BDS' Totally Unbiasesd Thoughts on 2121 (Spoilers)

[BDS]

Tag Teams - I'm a big mark for tag team wrestling - both real and in the COTG universe - so when Osk told me that this was going to be a big tag team set, I marked out. When I actually saw the set and the teams, though, my jaw dropped. This set gives the aCe tag scene a much needed infusion of life, and as far as I'm concerned makes it the strongest one in the COTG Universe right now.

The Story - I love what he did with Nicodemus and Ventross. Not only the side of the "line" that each of them ended up on, but the scale that he did it with. I was shocked when I first learned about the story. I kind of expected Nicky to turn, but did he ever turn.

The Others - The way they flow in and out of a match together with all of those double-team moves is great. Never once in playtesting did I have one of them tag out on offense, because there's really no need, and they still tag out as frequently as any other team does. The Duality mechanic is awesome!

Gabriel - He really, really helps out Exodus. I think that the two of them together, considering the final version of Gabe, might even be better than the Others. They're certainly a match for them, though. Gabe's art is my all-time favorite COTG art.

Hellraisers - I love the team. They're more of the two good singles guys thrown together type than the Others and the Archangels. They work really well as singles guys, too, so they're going to be real versatile. Love the art on Nightmare.

Shock Syndicate - Flatliner rots through his armor and Holocaust gets blown up and reassembled in evil fashion. If they hit their finishers on the same guy, they incapacitate him. What's not to like?

Aspin SE - Neat little tweak for a cool character. It's going to be fun watching him get better and better as time goes on.

Rotwurm - I actually kind of expected ol' zombie Rouser, but I was happy with the execution. His finisher mechanic is SICK.

PainMaster - I like the update. He got a lot weaker in singles action, but he's refocused himself as a tag wrestler and a faction leader. Plus he put on a few pounds, which is something I can totally respect.

Warfare - I LOVE this update. How freaking awesome is he? I love how he absolutely destroys some guys (specifically those who aren't either faster or stronger than he is), but has a lot of trouble with others. NuBorn makes for a fun, risky tag team with this update, although it's a shame they're kind of overmatched against the Others.

Mr. Bloat - Neat character, cool stats, and icky, disturbing art. My favorite part is the name, though.

Esperanto - I love everything about Espo. I love the art, I love the story, I love his theme, and I love his stats. Hair of the Dog is my favorite new mechanic in the set. Espo probably be my favorite COTG character if it wasn't for ...

Lance At-Las - Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. Maybe my boy can actually hang with Godsend now for reasons other than his blind, inexplicable luck. Lance FTW

[GalactiKing]

Well if I wasn't already looking for ways to order sooner...BDS is makingme want to do it as fast as possible. Thanks for the very interesting review.

[crimsoncross]

cotgonline is a work in progress, and we all who use it can help the staff at cotgonline as I have with info on whats good and bad. In the end this new venture really ROCK! and I can't wait for he GAME TABLE! Great Work guys!

[Chewey]

I printed out the booklet today, and after reading through it, I had to think wow, this story is really heating up.

I have to admit that with the first aCe set, I was a little soured by how a four-way galactic battle could be decided in a wrestling ring where the "essence" was contained in championship belts, but if you have suspended your disbelief for this long, things are finally starting to come together.

Tabula Rasa just sounds like a demented concept by a disillusioned idealist. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that Godsend would turn on Murdok and then still fight on the same side as him, but I guess their alliance is shaky at best - and if Murdok ever finds out the truth about who destroyed his palace, what would hold the Black Gathering together then? Also, the part about how Odyssey and Omni are from two versions of the future in which one of them will ultimately fade out of existence depending on which version of the future holds true - love the concept, very unique and interesting.

I'm sorry to see some of the characters die, but hey, every war has casualties and this one is no exception. See, my bootleg fed is not the only fed in the galaxy that kills off people in an effort to keep the roster size at a manageable level.

