07-27-2019, 04:12 PM
The Weekender: Rise & Fall Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/the-weekender-rise-fall-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/the-weekender-rise-fall-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>I’ve been cooling it on the Auto Chess testing lately because one of my personal favourite board games is getting <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/raiders-of-the-north-sea-mobile-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">its digital release next week</a>, and I’ve been taking the Android version out for a spin.</p>
<p><em>Raiders of the North Sea</em> is essentially a worker placement game, but it has a cool twist on the usual gameplay and has some pretty amazing artwork. Also: Vikings. The app seems very slick so far, so I’m looking forward to getting our full review out. I’m not sure we’ll make it in time for launch, but it’ll definitely be ASAP.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Civilization 6: Rise & Fall Expansion (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sid-meiers-civilization-vi/id1235863443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) (<a href="http://bit.ly/sgciv6rfrev" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PC Review</a>)</h3>
<p>We’ve been wondering when Aspyr would be getting around to porting the <em>Civ 6</em> expansions to mobile. <em>Rise & Fall</em> released to the PC audience last February, so it’s been well over a year and we’ve had a second PC expansion (<em>Gathering Storm</em>) in the time since then. <em>Rise & Fall</em> isn’t the most impactful expansion, but it definitely elevates the base game out of the mundane and so in many ways is a bit of an essential purchase if you’re a <em>Civ 6</em> fan. Along with new leaders and civs, new mechanics emerge in the form of Emergencies, Golden/Dark Ages and Governors. You can head on over to our sister website for a full overview of the expansion.</p>
<p>It’s a shame it’s so expensive ($29.99!), although as part of the release all of the existing IAPs have been made cheaper. You can now pick up the base game for $10, for example. <em>Gathering Storm</em> is supposedly on track for release alter this year as well, and together they make the base <em>Civ 6</em> experience a better challenger against <em>Civ 5</em>’s comfortable domination of the franchise.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOT9T15mkX0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Stick Fight The Game Mobile (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/stick-fight-the-game-mobile/id1440002056?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netease.ddsfna&hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>I mention this one because I’ve played the PC version and it is quite fun, if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful party game. You control stick men on 2D battlefields and you have to jump around, try to pick up weapons and be the last stick standing. The physics are hilarious and the action surprisingly tense. It’s only for three players and one disadvantage of the mobile version is that you can only play online (versus all crowding around a single PC, for example), which is a shame.</p>
<p>The mobile version has gone free-to-play with a single $1 IAP for something called ‘Diamond’, but I imagine this is more of a token gesture to monetise the mobile game, rather than true ‘freemium’ design although you never know with NetEase involved.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8YOSVNGc9eY?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Upcoming Games</h2>
<h3>Pokémon Masters (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1442061397" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dena.a12026418" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Pokémon GO</em>’s time as the most popular <em>Pokémon</em> game on mobile might be coming to an end, as more games are about to land on our phones. Free-to-Play <em>Pokémon Rumble Rush</em> released this week, but you can also pre-register for <em>Pokémon Masters</em>, a 3v3 battler where three trainers each take a Pokémon each (known as a ‘sync pair’) into a head-to-head battle with another team. Pre-registration is available on both app stores, and there’s an overview video you can watch that goes over the basics:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gms2G2cs54w?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (August 1<sup>st</sup>, 2019) (iOS & Android)</h3>
<p>This digital party game has been on our radar for a while, but we weren’t sure when the mobile version was planning to release – turns out it’s next week! This is a co-operation game where one person has ‘the bomb’, while everyone else has the manual that can disarm the bomb. The carrier will need to be able to describe what they can see, while the rest of the team will need to be able to succinctly advise the carrier how to disarm the bomb based on what they’re told. What could go wrong?</p>
<p>What’s good about this one is that only one person needs to ‘own’ the app as only the carrier will need, while everyone else can consult the bomb manual directly from the <a href="http://www.bombmanual.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official website</a>. It’s coming to both app stores and will cost $9.99.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYGTTebmOO0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<p>Not many updates making a splash this week – <em>Star Traders: Frontiers</em> has been updated again, naturally, and the various Auto Chess games have all had extra tweaks and updates, depending on your poison.</p>
<p>In other news, <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-night-of-the-full-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Night of the Full Moon</em></a> was updated to Version 2.0 this week. This is a larger update than most, and ]comes with it the inclusion of a new DLC – <em>The Red Hood</em>. NotFM is a pretty solid CCG/RPG hybrid which, while it didn’t blow us away when we first looked at it in 2017, has continued to go from strength to strength in the years since. It’s got plenty of DLC now to pick up if you’re interested, and the price for entry is currently ‘free’ on both <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1278845241" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ztgame.yyzy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>In addition to the <em>Civ 6</em> and <em>Night of the Full Moon</em> promotions mentioned above, there are a couple of sales that might be of interest this week:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/tides-of-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Tides of Time</em></a> (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1437742131" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.portalgames.tidesoftime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>), which is a fun and quick 2 player card drafting game, is currently $0.99 – it’s first price-drop since launch.</li>
