In 2012, Chip Theory games came out of the gates with a brand new gladiator title: Hoplomachus:Rise of Rome, which was closely followed by The Lost Cities and a slew of expansions to the titles that helped put Chip Theory on the map. A decade later, they reimplemented the best parts of these releases into Hoplomachus: Remastered, which combined all of them together into one new premium package that reflected how much the Chip Theory team had learned since the original games came out. I missed those games and for a long time didn’t know much ABOUT Chip Theory outside of their really cool booth at conventions, but I finally got a chance to change that.
What’s In The Box?
- Double-sided Arena Mat
- 4 Chip Trays
- 7 Hero Chips
- 70 Faction Unit Chips (10 per faction)
- 28 Faction Tactic Chips (4 per faction)
- 8 Arena Hero Chips
- 8 Shard Chips
- 8 Support Chips
- 8 Immortal Chips
- 3 Neutral Hero Chips
- 9 Titan Chips (6 Titans, 2 Ifreet Tendrils, 1 Ifreet head)
- 68 Health Chips (34 Red, 24 Blue)
- 2 Crowd Favor Beads
- 6 Titan Reference Cards
- Immortals Reference
- 3 Arena Dice
- 17 Attack Dice (4 Yellow, 4 Blue, 4 Green, 4 Black, 1 Red)
- Unit Skills Reference
- Rulebook
If, like me, this is your first time with a Chip Theory title then you’ll probably notice the rather unique production choices they make with their games. The company’s whole thing is “premium” board games which manifests itself in two ways. First and foremost are the pieces that give the company its name: the chips. Instead of tokens or meeples or minis or any other more standard marker, Chip Theory instead uses what are basically super high quality poker chips instead. They’re thick and feel great in the hand while also being just big enough to convey the right amount of information on each of them. These chips pack away quickly and easily and are a great example of how “premium” doesn’t necessarily mean “big honking thing of plastic.”
The other big “premium” aspect to Chip Theory games like Hoplomachus is the playmats. Instead of a traditional cardboard play area, they use neoprene mats — the sort you’d use for mousepads or Magic The Gathering play. Spill-resistant, easy to roll up, and super well printed, they’re a great base component that most other companies offer, at best, as deluxe edition offerings. The one drawback to this is that it does make the game a LOT heavier than you’d expect. It’s not so bad with small games like Hoplomachus but something like their Elder Scrolls title will weigh a ton.
Overall Hoplomachus: Remastered looks and feels fantastic. It doesn’t necessarily stand out in a way that will turn your head but the illustrations are amazing and the gritty-yet-mythological alternative world it creates is well realized. You can see that they put a lot of work into it which reflects at every level (including the price tag).
How’s It Play?
At the core of Hoplomachus: Remastered, it’s a straightforward skirmish game. You pick a faction and then pit your units against other players. Each unit has its own movement, attack, and range of attacks as well as often special skills that you can use strategically. Combat occurs once you get in range of another unit and is done by rolling dice, counting hits, and removing HP as needed until units are removed. You also have non-unit footholds and tactics you can apply to shape the battlefield with permanent or temporary buffs. If you’ve played something like Unmatched or D&D:Onslaught you know what’s up here.
The one really cool mechanic to the game that reflects the theme to perfection is Crowd Favor. Since this is a game all about gladiators, Hoplomachus:Remastered performing actions that get the crowd happy will make you more effective in the arena. As you earn favor and move along the track, you can activate your heroes, heal your units, gain new heroes, and more. Each of the two arenas have their own track and planning around the crowd is a key part of the game’s strategy.
The big thing to learn in Hoplomachus are the game modes, and for solo players there’s two modes you’ll be using: Onslaught and Ascension.
Onslaught
Onslaught Mode can be played solo or co-op with two players and takes place in the Pozzuoli (based on the real live Flavian Amphitheater in Naples. In this narrower arena you and sometimes a friend will be battling a rush of immortals, powerful mini-boss types that can’t be damaged directly by your units. Instead, you have to either beat their allies (already no easy task) or keep them busy enough to occupy the stones in the arena. Once you beat one Immortal, a new Immortal is deployed and it begins anew. You play until you run out of units and forfeit.
Onslaught Mode a really unique way to turn the regular skirmish combat into more of a puzzle while still retaining the sense that you’re a gladiator facing off with some exotic monster. Everyone loves a horde mode and while it’s not quite so overwhelming, you’ll still find yourself scrambling as time goes on.
Ascension
Ascension Mode takes place in the classic Roman Collosseum, a much bigger and more open field of battle than the Pozzuloi. In Ascension mode, you’re facing off against extremely powerful Titans that aren’t just from the Roman Pantheon. The Roman God Mars is joined by more global mythological characters like The Monkey King, Circe, and Scheherazade. Each of them has their own unique way to damage them, their own units, and a range of abilities meant to make your (or your co-op bud) time a nightmare. If Onslaught is a game of attrition and management, Ascension is a test of your wits. Like any good boss fight these Titans are as much puzzle as battle and you’ll have to deal with their shards and whittle them down as efficiently as possible or else you’re a goner.
The Verdict?
While Hoplomachus: Remastered isn’t a purely solo experience like its sister/spinoff Victorum, it’s still got such strong bones as a strategy game that you can enjoy the puzzles and planning on your own just as much as you can with friends. And, frankly, the premium price point (a hefty $129.95) for a game like this means that player count flexibility is a huge selling point. You’re getting a lot for what you pay for, though, thanks to perfectly crafted components, varied gameplay, and some of the best art you’ll find in any board game today. This is especially a good game for people who might feel a little burned out on games like Unmatched (which I love) since there’s more variety here while also containing a ton more depth in your movements and strategy without going full wargame.
You can grab Hoplomachus: Remastered from the Chip Theory Store.
Images and Review Copy via Chip Theory Games
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