I haven't started playing these cards much, so I'm not very familiar with the gameplay, but I am a fan of the tag teams as well. Maybe because I always thought of aCe as a gang battle/war in the ring type of fed so I always thought that six- and eight-man tag matches should be the norm.

My only complaint was that it was very hard for me to keep track of the new names of stables and tag teams, and there wasn't a clear, definitive chart outlining the different sides as there was in the last two booklets.

[Aquinas]

That's an awesome writeup, man.

[krisosk]

First off, excellent review BDS! Not just because it's about my stuff either.


Troy: You must get your hands on this set asap! Then let us know what you think.


CC: Thanks for the support!

aaron168 said:

My only complaint was that it was very hard for me to keep track of the new names of stables and tag teams, and there wasn't a clear, definitive chart outlining the different sides as there was in the last two booklets.

This made me think...I'm now putting together that very list. I'll ask BDS to get it posted up in the download section as soon as he can. Oh, glad you liked that bit about the Others, Chewey. I see them as always acting solemn and almost sad based on the thought that either (or both?) of them can simply be 'erased from existance' at any time.


Aquinas: Word.


~ :-Xsk

[rock]

one of these days (when money comes back to me) I'll definitely be getting this set and the Online game. Man, I wish my money wasn't so tight right now so I could look at it all. *kicks self in the butt*

Good review, makes me really want to check it out.

Oh, and no zombie Dreadnaught? heehee

[GalactiKing]

Now now...let's not focus on the only disappointment in the set. Well as of today, I shall be ordering the game.....it shall be mine soon.

[jefft]

bigdaddyswank said:

Tag Teams - I'm a big mark for tag team wrestling - both real and in the COTG universe - so when Osk told me that this was going to be a big tag team set, I marked out. When I actually saw the set and the teams, though, my jaw dropped. This set gives the aCe tag scene a much needed infusion of life, and as far as I'm concerned makes it the strongest one in the COTG Universe right now.

This is actually an interesting thought that hadn't occurred to me. The GWF has always been top dog talent-wise. The aCe guys might pee their pants if they had to step in the ring with Endgame, Monolith, and Disaster on a regular basis. However, the aCe now has the Archangels, the Hellraisers, and the Others - the only GWF team that truly matches up with these guys is DWF. The Master Race is still a notch below, I think.

[BDS]

I think that the Master Race could probably match up with the Archangels and the Hellraisers, especially given the Dark Menace at ringside, but the Others are a step above all of those teams. They're just sick.

[GrumpyBigBee]

Its too bad I cant purchase the set or just the PDFs at like $5 or a discount (beacuse Id have to print them myself) But I would love to use them...

Would love to get them but not ready to order COTGONLINE yet or if I will... not online as much as you would think. I like games that I am not forced to play over the internet.

[jefft]

bigdaddyswank said:

I think that the Master Race could probably match up with the Archangels and the Hellraisers, especially given the Dark Menace at ringside, but the Others are a step above all of those teams. They're just sick.

Yeah, when in duality they might be one of the best ever behind only Thunder/Overkill & Massacre/Brute.

[rock]

well, only time will tell if the Others will match up to the likes of Thunder/Overkill & Massacre/Brute, two of probably the best tag teams in the history of the game, and well, the Master Race is good, but I doubt they'll be in the same class as the Gladiators over all. Interesting the Others will be included in the list, should be fun to see how they play out.

[BDS]

The only real weakness that I see with the Others is their reliance on Duality to be great. They've got to get beat up to get put away, and despite pretty low pin ratings, a team with a big finisher or two in their arsenal can hit them with the knockout blow before they have a chance to get into Duality. Once they're in Duality, though, they're just ridiculous.

[Eliath]

For whatever reason I am just not feeling The Others right now..can't figure out why.

[GalactiKing]

I'm just patiently waiting for my access to it so I can see them myselves.