Philippe Keyaerts’s Small World was my favorite new game of 2009, with streamlined territorial conquest mechanics and a great mix-and-match fantasy theme. After a few expansions, Days of Wonder has released a new version of the game, Small World: Underground. Taking place in the dark subterranean realm beneath the normal Small World, Underground features the all-new races and powers that a fan of the original game might expect, as well as a couple of new twists. READ MORE
Troyes, published in the U.S. by Z-Man Games, puts players in the position of medieval French nobility over a stretch of four centuries as they attempt to complete their cathedral, despite numerous interruptions by marauders and other outside forces. By exerting influence over the military, clergy, and peasants, players try to accumulate the most fame for their family while seeking the admiration of several important characters. READ MORE
The Wii version of SEGA’s Captain America: Super Soldier is a surprisingly solid action-platformer despite its movie tie-in roots. Taking place as a sort of side mission between the events depicted in the movie, CA:SS starts off with an introductory/tutorial level on the front-lines before proceeding to the main locale, Baron Zemo’s castle. The Baron is not pleased at the fact that HYDRA has taken over his family’s estate for their research purposes, but he’s not really in a position to do anything about it other than give Cap — normally his hated enemy — some pointers about its layout via radio. READ MORE
The DS version of SEGA’s Captain America: Super Soldier feels like it was an obligatory offering rather than anything the programmers really wanted to code. For the most part a brawly platformer, CA:SS has Cap punching, shielding, and jumping his way through Baron Zemo’s castle, which has been overtaken by HYDRA to further their research. Zemo isn’t too happy about this, so he’s willing to help Cap out despite the fact that the two would normally be at odds. READ MORE
Yspahan is a great example of a solid game with a completely uninteresting theme — unless you happen to be into merchant expansion of the Persian empire at the turn of the 17th century. Sébastien Pauchon’s 2006 design (published in the US by Rio Grande/Ystari) uses dice rolling and a wide variety of choices to ensure that skill overcomes simple luck. READ MORE
