allgeektout

You thought I was done with the Chrononauts fun? There’s still one more expansion pack to talk about – The Lost Identities. This $2.99 set includes 15 new cards to add to the game. There are 13 identities, one card summarizing how to use the expansion pack, and most surprisingly (to me) – a new mission.

This is a much stronger expansion pack than The Gore Years. For one thing, the identities are much more tightly integrated with the timeline (the original timeline, that is; this was released before The Gore Years). They’re all roughly on the same level as the original identities, which makes the playing field equal (there are two exceptions, but I’ll get to them later). So instead of tacking on something to the game, this actually feels like it could have been part of the original release.

Some of the cards also add an additional layer of depth to the game. Two identities both have ways of getting home that stand out from the rest, without throwing it off balance. One of them relies on a nexus point, one point in the timeline that has multiple patches, and he can get home with most of the different variations. The other, though, is the most interesting. “Crazy Joe” can get home in one way, and one way only – by creating 13 paradoxes, which in most games causes everyone to lose. I wonder if it isn’t a bit too difficult, because in all the games of Solonauts and Chrononauts I’ve played, I’ve never had to worry about avoiding paradoxes.

Then, like I mentioned, there’s also a mission. This made me happy, because I can use it in Artifaxx, my favorite game mode. Like the two identities, this changes the rules a little bit. Instead of trying to collect a specific set of artifacts, you simply want to collect the most out of everyone (there is a minimum you have to collect). Once again, it works without changing any of the rules in the game, which makes it a great addition.

The fact that Looney Labs proves with this expansion that they can make an expansion pack that works so well with the original makes me go back and wonder about my initial judgement of The Gore Years. At the very least, if I can recommend that expansion, then I have to convince you that this is worth the $3 it costs. If you have (and enjoy) Chrononauts, go out and get this expansion pack right now!