Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene Takes a Bite Out of Cardboard
February 1, 2019Let’s face it: usually, boardgames that are based on movies or TV shows just aren’t that good (with the notable exception of basically everything produced by Gale Force Nine.)
So Mondo, in their second boardgame effort after The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31, have a difficult job ahead.
First, they need to make an awesome game.
Second, they need to convince people that games based on movies and TV shows don’t suck.
Based on the first look we got at Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene at San Diego Comic Con, it looks like they may have done both; although the former can only be confirmed with an actual playthrough, but based on the description, it sounds like they’ve developed a very appealing concept.
The game is asymmetrical and a player’s experience will differ, depending on which faction they play, because each faction has its own unique goals and abilities.
The survivor’s goal is…well, to survive, In-Gen employees are seeking to get the park back up and running, the Raptors use stealth and tactics to their advantage, and T-Rex is a pure tank that is looking for a good meal.
The game plays out over a series of scenarios (sounding very similar to the system used in Firefly by our friends at Gale Force Nine), which vary in length. 12 scenarios will come with the base box, with the potential for more (we assume) to be added if the base box is a success.
Some scenarios are tutorial based to explore the depth of the rules, and include one for each faction, with a focus on that faction.
“We love movies,” said designer Luke Byers in an interview at San Diego Comic Con. “And Jurassic Park is one I keep going back to; nobody’s done the obsessively deep dive into the world yet, [which is where Mondo comes in.]”
Upon seeing the Mondo display, one attendee remarked, “[Jurassic Park] fans are going to be happy.”
The release date for Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene hasn’t yet been announced, but keep your eyes peeled on this space as we hope to have more information as soon as it’s available!
Thanks to Luke Byers for taking the time to chat with me at San Diego Comic Con
