Tripwire Reviews Judge Dredd Helter Skelter Game

A Real Sense Of Dredd

Tripwire’s contributing writer Matt Zitron takes a look at Opsrey Games’ Judge Dredd: Helter Skelter game out now…

The worlds of Judge Dredd, Sláine, Strontium Dog, and Nikolai Dante will crash together on tabletops in the miniatures board game Judge Dredd: Helter Skelter from Osprey Games.  Can a fast paced tabletop game capture the feel of the 2000ad universes? Or will it be a thematic paste job on an established gaming system?  

Something in the multiverse has shattered, and now the universe is bleeding. Throughout Mega-City One there are reports of invaders wreaking havoc: Celtic barbarians in Ezquerra Block. Russian nobles in Apetown. And rumours of fragments of other universes scattered across the city, waiting to be claimed.

Based on Osprey’s established Wildlands system, the game is designed by Martin Wallace (Wildlands, Hit Z Road, AuZtralia) and is for 2 to 4 players.

I had planned to try Wildlands at some point after hearing very positive things, but once I heard this was on the horizon I decided to wait.  I love battling, and 2000ad, and hoped this would give me something akin to Streets of Rage style button basher (more than just a fighting game.)

The set-up is relatively simple.  You choose a squad, you’re dealt cards secretly which define where you spawn on the board, and where you place your crystals.  The aim of the game is to either kill enough of your competitors or collect enough of your crystals before your fellows.  It’s not an overly complex system, but that’s not a bad thing.

Movement, or attacks, is governed by cards which act like currency.  Don’t use enough, and you’re left in the dust; use too many and you’re beaten to a bloody pulp on the streets of Mega City One.

One thing I loved about the game is the speed.  It’s designed to be a quick battle game, where in a moment’s notice your carefully laid plans can go up in smoke.  As much as I love heavy games like Scythe, something simple and quick and make a game night more enjoyable.

Best of all it’s not so deep that a non-gamer couldn’t pick it up.  It’s the sort of thing you could pick up as a gift for a 2000ad fan, and they easily get into it.

Each team has different abilities that reflect their narrative, which means that while Slaine’s team have less members, he can warp in a replacement stronger version of himself.  Or Judge Anderson’s ability to dodge ranged attacks.

Talking of the differences in teams, Osprey made a brilliant choice in not going with a uniform art style for the player cards.  Apart from the stalwart and expected Brian Bolland cover, within each team is drawn by an artist from 2000ad, Rufus Dayglo, Clint Langley, Simon Fraser, Ian O’Toole and Chris Weston.

As a comics fan I love this as it manages to respect the source material, and I think along with the different powers, encourages replay.

The packaging as well is gorgeous with even the first player marker being the shield from the Judge Dredd Logo.  The miniatures themselves are gorgeous and they’ve been given an ink wash to give the effect of black and white comic art.

From what I’ve been told the differences from Wildlands are small.  Helter Skelter has unique powers on the combat cards, and the boards have less spawn spots.  The games can’t be combined, which is a shame, and I hope Osprey produce a conversion kit down the line.

The obvious complaint that fans will have is the lack of Dark Judges, ABC Warriors or Rogue Trooper.  Speaking to Osprey they’re aware of this, and if this does well enough I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an expansion down the way.

So, should you get it? 

If you’re a gamer and you don’t have this style of game, I’d say yes.  It’s light and fun and a good palate cleanser if you’ve had a big Gloomhaven session.  If you have Wildlands, and you’re not a 2000ad fan, you can probably live without.

If you’re new to gaming, or have never played anything like this before, but you love 2000ad, jump in.  It’s easy to set up, quick to learn and its perfect for an evening’s entertainment.