruko 1601AMP3 Amphibious RC Truck for Girls earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval. It is available to purchase on Amazon.com.

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

Sunday, December 10, 2023

RUKO AMPHIBIOUS RC TRUCK FOR GIRLS

Ruko, known for their high quality flying drones, is expanding its product offerings by manufacturing fun toys for kids which include remote control cars and trucks. They were kind enough to send me one of their new RC trucks that has a purple and pink color scheme that shows girls they can be feminine and rugged at the same time. This remote control truck has style but also is tough enough for having plenty of off road fun with it. 

I just received this Ruko amphibious remote control truck for girls; so stay tuned for an upcoming review as we take it outside to play around with it. From unboxing it, I can say my first hand impression is that this toy is durably built and meant to be played with. Here are some details about this amphibious rc truck for girls:

  • It is waterproof and meant to be run across beaches, through mud puddles and gotten wet. Ruko just warns not to fully submerse the truck. So don't pretend it is a submarine. IPX6 waterproof rating.
  • This Ruko RC truck includes a rechargeable battery to power it that provides approximately 50 minutes per charge of play time. The remote control does require two AAA batteries though that are not included. 
  • The chassis height of the vehicle is optimized for having 4X4 off road fun. Climb over obstacles, race through different terrains, and splash through water with it.
  • 1:10 scale with working head lights and brake lights. 15.3 inches long, 10.3 inches wide and 8.2 inches high.
  • Anti-collision design includes sturdy front and rear bumpers. The rear bumper also serves as a carrying handle.
  • Also available in blue and green tones so there is a color option that will be appealing to any girl or boy.
  • Purchases made at ruko.net include FREE shipping within the mainland United States.

This girl dad appreciates that Ruko made a 4X4 toy truck with a color scheme meant to be appealing to ladies. Making toys appealable to girls to entice them into becoming gearheads and having an interest in STEM is a plus in this dad's book. I'm always geeked when my daughter shares my interest in cars and motor sports. 

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

GRAN TURISMO RACES INTO MOVIE THEATERS

gran turismo movie

Sony Pictures invited me to attend a free screening of their upcoming GRAN TURISMO movie which officially which begins its theatrical run on August 25, 2023. The film is inspired by the true story of a Nissan-sponsored Gran Turismo video game competition that gives its winner the chance to become a real-life professional race car driver. Gran Turismo is a highly detailed auto racing simulator video game for Sony PlayStation consoles that allows players to compete online against one another utilizing accurate recreations of actual cars and tracks. This movie isn't a "video game" movie though it is a bio pic about Jann Mardenborough, who has been involved in both triumphs and tragedies driving cars on race tracks.

The Gran Turismo movie is a nice underdog story that will rev up your spirits. Rudy with race cars! It earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval because you don't need to be a gamer or gearhead to enjoy cheering on the movie's hero to the film's finish line. Taking in Grand Turismo's high octane race scenes are an exciting way to enjoy the last stretch of the summer season. 

Veteran actors David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean) compliment the performance of the movie's youthful central figure Jann Mardenborough played by Archie Madekwe (Midsommar). Harbour and Bloom do an excellent job of creating for audiences a sense of drama that creates an element of intensity for the challenges that Madekwe's character must overcome. I realized as the end credits began rolling that I had become so immersed in the action of the show that I'd bought into feeling as if these actors were actually the people they were portraying and their scenes were real events rather than Hollywood reenactments. I became invested in wanting to see Madekwe's character succeed with the film having the air of a reality show documenting his career progression rather than actors going through the lines of a script. 

I also learned in the end credits that Jann Mardenborough served as a stunt driver for Grand Turismo. The credits include pictures of him with various cast members. That really reinforced the true story aspect of this film in a nice way.

gran turismo

This film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for the following reasons: intense action and some strong language. Gran Turismo has a runtime of 2 hours and fifteen minutes. For more information about this motion picture visit www.granturismo.movie

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

Sunday, July 30, 2023

BALLZ'N

ballzn game

Looking for a fun fast-paced game to play outside on a nice summer day? Give BALLZ'N a try! This competitive game challenges opponents to out bounce their opponents in scoring points with pong balls. Great for game time when friends and family are over.

