I'm a huge fan of super heroes in a less than spandex setting (Heroes, 4400, and others in that vein). That is where Mutant City Blues falls into supers role-playing. Players take on characters who have some serious edges over normals, but not to the godlike stature of the JLA or Avengers.
Wins for this game:
- excellent details (powers have to follow a "logical" progression through a charting system). This chart works great as an investigating tool within the game.
- excellent writing. I love the setting and what characterization is given to it. I would have liked a bit more padding to the setting, but I suppose it's best left up to the individual game masters.
- solid system. It takes getting used to, but this game engine works tremendously well for detective style gaming.
Needs work?
- The art is sporadic and not consistently great throughout the book.
- supplements. This game doesn't have the love that Trail of Cthulhu has so there is little in the way of support for the lazy GM.
Overall, I think this is a much stronger RPG for playing super heroes rather than Smallville or the 2012 Marvel Super Heroes. It offers a fresh world without 50 years of backstory to contend with.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |