Do
you ever wish chess was a card game? Because if you did then you may be in luck
with The Battle for Sector 219. Unlike other collective card games (CCG) this
game isn’t about comparing stats or reading effects, instead the most important
aspect of the Battle for Sector 219 is placement. Players need to consider
where they put each and every card in their deck if they want to win. This
means that the old saying “easy to learn, difficult to master” is
true here. 

Frustratingly
the developer chose to forgo a tutorial, instead the game lists all the rules
in a digital manual. A tutorial would be preferable as it allows players to
make sure they have gotten to grips with each aspect of the game as it is presented
to them. To be fair to the developer the digital manual is presented well enough
to avoid it being an info dump. 

In
terms of features the game might feel a bit sparse, but at £4.99 it is priced
to reflect this. The main options on offer are to play against the computer or
another player. Matches can be live or asynchronous.  The game is cheap, easy to pick up and offers
the ability to play games that suit your schedule. Ironically however, if you and
your friends are already able to get together to play the physical card game then
this version actually isn’t for you. Playing The Battle for Sector 219 won’t offer
you anything in terms of pure mechanics that you couldn’t get by playing the game
with the physical cards. 

What
this game excels at is giving more chances to play to players who are unable to
find the time to meet in person or don’t live close to the people whom they
like to play games like this with. We know that a lot of gamers are struggling
to fit gaming nights into their schedules as we move on from move on from
university, deal with work obligations, or new found family commitments. It is
good to have a game that you can make work around your schedule without
worry. 

The
Battle for Sector 219 is both a good entry to CCG for those who want to try
them out and a good way for those who want to get back into them to do so. If
you already own the physical game there might not be much here for you but if
you don’t you should give it a try.

THE BATTLE FOR SECTOR 219 / DEVELOPER:
LARGE VISABLE MACHINE / PUBLISHER: YOUR MOVE GAMES / PLATFORM: PC / RELEASE
DATE: OUT NOW