HOW TO PLAY

Stack bowls and start bouncin’ 

OFFENSE: Bounce your team’s ballz into the upper bowls for +1 or +2 points. 

DEFENSE: Bounce your opponent’s ballz into the lower bowl for -1 point. 

WIN: Sink your ballz into the top tube for an instant win! Watch Out! Don’t knock the stack over – it’s an instant loss! Otherwise when all the ballz are in a bowl the team with the most points wins.

ballzn

The game can be easy going or intense depending on how much action players want. Play defense swatting opponents shots and grabbing rebounds that has everyone running around the stack bowls or be more laid back with everyone just tossing up trick shots to see who gets the most points or hits the instant win tube. An entertaining game to play with friends and family members of all ages.

Easy to setup and convenient to store BALLZ'N from Little Kids, Inc. is an exciting game that is equally good to have around the house as to take on a road trip. Play in one-on-one matches or partner up for team play. The game comes with six green and six blue ballz to play with. Recommended for ages 8+. 

ballzn

BALLZ'N is available on amazon.com. This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

Sunday, July 23, 2023

ClawCrazy

skilled crane games

Fans of skill crane games can now play on real machines via an online app. Whether you want to win folding pocket knives or cuddly toys, it is a great way to test your gaming skills and win prizes. ClawCrazy lets you test your skill and luck remotely controlling the arcade games located at their Farmington, Michigan-based facility by utilizing Android and Apple devices. Grab a prize with a claw or earn tickets to redeem in their prize gallery. 

From claw machines to skeeball there are a variety of games to challenge you in this online arcade that can be played from anywhere in the world. Purchase tokens with a credit card to initiate game play. If a claw pulls a prize out of a machine, Claw Crazy will mail it to you. 

You can also earn tickets that can be redeemed for prizes like a deck of UNO cards [3,600 tickets], Spalding basketball [9,000 tickets], LEGO Aston Martin set [12,600 tickets] or the newest Call of Duty video game [36,000 tickets] among numerous other prizes. Grab a plush Baby Yoda or a boxed Funko Pop figure from a claw machine or earn tickets in skeeball to get yourself a Starbucks gift card. Check out all the available skill challenges and prizes you can win at clawcrazy.com

crazy claw

My kids and I spend an entertaining evening playing around with the clawcrazy app on my iPad. There was a lot of trash talk going back and forth as well as laughing taking place as we challenged each other to see who could do the best in these feats. We didn't end up bringing home any prizes but had a fun time anyways. 

Are you geeked about these style of arcade games? If so, you are sure to have a good time testing your dexterity with the ClawCrazy app. If you are on Instagram, Threads or Twitter, give @Geekdad248 a shoutout sharing with us your ClawCrazy experience. 

clawcrazy

Saturday, April 8, 2023

SIMPLE BACKDROPS FOR ACTION FIGURES

spirit iron knife

Collect action figures? Looking for an eye-catching way to display them or set-up scenery for interesting toyography pictures? Check out www.simplebackdrops.shop for some sharp looking options that are also very affordable. I purchased a couple of their backdrops and have been very impressed. 

Simplebackdrops are designed at 1:12 scale (that is compatible with six and seven inch sized action figures such as Hasbro's 6-inch G.I. Joe Classified and Star Wars Black Series or Mattel's 7-inch DC Universe and He-Man & the Masters of the Universe lines) and are printed on non-light reflecting premium matte paper. The backdrops are made of two skyline panels that either can be a long straight display or be bended to present a corner view. They also come with a floor square to replicate the ground complimenting the side panels.

simplebackdrops

Unlike some of their competitors who provide imagery on matte paper that you have to mount to a surface such as display case paneling, wood frame, or posterboard yourself for stability, Simplebackdrops sheets come attached to cardboard bases. Therefore, they are ready to use right out of the box with no prep work required by you. On the other hand, your bases for the imagery is the standard cardboard you can cut out from any normal box. 

