Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto Review - Experience the story-driven game in the first Saga expansion
Embark on an adventure to unravel the mysteries of the galaxy!
This expansion, which uncovers the true identity of the mysterious celestial body "Shy Pluto," significantly expands the appeal of Space Base with an innovative incremental content system.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal and things to be aware of about this much-talked-about expansion, along with the voices of actual players.
Game Basics
This is the first expansion for Space Base, an innovative expansion set that uses the Saga system.
Number of players, time, and target age
- Players: 2-5 (Community recommended: 2-5, Best: 4)
- Playtime: 30-75 minutes (highly dependent on number of players)
- Ages: 14 and up
- Complexity: 2.07/5 (BGG rating)
Core Game Mechanics
Space Base is a dice game in which players draft spaceships to their space bases.
This expansion uses a " Saga Expansion " system that gradually introduces new content through a narrative structure.
The basic game flow is the same as the traditional Space Base game, with each turn, regardless of whose turn it is, players earn rewards from their own Space Base.
However, what's innovative about this expansion is that you progress through the story by flipping over story cards one by one, gradually adding new components and mechanics .
Required basic set
This expansion requires the Space Base base game.
Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto
Its greatest features are its innovative saga system and captivating story experience.
1. Innovative "Saga Expansion" system
The biggest draw is the gradual experience of new cards and a variety of new card abilities.
By adding only one new mechanic at a time and gradually introducing new content, players can learn new things without feeling overwhelmed.
Many other card game expansions mix everything up, so you might play a game or two without seeing any new content.
In contrast, this expansion uses a system that ensures new cards will be introduced into play when first introduced .
2. A compelling story experience
The story revolves around a mysterious celestial body called "Shy Pluto" that suddenly appeared in the galaxy, and has been praised for its solid content, with the elements added to the game being well-suited to the story.
Players unravel the mystery step by step through 13 story cards .
You can enjoy dynamic progression, with each scenario taking multiple games to complete and multiple scenarios progressing through a single game.
3. Abundant new elements and mechanics
The expansion includes the following innovations:
New Icons and Mechanics
- Lightning Bolt Icon: Add a Charge Cube to any other card when the card is activated
- White D6 die: Consume a charge cube to activate, only the active player gets resources
- Diagonal arrows: Get the opposite type of reward in the adjacent slot
Patrol Ship System
Boss battles unlock patrol ships and related cards, which act as new resources.
Used to purchase purple dice, " Shy Plutonium Cubes ".
4. Superior component quality
The quality of the components is excellent and matches the base game perfectly.
There are plenty of thoughtful warning cards included to make sure you don't add anything to the game before the right time.
The two sealed mystery boxes also create a sense of excitement when you open them.
5. Long-term scalability
After the campaign is complete, most of the new content will be integrated with the core set to provide a new Space Base experience.
Additionally, all cards are labeled and numbered to identify them as expansions, making them easy to reassemble if you later remove the expansion or play multiple times.
Concerns and solutions
There are a few things to be aware of, and there are solutions for each.
1. Increased luck factor
Issue: The Miners of Shy Pluto module adds an element of chance to an already chance-heavy game.
Each die has a bonus on only one side, making it highly random.
Solution: If you don't want to introduce more randomness, there are other fun cards that give you more control over the rewards and effects.
Adapt your strategy to suit your playstyle.
2. Card visibility
Issues: The numbers on the cards are very small and the back of the Shy Pluto card does not match the original card back exactly.
Solution: As long as you keep the Discovery Deck in order, there's no need to refer to the numbers, so this won't cause any major problems during normal play.
3. Differences in experience depending on the number of players
Issue: The number of players has a big impact on how quickly content is unlocked, and the balance is very different between a 2-player game and a 5-player game.
Solution: Play with around 4 players whenever possible to get the best experience with the community-recommended best player count.
4. Modularity Limitations
Problem: Although it's called a "module," there's no way to use just that module.
Solution: This can be fixed by manually removing the cards that generate the patrol ships, but reviewers have pointed out that this is an option that should have been included in the design.
Consider adjusting it to use only some of the elements depending on your group's preferences.
Recommended for these people and occasions
It can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from Space Base enthusiasts to gamers who value storytelling.
Recommended player type
Space Base enthusiast
I highly recommend this story-based expansion to anyone who owns and enjoys Space Base.
Even if you only play it once and remove everything at the end, it's still worth it for the experience of playing through the campaign .
Story-driven gamers
This is especially recommended for those who enjoy unlocking content and games that include campaigns or ongoing story-based scenarios.
Beginner-friendly design
It adds enough interesting new mechanics that it doesn't completely change the game mechanics, but it does make it feel fresh.
It is also suitable for beginners to intermediate players who are familiar with the basic game.
Best play scene
Continuous gaming
There is no need to continue playing with the same group, so you can rest assured even if the members of your game party change.
Joiners can simply read story cards they missed and learn about mechanics unlocked between games.
Family board game time
The system keeps all players involved, no matter who's turn it is, making for hours of family fun with little downtime.
Expected effects
A step-by-step learning experience
It's a great way to add new content to the game, and a system that makes learning complex expansions effortless, something we'd like to see more often in the future .
Improve your long-term gaming experience
There's a very good chance you'll want to add at least some Shy Pluto to your own games, so you'll see long-term value in your investment.
Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto is an innovative expansion that stands out as a largely fantastic addition to a great game .
The gradual content introduction system and engaging story experience make this a must-play for Space Base fans.
Although there are some concerns, such as the increased element of luck, this is an excellent expansion that offers more appeal and long-term value than that.
Check the product on the online store page
Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.
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