Hair Brained Games Review - Downfall Conquest of the Third Reich (GMT)
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- čas přidán 27. 10. 2023
- NOTE: Heads up for viewers, A viewer comment (removed for containing standards violations) noted that in a couple places in the video I juxtapose the world 'American' where 'Allies' or 'Western' forces in their entirety is the more apropos designation in that regard. The video will be updated to include post-process annotations where applicable.
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A sweeping epic World War II wargame for two players? Downfall pits Western against Soviet in this game where each player controls both an Allied and Axis power as they vie for control and position by the end of the war.
Thank you for your kind words about Chad's game! We worked on this for about ten years before he fell ill and I was blessed to get John to finish it up for us. It was a tremendous amount of work for both of them and I believe those efforts paid off. ~ Kai
Thank you Kai! What a gift this game is, I can't even fathom the work it took over the years. Blessings to you.
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reviews. Good work.
Well, thank you! That's very kind! :)
Thank you for covering this game; it looks great !
I set this bad boy up and was amazed as well. This game looks damn good. Thanks for filling in the high level overview to get me past set up! Now I just have to find someone to take the plunge with me!
Woot! Yes! I hope you find another humanoid to join you! I'm just amazed how Chad can take tried and true ideas and meld them in ways that simplify the game without reducing it too much. I really hope GMT or someone with the skills can put out a solid playthrough/tutorial for people.
Enjoy! If you get a great session going, I wanna hear the details. :)
“Second table game”
Very apt phrase that makes sense for us wargamers. Thanks for the detailed review sir
Gladly! I'm literally contemplating a *third* table after this Christmas crop of games I got. LOL.
Great video - fast and packed with info! (But I think that order chits are moved DOWN to fill the blank space on the orders track when you play one, and the new one is placed at the top!)
Ah, yeah, I think you're right. Sorry for delayed response, thanks for watching it and noticing that. :)
Standing ovation, sir 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 for your final thoughts. This is the first time I watch a review of yours. Two immediate consequences: 1) subscribed to your channel. 2) ordered the game. Deep analysis and great sense of humor.
Well, thank you! That's very kind of you to say. I enjoy this channel and the people I interact with. I'm very glad to start seeing some of the bigger reviewers putting up playthroughs and reviews, too. This is such a gem, and it gets better and better with every playthrough.
Anyway, thank you!
Looks like an interesting mix of wargame and eurogame. I like the mechanics with initiative, events, weather etc.
Good that it has shorter scenarios too, looks like one need to step into the full lenght game (or play solo forever...)
You've got the gist of it, yes! It's really absorbing for such a lengthy game. The shorter scenarios are lengthy too, but still satisfying (not just training scenarios). I still have it on a second table and play through it over time.
Excellent review. Can't wait to get my copy. I hope it solos well.
Thanks! I hope your copy arrives soon. As far as solo'ing, whil there's not a true solo mode (Chad wasn't terribly interested in solo modes, I hear), I've thoroughly enjoyed playing it solo. I mean, you're already kind of "playing other sides" by trying to spoil your opponents plans (soviets or western) with axis units, so it's not too far a stretch.
The only thing about solo that's tricky is the cardplay, which does require "opportunistic amnesia" to not remember the cards when taking on the role of four different factions. But honestly its so good as just a simulation that I'm fine with just pretending I don't know what cards are what. With my short attention span, it's remarkably easy. LOL.
Thanks!
@@hairbrainedgames3127 I find that, the older I get, "opportunistic amnesia" becomes less and less of a problem.
Good job, Im loving it too!
Awesome!
By the way, I LOVE your sense of humor!
Thank you! Now if only my wife would agree. After decades with me, the most I can hope for when attempting humor to her is a patronizing half smile. LOL.
I got this for Christmas and we start the campaign today. I am Soviet and OKW. I am thinking of using Operation Uranius to attack the Romainian/German garrision with the elite and the other mech south of there. Advance with the elite. Leave the other in place so I don't get surrounded. Then with Stalingrad surrounded with Zoc attack with HQ card I think keeping it snow for armour bonus and hopefully 6th army goes away. I like how units are removed from the game. Chad sure made a great game here. I miss him alot. I was a playtester/proof reader and a friend. We played many hours of his games testing them and enjoying them. He even gave me a counter in Combat Commander as the American battlefield promotion. RIP Chad.