That being said, the Simplebackdrops I bought have worked just fine in regard to displaying and durability.  The manufacturer does provide a disclaimer that these are "homemade backdrops" but I've found them to have a very professional appearance as long as you aren't fixated at looking at the panels from the backside which aren't supposed to be in plain view anyways. 

simplebackdrops

As the imagery isn't protectively glossed to avoid light reflection and the basing is standard cardboard, purchasers do need to take some basic precautions to avoid damaging the product. These are basic things that are probably applicable to higher end dioramas as well. For example, don't spill liquid on it or touch with dirty hands. I give Simplebackdrops kudos because my order was delivered very quickly and each backdrop was individually wrapped very securely to help avoid it being damaged not just during transport but also when being stored around my house when not in use.

I purchased two backdrops through Etsy. The first was a 1:12 Scale Day Forest Backdrop. The second was a 1:12 Scale Broken Wall Backdrop.

simplebackdrops

Being a Stargate fan, I utilized the Forest Backdrop with its daytime imagery to imagine a squad of G.I. Joes were on an off-world mission. SG-1 hadn't reported in so reconnaissance focused SG-13 was sent in to track them down their missing comrades. 

This is a long-straight format consisting of two visual panels. Therefore, two flaps on the back to need to be connected to create a stand in the middle where the two panels come together. This helps unite the two pieces plus keep the backdrop standing upright.

simplebackdrops

The Broken Wall Backdrop has a cavern or basement look to it with what appears to be a tunnel opening that action figures may be running towards or away from. I created a display of Star Wars Black Series action figures making up a mercenary team. They are on the hunt to earn a bounty or commission.

Unlike the forest display, this backdrop is meant to be setup in a corner format. Thereby, the corner holds up the pieces to stand on their own and a flap stand isn't needed here. As in the forest backdrop, there is a ground piece that compliments the side boards presenting a 3D environment for displaying and photographing action figures. I may use these backdrops with diecast cars too. 

simplebackdrops

Based upon my experience with Simplebackdrops, they've earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval. I'm impressed with the quality and usefulness of the backdrops, the pricing is nice for budget conscious consumers, and the customer service effort in the product arriving sooner than expected and securely packaged not just for transit but home storage as well. Simply said, Simplebackdrops exceeded my expectations. 

geek daddy

My only disappointment is the limited number of backdrop selections they have available. Hopefully they will start adding some additional variety of settings. If they add some more background options, I absolutely will be buying some more! 

Saturday, January 28, 2023

DOCTOR STRANGE EYE OF AGAMOTTO MOVIE PROP REPLICA

disney eye of agamotto prop replica

Movie prop replicas can be a great way to add a fun touch of favorite films into your surroundings. So, I was geeked about the chance to have my very own Eye of Agamotto amulet like the one utilized by Benjamin Cumberbatch to bring the mystic arts abilities of Doctor Strange to life within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney has produced a number of Infinity Stone-related movie prop replica items from the Marvel Comics inspired superhero films including the Eye of Agamotto; which turned out to be powered by the Time Stone, one of six cosmic gems that can provide wielders amazing power. These prop replicas are available exclusively at a souvenir shop attached to Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster and the shopdisney online store. 

I purchased Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamotto on shopdisney.com to check out these Infinity Stone themed movie prop replicas and determine if I might want to pick up any of the others as this was a favorite out of the lot. Others available are the orb holding the Power Stone from Guardians of the Galaxy, the Aether Container that held the Reality Stone from Thor: The Dark World, the Tesseract with the Space Stone from Captain America: The First Avenger, Loki's scepter with the Mind Stone from The Avengers, and the Iron Man gauntlet from Avengers: Endgame that holds all six Infinity Stones.  If I was impressed with Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamotto, the odds are really good these other items would also all be finding their way to my house to be incorporated into a Marvel fan display in our game room or home office.

