Game Info
Year
2026
Players
2
Age
14+
Playtime
75 min
Complexity
3.8/5
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
Two-player asymmetric siege wargame recreating the 1539 battle of Castelnuovo with block-based fog of war
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video CTe0QDWvhlc
Zilla Blitz Other at 28:37 sentiment: other
video_pk 85640 · mention_pk 220002
Click to watch at 28:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Intrigued
Pros
- Block-based
- Interesting gameplay elements
- Accessible
- Unique mechanics
- Siege element
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Siege by Ottoman Turks with Spanish defenders
- Castle Novo
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Block wargame — Utilizes blocks for gameplay elements.
- siege — Focuses on a siege scenario.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's checking off a lot of boxes for me and that it's solitire, individual man, campaign, strong narrative elements, events.
- I love to see new games, new companies popping up and see newcomers into the field. It only helps us have more creativity, more innovation, and more people pushing the edge of the design envelope.
- This is a new and interesting direction for them.
- This is a lot of fun. I think it's going to spin great narratives.
- My understanding of World War I combat of course listening to him went up through the roof.
- And this game focuses on the reconnaissance at Verdon as the part of the combat.
- Warfare traditionally was a situation especially as you go farther back in time where you didn't have anywhere close to full information and getting that information and what you did with that information and analyzing that information and making decisions on incomplete information was such a huge part of warfare that really hasn't been captured in a lot of our modern wargaming experience.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8UORWfK-jl4
Hungry Gamer Review at 0:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85280 · mention_pk 218256
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cool historical theme and notes
- Inability to change history (Spanish lose)
- Engaging siege vs. assault choice for Ottomans
- Thematic reinforcements
- Great card play with a good balance of options
- Shuffling in cards that change the game
- Varied troop deployment
- Appreciated combat system (rock-paper-scissors)
- Consideration of high ground advantage
Cons
- Combat can feel slow and uneventful
- Thematic disconnect with hidden unit information
- Cramped central board area
- Requires a lot of stickering
- Potentially repetitive gameplay loop
Thematic elements
- Ottoman obliteration of the Spanish at a fortress
- 1539
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Controlling specific spots on the board is a win condition for the Ottomans.
- Card Play — Players play cards to perform actions, with a choice between siege and assault rounds impacting the number of cards drawn.
- Combat System — An order of operations determines who attacks first, with specific unit types having advantages over others.
- Dice Rolling — Dice are rolled for combat, with specific numbers needed to inflict damage.
- Hidden Information — Unit types are hidden from the opponent.
- reinforcements — The Ottomans receive reinforcements in the early rounds.
- Variable Deployment — The initial deployment of troops can change the feel of the game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- And I really, really like that.
- The card play is great. Just period, the card play is great.
- All in all, it's a fun game, which for me as a nonwar gamer type person is huge.
- I actually quite enjoyed this game. I thought it was very clever, especially that card play.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LInroTFDsu0
Zilla Blitz Top List at 10:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83415 · mention_pk 210138
Click to watch at 10:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Innovative siege combat mechanics
- Outstanding components
- Interesting cardplay
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Siege combat between Spanish and Ottoman forces
- Castle Novo, 1539
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Block-based — Uses a block-based system for walls and units.
- Card Play — Features interesting cardplay.
- Hidden Information — The game includes hidden information.
- Siege Combat — Recreates siege combat.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This one takes us back in time.
- This is an updated version of the old Aces of Aces flip books working on that same type of system.
- So, it's essentially plane versus plane dog fighting World War II done in an incredibly innovative for its time flip book.
- This aces of aces updates all of that and adds a bunch of new Kickstarter goals and extras that go along with it.
- This might be 2027. I'm not sure.
- This is basically an operational level game of submarine combat in the World War II Pacific Theater.
- Steel Wolves takes the Silent War system and brings it to World War II. uh in the Atlantic theaters.
- And it's solitary as well. I should mention that too.
- Oh, this looks so good.
- This is a soliter game of World War II combat where each counter is an individ individual soldier.
- combat I think is, you know, if you think back to the old Ambush games, combat is really aiming, I think, to be a modern version of that.
- Such a compelling theme.
- it's great to see the growth of this series.
- This game just completed a very successful Kickstarter.
- Takes us to the year 2034 for combat between Chinese and Taiwanese forces in Taiwan.
- So, we've got some robots, we've got some got drones, just a ton of modern combat elements in here.