Your strategy sounds pretty well thought out, indeed! I usually can think somewhat ahead, but not the best at the higher level long term planning. I got a (not kidding) third table for Christmas as a gift, so I can set this up and have it up all year round. :)
Thanks for sharing your memories of Chad, too. Man, what a loss. :(. You have your own counter, too? How many people can say that! Awesome.
Thanks for the comment (and other one on the setup issue).
Just saw this and good timing because of GMT sale! Think I will get it ! Really nice review....appreciate your this excellent video review!
Well, thank you! I'm glad you snagged it on sale! SO worth the money at full price, let alone the discount. Did you get any other cool stuff from the sale? I snagged counter trays, boring but I definitely get use from them.
Was just looking at Joel Toppen’s posts over on FB, asked him about Solitaire play. I searched for a review of this game and lo and behold, you had done one. Most excellent. I had a chance to pick this up at GMT West Weekend (And British Way) and foolishly did not. Brit Way sold out 1st day of sale!! And so did Pericles. I wanted both. Now I’m getting SpaceCorp and it’s expansion Ventures. My local friend got Downfall at GMT west, so I’ll play his copy.
I saw your reply about solitaire play. Thanks for the detailed explanation, because that’s what I asked Joel essentially.
Great review, Tim
Hey Tom! Long time no see! How's life? How's coaching?
I'm glad the review was tehre for ya, I suspect given how great this game is that there'll be a LOT of solid reviews coming out for it.
I am bummed that they sold out before you got a chance to snag it (and The British Way. That one's a great intro to COIN, a veritable Chartuterie board of small scoped COIN games in one!) :)
SpaceCorp is GLORIOUS. Do tell when you get it what you think.
Yeah, I love this game solitaire, it's immersive enough that I don't mind playing all sides. Heck, the fact that you're *already* playing two sides (a western/okh or soviet/okw) already lends well to it. :)
Till later!
Also, if you're still interested, Miniature Market has Downfall for around $40. Maybe not quite P500 sale prices, but insanely good value for this gem.
@@hairbrainedgames3127 - Wow cool Tim, thanks for the heads up! Downfall is not sold out (yet) B Way and Pericles is. I was probably unclear, lol. My Friend took home Downfall, I’ll just play his copy. And yes I did order SpaceCorp and Ventures add on today! Sounds like you played it? When I searched for reviews, etc… nothing came up under your channel. YT can be very funny and selective though!
Yes I’ve been busy with family, etc. haven’t had much time or energy to play many games. I get home from work, then play Taxi Dad, cook dinner, continue Taxi service…. And all I can do is Veg out the rest of the evening, most days! Sigh….
@@TombonzoSounds crazy busy man! Stay hydrated! ;)
Super helpful! I'm playing this tomorrow and your video gave me enough of an understanding to be able to just jump into it!
Cool. Would love to hear what your thoughts are once you jump in!
We only made it through 1 turn in about 5 hours, as we were learning it as we went, but we both thought it was an outstanding game! We can't wait to play it again. Your video really helped as I had some idea how the game worked before we started playing. @@hairbrainedgames3127
You should really check your set up before starting. A lot of the Soviet units start as Mech and you had them on the infantry side. This really limits your options for the first turns.
Yeah, after one of my sessions I re-set it back up too quickly for the "example of play" and goofed on that. I'll add a caption on that part of the video to note that, thanks.
Am hoping some of the better wargame channels do some solid playthroughs (not my forte, sadly) because this game really deserves.
this game seems to offer everything I expect from a wargame but 8-12 hour sessions doesnt fit into my life anymore and of no one I'm playing with.
I think that shrinks the target audience massively. What an odd choice to make it such a behemoth.
Nod. Understand. I did get some plays of it in at a convention earlier in the year, and it was the bulk of a day of the convention to play.
I will say that I didn't really feel time pass playing it, it was very engrossing and a heck of a fun memory playing it. By contrast, we set up Tanto Monto, which also lists a similar time and it was brutal. Twelve hours in and we gave up, only a few turns in. Would never play that again without being heavily coerced to.
There's a shorter Husky scenario that is probably 2-3 hours once learned, but yeah, I haven't seen a clever way to shorten game time overall.
stick your hand behind the counter and it will focus on it.
Oh, thanks. I'll give that a try next time. Appreciate the tip.
OKW was all fronts, not only East front.