There was a lot of excitement in the air when the package containing my Eye of Agamotto which I had eagerly been awaiting arrived from shopdisney.com. Enthusiastically ripping up the boxes for what I had thought would be the unveiling of my own piece of Hollywood magic, the oxygen in the room emptied as I gasped at a disappointing dud. This has to be the most disappointing purchase I can remember making in a long time. I normally don't write negative reviews but wanted to warn others not to be suckered into what looks like a really cool prop replica being marketed by Disney. 

First of all, and most troublesome, the Doctor Strange Eye of Agamotto movie prop replica isn't screen accurate. Its sized about twice the size it actually should be! It is more like a big clock you'd see Flavor Flav wearing around his neck than the amulet donned by the Sorcerer Supreme. Absolutely, too large to be used for cosplay! As well as hindering the display value of the amulet because it looks out of place big. Doah!

shopdisney eye of agamotto

Second, instead of utilizing AAA or AA batteries, which would have been totally doable based upon the girth of the amulet, you need to insert the more expensive style wristwatch style batteries to power its special effects. I don't normally keep those in stock around the house. Fortunately, batteries are included with it! But I'm not looking forward to eventually replacing them. 

shopdisney eye of agamotto

On a more positive note, the glowing light effect of the Time Stone does have a nice ambience to it. It has a supernatural glow and emits a mystical humming sound. The Eye of Agamotto prop replica does get kudos for that. The Time Stone is removable but doesn't glow on its own removed from the amulet. 

doctor strange eye of agamotto

The amulet is also very sturdy with its body made out of metal. From tapping on it and feeling its weight, you can tell that this isn't just a plastic mold. Disney's Eye of Agamotto is made with metal giving it the feel of actually holding a real magical amulet, well that is if such a thing actually existed. Still, it has the durability you think would be put into a prop used on a set to make sure it doesn't get broken while filming a movie. 

Additionally, the packaging incorporates some nice details to make it look like a techy storage container. That adds a fun element to unpacking the Eye of Agamotto and is worth keeping around to store it when not using for cosplay or display. 

I just can't get over just how obnoxiously big this is! That is such a huge detraction. Though I guess it does look rather cool on a display shelf if you are viewing it from a distance. The size is enough of a negative though that Disney's Doctor Strange Eye of Agamotto doesn't earn a Geek Daddy nod of approval. Buyer beware! 

doctor strange eye of agamotto

Sunday, January 22, 2023

DOCTOR STRANGE VS SCARLET WITCH DICE THRONE BATTLE

Dice Throne Marvel Edition

It is chaos magic versus the mystic arts when the Scarlet Witch duels against Doctor Strange in the Marvel edition of the tabletop game Dice Throne from The Op Games. Role play as a character striving the be a gladiatorial champion in a competition that pits warriors from various times and dimensions against one another. Strategically utilize abilities and action cards combined with manipulating the roll of dice to defeat opponents. From a cursed pirate to a vampire lord, Dice Throne provides energetic gameplay in one on one battles ... and now competitors from the Marvel universe have entered the fray! 

Scarlet Witch comes in a 4-Hero Box that also includes Thor, Loki and Miles Morales Spider-Man. You can pick-up Doctor Strange in an expansion pack that also includes Black Widow. Time for a Multiverse of Madness showdown Dice Throne style between Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch!

After an accident removed Doctor Stephen Strange's fine motor skills from his hands, the renowned surgeon looked beyond traditional medicine for healing and found the mystic arts. What he was not expecting was to become the Sorcerer Supreme, Earth's preeminent defender against international threats. In Dice Throne, Doctor Strange has the ability to prepare and cast spells through utilizing a deck of spell cards that are separate from action cards which he also maintains a deck of. He also can inflict magical attacks and defenses through rolling dice combinations. Additionally, through casting spells and die rolls, Doctor Strange can summon status effects to inflict on his opponent or empower himself.

