Inquest Magazine
August 1998

Xena: Warrior Princess
Over the past few years, the beautiful but deadly warrior princess Xena has gained fame and acclaim as the star of her own...collectible card game? Yes, the mightiest heroine of the ancient world has become the latest entry into the rapidly growing fray of licensed CCG's, courtesy of Wizards of the Coast.

The newest release to utilize the ARC gameplay system, the game ofers new and inexperienced gamers a taste of what the card game world has to offer without drowning them in the daunting errata of Magic: The Gathering. Under this system, players use 40-card decks which are limited to three colors, and instead of draining life points, need only concentrate on running their opponents out of cards.

There are a few innovations here worth noting: character cards have all been designated as "good" or "evil", while larger characters have been tagged "Fearsome", meaning they are unblockable to a degree. These characteristics allow for a greater level of theme deck construction than would otherwise be available. Alas, the "good" and "evil" designations have no effect on actual game play, a regrettable failing given that a major theme of the show is Xena's redemption from a dark past.

The game does effectively captures (sic) the swashbuckling spirit of the television series though. Packed with more swordsmen, lizard warriors and legbreakers than you can shake a longsword at, all the cards feature pictures and text from the show. Naturally the main characters of the show, Xena, Gabrielle - and even Argo - are present, and each possesses a unique ability that makes her an asset to gameplay. Fans will also be happy to note that the campy humor of the show is well represented; after all, when your opponent throws an Overprotective Father at you, what choice do you have but to hit him with a Frying Pan Assault?

Overall, Xena: Warrior Princess is a great deal of fun for gaming newbies, and thanks to the game mechanics, is extremely easy to learn. While this will be advantageous in tapping into the legion of Xena fans who'll no doubt pick up the cards without having any gaming knowledge, the lack of complexity will likely leave experienced gamers scrambling for their Magic decks. However, the versatility to mix cards from all ARC games will certainly provide some unique gaming scenarios, expecially with the Hercules game on the horizon. Battle on, Xena!