Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Board Game

by Milton Bradley

Reviewed by El Hombre (filling in for Dr. Jimmy Mahonahan)

Strategy. In everyday life, we employ strategy in a myriad of situations, from finding a decent parking space to eluding angry bears. When we outmanoeuvre a rival motorist out of a cherry spot, or strategically sacrifice a weaker friend to a savage mauling in order to save our own skin, we get a thrill. It's the quest for this thrill that has, for centuries, driven people to square off at the cardboard killing floor: the chessboard. The chessboard has been hailed as the home to the pinnacle of strategic gameplay, where intellects struggle for bragging rights. But how many permutations of moves can there possibly in chess? I've played the game over four times now, and I'm certain at least two of the games were identical, move for move. Well, move over bishops and pawns. There's a new game in town, and she's killing the undead.

Buffy is a battle of good versus evil. Literally. The game allows up to 5 players, and one of those players must control the forces of evil. The rest split up the characters Buffy, Willow, Xander and Oz. Interestingly, the good players need to use teamwork and co-operation in order to win while the evil player plays alone, friendless. Coincidence? The gameplay itself is a thrilling combination of strategy, quick wits and luck. There are elements role-playing style gameplay blended with more traditional board game style. Each good player has a number of health points that can be lost in battle with the opposition. Once all points are lost, that player is dead. Sad. Each good player also has certain advantages (Oz can turn into a kickass werewolf when the moon is out, Buffy is tough like Chinese algebra). There are places on the board where good players can pick up cards (like community chest in monopoly but so very much cooler) that help them defend against the malevolence on the other side of the board. Sounds pretty good for the side of good, no? Well badness has its advantages as well. The player with his hand up the puppet bum of wickedness also has advantageous cards, evil cards, scattered about the board. He controls not only the head honcho malévolo, but he has 3 devilish underlings who do his bidding. Oh, it's a teeter-totter, all right.

But wait! There's more! Buffy is four games in one. You heard me right, buster! There are 4 different scenarios for you to play, with different goals for each side. Basically, the different scenarios are different villains for the dark side to control. There's The Master, The Judge, The Mayor and Adam each in their own way trying to control Sunnydale and vanquish the Scooby gang. Does this sound like fun to you? No? Well then why not try it while drunk?! I've tried both ways, sober and hammered, and I think that, all things being equal, drunk favours evil while sober favours good. Ever play chess drunk? That SUCKS! You forget how to move the rooks and the checker pattern on the board makes you queasy. So there you have it. Buffy is superior to chess because it's still fun when you're drunk. I knew I had a point.