Doctor Strange

DOCTOR STRANGE DICE COMBINATIONS

When it is Doctor Strange's turn to attack, he can roll his dice three times. After the first roll, he can utilize a dice combo attack from what is showing or re-roll all or any number of dice he chooses. After the second roll he can reroll all or any number of dice he chooses if he doesn't initiate a dice combo attack. A third roll is allowed if a player desires but that is the final outcome for being able to activate an attack using a dice combination.

Here are some of the attack combinations for Doctor Strange:

Doctor Strange Dice Throne

Augury -- Dice rolls result in two tome symbols and two amulet symbols. He inflicts 8 points of damage on his opponent and gains one Deja Vu status effect token.

Universal Awareness -- Four tome symbols are showing. Draws one action card to add to his deck. Gains two Deja Vu and two Premonition status effect tokens. If he has already cast and spell and placed it in a discard pile, it can be pulled out and prepared to be reused. 

Astral Incursion -- Rolling a combination of one mandala, one tome, one mantle, and on amulet triggers this attack. Inflict 6 points of damage then roll two dice. If you roll a mandala add 3 points of damage; roll a tome gain a Premonition token; roll a mantle inflict a Crimson Bands status effect on your opponent; on an amulet cast a spell.

doctor strange

Mystic Bolts -- If you roll a small straight (four dice with numbers in a row) deal 6 points of damage and cast a spell. If you roll a large straight (five numbers in a row) deal 9 points of damage and cast a spell.

Binding -- Roll two mandals and two mantles. Inflict Crimson Bands on your opponent plus hurt them with 9 points of damage.

Wand of Watoomb -- Roll four amulets. Inflict Crimson Bands; Deal 5 undefendable points of damage; Prepare a Spell from your discard pile and cast up to two Spells.

doctor strange

ALL-SEEING EYE! -- This is the most powerful of Doctor Strange's dice combo attacks. Roll five amulets. Look at the top five cards in the spell deck. Pick two of these cards to prepare to use. Put the other three cards back in any order you may later want to pull them. Then deal 10 points of damage and cast up to two Spells.

As mentioned, Doctor Strange can cast spells in addition to his dice combo attacks through his Book of Vishanti passive ability. He begins the game with the Flames of Faltine Spell placed on his game board. Once per turn, he may prepare this Spell or another from the Spell cards in your hand. Casting Spells are triggered by action cards and dice combos.

dice throne doctor strange

Doctor Strange also has a defense dice combo. During an opponent's attack against him, Doctor Strange can utilize his Cloak of Levitation. He rolls two dice. For a mandala, he inflicts back 1 point of damage. On a tome, he gains a Premonition token. On a mantle, he is protected from 2 points of damage. On a amulet he inflicts 3 points of damage back to his opponent.

DOCTOR STRANGE STATUS EFFECTS

Doctor Strange's status effects are Crimson Bands, Premonition and Deja Vu. Crimson Bands are a negative effect inflicted on the other player preventing him or her from utilizing action cards during rolling dice during their next turn.

dice throne marvel edition

Premonition and Deja Vu are positive status effects benefiting Doctor Strange. If you have one Premonition token you can draw two action cards instead of one during the start of a turn. If you have three Premonition tokens you can draw three action cards instead of one at the start of a turn. With Deju Vu, Doctor Strange can turn in the status effect token to start an offensive roll phase from the beginning. Roll three times and don't like where you are at with the dice? Use a Deju Vu status effect to start over with three new rolls!

I'm going to leave some mystery and not spoil what the spell cards can do. You'll have to play a game of Dice Throne with Doctor Strange to see what you can do with these. These add a lot of extra energy to the game though making the Sorcerer Supreme a force to be reckoned with in any Dice Throne encounter. 

scarlet witch dice throne

With powers that can manipulate reality itself and the meddling of unseen forces, Wanda Maximoff's real origin is a mystery. Blessed with the ability to manipulate chaos magic, she doesn't know her place in the world ... is she a hero or a villain?!

