BRAWL

"BRAWL is a real-rime card game about quick reflexes and quick thinking, played with different character decks. Each deck represents all the tricks, strengths, and flaws of one character, and each character needs one deck to play."

The above paragraph is the introduction to the game itself, but it doesn't prepare you for the wild fun you will have when playing round upon round of BRAWL, so let's dig a little deeper into the game itself, allright?

More Than One Way To Start A BRAWL

BRAWL has two modes of play--the Training Mode and the Tournament Mode. The Training Mode is turn-based--each player takes a turn to play a card--and this mode is good for teaching those young punks how to handle the beatings they will be inflicted with. Tournament Mode is a no-holds-barred brawl, because it happens in real time. There are no turns in this mode, so don't wait for your opponent to give you a turn to play your card--you play that card! Needless to say, this mode is fast and furious--games take usually less than a minute to play.

It's All In The Fists

OK, every deck has a assortment of cards that is unique to their personality. Your deck may not have some cards, but it's always a Good Thing to learn what they do when your opponent smacks down one of them, and that will happen. Count on it.

Base cards have a portrait of your character. There can be no more than three Bases on the table--which means there is no playing a fourth Base, got it?

Hit cards are the most common of BRAWL cards. They come in three colors: Green, Blue, and Red. The number of Hits on a Base will decide who wins.

Hit-2 cards count as two Hits, but you can only play them on a Hit or Hit-2 of the same color--you can't start out by playing a Hit-2 on a Base or a Press.

Block cards have the same colors as Hit cards: Green, Blue, and Red. You can only play Block cards on a Hit of the same color. Once played, you won't be able to play any more Hits on that Base. Tough luck, rookie.

Press cards are anti-blocks (had you scared for a minute, didn't I?). You play them on a Block card of any color, then you can continue to play more Hits on that Press.

Clear cards removes a Base and everything that was played on it, sweeping the cards aside so as to leave room for a new Base to be played.

Freeze cards are the last to be played in your deck. Once played directly on a Base card, it's Game Over for that Base--you can't play any more cards on it!

You comprehend now? Great! Let's get into the action, pardner!

It's All In The Dealing

Both you and your opponent will have one of your Base cards on the table. During the Training Mode, there are two rules during your turn:

1) Deal a card from your deck, and either play that card, or send it to the Discard Pile.

2) Play the top card of your Discard Pile

Easy, yes? The game is over when every Base in play is frozen by a Freeze card, and then you tally up the score by counting the number of Hit cards on both ends of every Base. The winner is the player who has the most Hits on their end of the Base.

Now for the real fun! In Tournament Mode, you have the above-mentioned rules, except there are no turns (remember?). You brawlers can go as fast or as slow as you like, and you also have a third rule:

3) Pick up a card from the Discard Pile, and set it back down

This rule comes into affect when you were about to make a move that's suddenly no longer possible. Hey, it happens!

Fighting Against Impossible Odds

So, you wanna fight more than one opponent, eh? Geez, you got some big cojones! It's simple Players sit in a circle, and you start the game with a pair of Bases between each pair of neighbors. All the rules apply, and you fight to your immediate right and left. If there's a tie, then the tied players duke it out in another game--don't worry, the game is fast, so you won't feel left out for long.

Stuff You Might Want To Know, But Hope It Never Happens To You

What happens when you make an illegal move? Well, it might not be your fault, as the game is fast, so mistakes can be made in the heat of play. Just pick up the card responsible, and try to continue the Brawling. If this can't happen, just forfeit--nothing sadder than someone trying to correct a mistake that just can't be fixed.

You can also play cards on your opponent's side of the Base. Why the heck would you want to do that? Well, if you play a Green Hit on his side, and he doesn't have any Green Hits in his Deck, can you say "Screwed"?

There's other strategies, but you can figure them out on your own.

The Verdict:

Some decks play better than others, but that just makes you try to be a better player. If you're up to the challenge, and you got some spare time (those who don't, should try and reevaluate their lives, because if they're too busy for a game that end in less than a minute...)--then get some decks, and Brawl with your friends. You'll love it.

Sure, on the surface, it looks pricey--$6.95 for a 35 card deck--but you have to take into account that it's in full color, with some really good comic book style art!

You have to think fast, time is against you, if you hestitate, your opponent could clear that Base with all your Hits on it. At least you get a nice adrenaline rush while you play!

Gotta go, my friend just tossed a BRAWL deck my way, and he needs to be smacked down a peg or two. See ya!