Specter Ops Review

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I got to play a four player game Saturday night at Gen Con. I was the agent and very happy with the number of decisions I had to make while playing; when to use equipment, back track or not, which objectives to go for, how fast to move if you think the hunters will use the car sensor that turn or not, etc. Another source of friction for the agent is the limited number of moves you have to accomplish the goals and get out.

I also like the graphic design of the board which convey the feeling of an after hours industrial/tech complex.

Yes, there's a lot to think about when you make a move as either side. But the lack of absolute certainty over where the agent takes the place of randomness to keep things tense and exciting, and stops the game degenerating into an AP grind.

I like everything about the game except the design. Art, bits, all Plaid Hat standard (read: puts FFG to shame) but I really don't like hidden movement that's not Fury of Dracula, and I didn't like it at all.

First Plaid Hat game I didn't like. Really glad I didn't buy it. I think Ninja: Rise of the Scorpion Clan is a substantially better game using the hidden movement mechanic.

That is all, carry on.

Good review Matt, also definitely agree about Specter Ops. I'm a big fan of this game.

Looks like this game might have a cyberpunk setting. That has my interest. The hidden movement sounds less clever in implementation than Fury of Dracula, but the equipment and special abilities of Specter Ops might make for more interesting encounters. Wish that I could try this one before buying.

It's only less clever than FoD because there's less to take account of. All the game needs to care about is where the agent is, not whether he's dropping minions or clues behind him as he goes.

I'm not sure it makes for more interesting encounters than FoD. After all, Dracula has a range of supernatural powers and the agents accumulate equipment. They play very differently in some ways, though and that's a big part of the appeal. Dracula is very much a game of find-and-chase. While you do get chases in Specter Ops, it's more a matter of deduce-and-kill.