SCARLET WITCH DICE COMBINATIONS

Here are some of the attack combinations for Scarlet Witch:

dice throne scarlet witch

Hex Bolts -- Roll three warp symbols deal 4 points of damage; Roll four deal 6 points of damage; Roll five deal 8 points of damage. 

Darkhold -- Roll two spell symbols to draw one action card, gain one combat point (used to cash in some action cards), and get a Crackle and Probability Manipulation status effect token.

scarlet witch

Spellcraft -- Roll four dice numerically in a row deals 7 points of damage and gains her a Probability Manipulation status effect token. Roll five dice in a row deals 9 points of damage and lets her inflict a Reality Warp status effect on the opponent.


Mind Blast -- Roll one of each symbol. Gain a Crackle status effect token; Deal 5 points of pure damage and roll a die. If the die value is even gain a Probability Manipulation token. If the die value is odd deal 8 points of pure damage instead of five.

Bewitch -- Roll one warp symbol and three crowns. Gain a Conjure status effect. Deal 9 points of damage.

Pure Chaos -- Roll four crown symbols. Gain a Conjure status effect. Inflict a Reality Warp status effect. Deal 6 points of undefendable damage. 

dice throne

SEALED YOUR FATE
-- the Scarlet Witch's most powerful dice combo! Roll five crown symbols. Gain Conjure status effect and a Probability Manipulation too. Inflict Reality Warp status effect. Deal 12 points of damage.

The Scarlet Witch also has a formidable defense to opponent's attacks. She can roll FIVE dice. If she gets two warp symbols she gains a Crackle; Two chaos gains her a Probability Manipulation; Two Spells gains a Conjure and two Crowns deals 4 points of damage back at her attacker.

SCARLET WITCH STATUS EFFECTS

While Doctor Strange has Spell cards to enhance his offensive capabilities, the Scarlet Witch relies instead on status effects to give her an edge. She has three positive status effects to empower herself: Probability Manipulation, Conjure and Crackle. Plus, can hinder others with her Reality Warp negative status effect.

dice throne marvel edition

Reality Warp forces an opponent to remove one of their die during attack rolls and instead use one of the Scarlet Witch's dice. Thus they are in essence actually only rolling four instead of five dice during their turn.

Probability Manipulation allows the Scarlet Witch to change the value on a die after a roll up or down one value when an even number is showing. So, if a 4 is rolled, cashing in one of these status effect tokens allows that die to be adjusted to a 3 or 5. This could impact a dice combo by allowing a straight to be created or changing symbols by altering a chaos to become a warp or spell.

Conjure allows the Scarlet Witch to either steal a positive status effect token from another player or inflict a Reality Warp on an opponent.

Crackle allows Scarlet Witch to inflict 1 point of damage per each positive or negative status effect token on an opponent's game board including the Crackle token used to initiate this impact. So, if Doctor Strange was to have a Deju Vu and Premonition positive status effect tokens and a Reality Warp negative effect on his game board those along with the Crackle would cause him to have 4 points of damage. This is a nice way to finish off an opponent who is on the ropes if a dice roll combo narrowly misses accomplishing a knock out.

dice throne scarlet witch

Which of these two magic wielders do you think is the more powerful foe in a Dice Throne bout? Would you go with the Sorcerer Supreme or the Scarlet Witch

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

Saturday, January 14, 2023

ZOMBICIDE UNDEAD OR ALIVE UNBOXING

zombicide undead or alive kickstarter

Giddy-up! My crate of goodies from participating in the CMON Games Zombicide: Undead or Alive Kickstarter campaign has arrived. A zombie apocalypse has infested within the Wild West and it is up to you to help a group of survivors get out of Dodge in this new variation of the Zombicide tabletop game. By purchasing Zombicide: Undead or Alive through Kickstarter rather than retail not only did I lasso the core game, but I also wrangled an exclusive Dead West expansion kit that includes 79 extra character pieces to enhance game play. Plus, I unboxed a few extra goodies to add to the Wild West theme of the Undead or Alive Zombicide adventures.


