Monday, 29 November 2021

Quick Review: The Hero Quest Collection

So I pre-ordered this like, last year I think and it was meant to come out mid this year, but was delayed due to a plastics issue I believe. Finally got it late last week, so what did $300 AU got me?


So straight off the bat, it was more then I though it was. The game itself is mostly the same as it was back in the late 80's/early 90's, with some changes. Some models have been renamed or replaced entirely, most likely due to Games-Workshop and their aggressive trademark control. So things like Chaos Warrior are now Dread Warrior and Fimir replaced as Abomination. A number of designs have also changed a bit, with the Gargoyle changing to a more generic demon look as the original was more akin to GW's Bloodthurster.

Then we have the issue with the main characters. Changing the skin colour of the Dwarf I can understand, but the Elf becoming female is a little more confusing. My general opinion would be to supply both a male and female version of each character for more variety. In fact, if you got the collection box that I did, then that's exactly what you got. Why did they not include it in the main game is beyond me, though that said, my female barbarian did not fair well with my order. Heck, it looks like they even tried to super glue her together badly before shoving her back in.

Poor pic, but bent sword, arm not connected and white glue stains around that area

While I don't have my original game manual on me (it and most of the original game is in a box some where), it does look like it is a similar game format with one player being a Dungeon Master and up to four player heroically entering to battle evil. Don't hold me to that though, I'd suggest looking and some other more in-depth reviews for that. However, all the original cardboard furniture and doors are now all resin, so that's a bonus over the original.

Also with this game came the two re-masted expansions (I never got the original ones back then), but also an extras box. This kit came with three more campaigns, a couple of new monsters and a few more hero options: Male Orc Bard, a female Warlock (counts as wizard hero for weapon, artifacts and equipment), a Wizard option who is a Zargon model (the main bad guy), a female Durid, gender swaps for the main four heroes and a final hero model which there is no info on the set for. From what I've gathered, these were all part of the add-on tier list that was unlocked through extra funding (think kickstarter), but still no info on the hero guy holding a torch.

While I am disappointed over the busted Barbarian model I was sent, the rest of the game looks good. It certainly was a major nostalgia trip for me as the Original HeroQuest game was my first ever miniature game and it was ultimately what drove me to miniature wargamming in my latter teenage years, so to see it return once more is a real pleasure to see. Can't wait to see people play this one.

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