<li>Tactical RPG <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-avadon-3-the-warborn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Avadon 3: The Warborn</em></a> is down to half price again this week, only the second time this year.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you like? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/the-weekender-rise-fall-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/the-weekender-rise-fall-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>I’ve been cooling it on the Auto Chess testing lately because one of my personal favourite board games is getting <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/raiders-of-the-north-sea-mobile-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">its digital release next week</a>, and I’ve been taking the Android version out for a spin.</p>
<p><em>Raiders of the North Sea</em> is essentially a worker placement game, but it has a cool twist on the usual gameplay and has some pretty amazing artwork. Also: Vikings. The app seems very slick so far, so I’m looking forward to getting our full review out. I’m not sure we’ll make it in time for launch, but it’ll definitely be ASAP.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Civilization 6: Rise & Fall Expansion (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sid-meiers-civilization-vi/id1235863443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) (<a href="http://bit.ly/sgciv6rfrev" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PC Review</a>)</h3>
<p>We’ve been wondering when Aspyr would be getting around to porting the <em>Civ 6</em> expansions to mobile. <em>Rise & Fall</em> released to the PC audience last February, so it’s been well over a year and we’ve had a second PC expansion (<em>Gathering Storm</em>) in the time since then. <em>Rise & Fall</em> isn’t the most impactful expansion, but it definitely elevates the base game out of the mundane and so in many ways is a bit of an essential purchase if you’re a <em>Civ 6</em> fan. Along with new leaders and civs, new mechanics emerge in the form of Emergencies, Golden/Dark Ages and Governors. You can head on over to our sister website for a full overview of the expansion.</p>
<p>It’s a shame it’s so expensive ($29.99!), although as part of the release all of the existing IAPs have been made cheaper. You can now pick up the base game for $10, for example. <em>Gathering Storm</em> is supposedly on track for release alter this year as well, and together they make the base <em>Civ 6</em> experience a better challenger against <em>Civ 5</em>’s comfortable domination of the franchise.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOT9T15mkX0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Stick Fight The Game Mobile (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/stick-fight-the-game-mobile/id1440002056?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netease.ddsfna&hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>I mention this one because I’ve played the PC version and it is quite fun, if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful party game. You control stick men on 2D battlefields and you have to jump around, try to pick up weapons and be the last stick standing. The physics are hilarious and the action surprisingly tense. It’s only for three players and one disadvantage of the mobile version is that you can only play online (versus all crowding around a single PC, for example), which is a shame.</p>
<p>The mobile version has gone free-to-play with a single $1 IAP for something called ‘Diamond’, but I imagine this is more of a token gesture to monetise the mobile game, rather than true ‘freemium’ design although you never know with NetEase involved.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8YOSVNGc9eY?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Upcoming Games</h2>
<h3>Pokémon Masters (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1442061397" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dena.a12026418" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Pokémon GO</em>’s time as the most popular <em>Pokémon</em> game on mobile might be coming to an end, as more games are about to land on our phones. Free-to-Play <em>Pokémon Rumble Rush</em> released this week, but you can also pre-register for <em>Pokémon Masters</em>, a 3v3 battler where three trainers each take a Pokémon each (known as a ‘sync pair’) into a head-to-head battle with another team. Pre-registration is available on both app stores, and there’s an overview video you can watch that goes over the basics:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gms2G2cs54w?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (August 1<sup>st</sup>, 2019) (iOS & Android)</h3>
<p>This digital party game has been on our radar for a while, but we weren’t sure when the mobile version was planning to release – turns out it’s next week! This is a co-operation game where one person has ‘the bomb’, while everyone else has the manual that can disarm the bomb. The carrier will need to be able to describe what they can see, while the rest of the team will need to be able to succinctly advise the carrier how to disarm the bomb based on what they’re told. What could go wrong?</p>
<p>What’s good about this one is that only one person needs to ‘own’ the app as only the carrier will need, while everyone else can consult the bomb manual directly from the <a href="http://www.bombmanual.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official website</a>. It’s coming to both app stores and will cost $9.99.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYGTTebmOO0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<p>Not many updates making a splash this week – <em>Star Traders: Frontiers</em> has been updated again, naturally, and the various Auto Chess games have all had extra tweaks and updates, depending on your poison.</p>
<p>In other news, <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-night-of-the-full-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Night of the Full Moon</em></a> was updated to Version 2.0 this week. This is a larger update than most, and ]comes with it the inclusion of a new DLC – <em>The Red Hood</em>. NotFM is a pretty solid CCG/RPG hybrid which, while it didn’t blow us away when we first looked at it in 2017, has continued to go from strength to strength in the years since. It’s got plenty of DLC now to pick up if you’re interested, and the price for entry is currently ‘free’ on both <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1278845241" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ztgame.yyzy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>In addition to the <em>Civ 6</em> and <em>Night of the Full Moon</em> promotions mentioned above, there are a couple of sales that might be of interest this week:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/tides-of-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Tides of Time</em></a> (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1437742131" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.portalgames.tidesoftime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>), which is a fun and quick 2 player card drafting game, is currently $0.99 – it’s first price-drop since launch.</li>
<li>Tactical RPG <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-avadon-3-the-warborn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Avadon 3: The Warborn</em></a> is down to half price again this week, only the second time this year.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you like? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>