In this standalone game, instead of trying to survive a zombie infestation of a modern day city, players are transported back to the American West of the 1800s as they attempt to survive swarms of the undead. Carried by infected travelers aboard trains, the plague quickly spread across the Wild West. Horses became meals to the zombie hoard causing the surviving people to be isolated in overwhelmed frontier towns.

Zombicide: Undead or Alive is a cooperative game where players work together to face scenarios involving them confronting and escaping a zombie menace. Players make their own decisions to utilize weapons and abilities while the zombies are controlled by the game itself using simple rules and a deck of cards. This tabletop game can be played for 1 - 6 players and is recommended for those aged 14+. 

The Undead or Alive core box includes 14 characters that players can choose to play as divided up as four different classes: Brawler, Faithful, Gunslinger and Townsfolk. 

Brawlers are hand-to-hand specialists who use melee weapons to bring down zombies. Being tough as nails, they can also endure more wounds than other survivors.

Faithfuls use their faith and conviction to paralyze zombies and destroy zombie spawning points.

Gunslingers are able to unload a heap of lead in a split second by fanning a hoard with pistol fire. This ability can devastate large bands of zombies at short range.

Townsfolk know where to search for supplies and find everything needed for killing zombies.

zombicide undead or alive

Also included in the core box are 64 zombie game pieces to utilize in the game. There are four types of zombies players will encounter in Undead or Alive: Walkers, Brutes, Runners and Abominations.

Walkers slowly trudge towards you in a deadly mob. Beware that though they aren't speedy, walkers can quickly overwhelm you.

Brutes are hard to kill making them nasty menaces. Watch out because they are often shielding other zombies hiding behind them!

Runners often catch survivors by surprise. You don't think of zombies as fast but this type is quick. They move twice as fast as other zombies!

Abominations can be the worst nightmare of survivors, plus they aren't always zombies! Sometimes abominations are mutated monsters or worse. These are the toughest, ugliest adversaries your posse will come across. They can only be hurt by dynamite. Moreover, their mere presence stirs the dead to come to an abomination's aid. As soon as one enters the game board, special places called Abomination Spawn Zones become active causing even more zombies come after players.

zombicide undead or alive

There are ten missions included with the core box that can be played with included character pieces and twelve double-sided game board tiles. Players can also just create their own random scenarios as well utilizing the Zombicide A.I. system and their own tile layouts. Click here to check out the rule book for yourself. 

zombicide undead or alive

By participating in the Kickstarter campaign, I also received an exclusive Dead West expansion kit that includes 79 more character pieces adding more survivors and zombies with their own unique quirks and qualities to enhance gameplay. This is particularly nice for adding new challenges to the game with its inclusion of some impressive abominations that range from a cactus monster to a wendigo. The expansion kit also includes some outlaws that can provide some extra firepower to your team of survivors including Butch Cassidy, Billy the Kid and Jesse James. For those who missed the Kickstarter campaign it is possible to find Dead West in the secondary market for an elevated price to what it was originally sold for.

zombicide dead west
zombicide dead west

In addition to the Dead West expansion pack, I also picked up a few other exclusive content goodies in the Kickstarter campaign. I harnessed a Deadstock Pack that includes mutated abominations of a buffalo, grizzly bear and longhorn cow for survivors to battle. I also dug up a Long Dead Walkers Pack that has skeleton versions of the zombies from the core box. This game can be more than just a zombie encounter with a variety of different monsters led by the Great Trickster Spirit available through Kickstarter exclusives to fight against players. The quality of exclusives are one of the main hooks for me when it comes to joining a Kickstarter campaign and these had me biting at the Zombicide: Undead or Alive one.

zombicide undead or alive

Keep an eye out for more updates as I delve into the contents of Zombicide: Undead or Alive and begin playing the game. The core box is available now at retail. For more information about this and other games in the franchise, head over to zombicide.com

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

zombicide undead or alive kickstarter unboxing