- I have a prototype of this now, so I'm going to be bringing some gameplay of this to the channel in a couple of weeks.
- This looks spectacular.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Uy7kpk_Wwoc
Zilla Blitz Discussion at 9:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 82152 · mention_pk 206295
Click to watch at 9:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- dramatically upgraded map and components from prototype
- strong siege gameplay with defensive emphasis
Cons
- current review copy is prototype-area; final art may shift
Thematic elements
- siege warfare in early modern period
- Siege of Castle Novo, 1539
- two-player block-based combat with strong defensive play
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- block-based counters — two-player use of blocks to represent forces
- solo mode — robust solo option hinted at in prototype to final form
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It looks absolutely fabulous.
- I'm very curious to see his take and his innovation.
- This is a big, exciting box with a lot of content.
- The maps look fantastic and this is an exciting series.
- No two games will play out alike and they happen on this point-to-point map.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video L0FZSbRAioc
Zilla Blitz Review at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38053 · mention_pk 114382
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Robust combat system for a block-based game with nuanced interaction between unit types and card play
- Hidden information adds depth and tension to battles
- Extensive historical context embedded within rules enhances thematic immersion
- Clear and sharp writing in rulebook; rules are accessible and well explained
- Asymmetric design that actively engages defender side (Spanish) rather than making defense passive
- Varied components that reflect siege warfare (walls, bastions, artillery, trenches, etc.)
Cons
- Rule book is not final; introductory scenario and solo rules in development
- Learning curve remains due to multiple interacting systems (cards, blocks, siege mechanics)
- Solo mode not available at time of review; planned but not yet finalized
- Ambiguity in unit names (e.g., arbiskers) may require clarification in rules
- Two-player only in initial release; not clear if future expansions add additional modes
Thematic elements
- Siege warfare, block-based tactical confrontation between defenders and attackers
- The siege of Castle Novo during the Ottoman-Habsburg conflict in the Mediterranean (July 1539); Castle Novo in present-day Herig Novi, Montenegro
- Historical flavor embedded in rules with optional narrative flavor and context
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Fully mounted map with district sections representing city, countryside, and water; control of sections influences victory.
- Area control map — Fully mounted map with district sections representing city, countryside, and water; control of sections influences victory.
- Assault phase — Ottoman side can declare an assault to accelerate the siege; costs a casualty and limits available actions, simulating the aggressive escalation.
- Asymmetric Mechanics — Spanish defenders (16 blocks) vs Ottoman attackers (32 blocks) representing approximate force imbalance.
- Asymmetrical forces — Spanish defenders (16 blocks) vs Ottoman attackers (32 blocks) representing approximate force imbalance.
- Block-based combat with hidden strength — Blocks stand upright; strength is hidden from the opponent until combat. Strength is revealed during engagement, creating uncertainty and tension.
- Card-driven actions — Two decks with asymmetrical cards per side: actions, orders, combat, reactions, events; players use cards to drive actions and tactical options.
- Combat: Dice — Combat uses six-sided dice; hits on 5-6; dice modifiers from cards affect outcomes.
- Dice-based combat with modifiers — Combat uses six-sided dice; hits on 5-6; dice modifiers from cards affect outcomes.
- Hidden Victory Points — Game ends when one side reaches its victory state: Spaniards by inflicting casualties; Ottomans by capturing fortified locations or destroying Spanish units.
- Influence Points — Leaders on the board affect combat outcomes and morale.
- Leaders influence — Leaders on the board affect combat outcomes and morale.
- Siege infrastructure elements — Walls, bastions, artillery, trenches, and shave de (siege features) influence the siege dynamics.
- Unit strength rotation — Casualties rotate blocks to reflect reduced strength; ownership remains; strength shown on top.
- Victory conditions without a turn limit — Game ends when one side reaches its victory state: Spaniards by inflicting casualties; Ottomans by capturing fortified locations or destroying Spanish units.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is not a final version of the rule book as an introductory scenario and solo rules are in development and will get added.
- The writing here is crisp and so far I feel like all the rules have made great sense.
- Combat has its own mini sequence of play and has a fair bit going on.
- The Spanish player must be aggressive and attack in order to win, but has to pick weak spots and well-timed counterattacks for this strategy to be successful.
- Let's play with blocks.
- There is no turn limit and the game ends with whichever side reaches their victory state first.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5