The Odyssey is a classic Greek epic, written by Homer, which describes the adventure of Odysseus after the Trojan War. After the Greek victory at Troy, where he fought side by side with heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus tries to return to his homeland of Ithaca, but misfortune causes him to stray off course because of Poseidon. He comes face to face with a malevolent cyclops, Polyphemus. Our traveler kills the cyclops, but arrogantly proclaims his own name, prompting the cyclops’s father, Poseidon—the god of the sea—to swear revenge on Odysseus. For ten years, Odysseus is doomed to wander and travel; along the way, he encounters all sorts of obstacles and mythical creatures, such as the enchantress Circe, the lotus-eaters with their irresistible food, and the seductive Sirens. After a long and perilous journey full of cunning and perseverance, he finally arrives home, where he is reunited with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus in Ithaca. Odysseus is also the namesake of a long journey full of adventures: an odyssey.
Recently, Odysseus has made a comeback. A new instalment in the series of books about Greek mythology and antiquity by Stephen Fry has been released, and soon a film adaptation of this epic tale, directed by Christopher Nolan, will appear. The Roman equivalent of Odysseus is Ulysses, who is also the main character in part two of Micro Hero.
Previously, Hercules appeared in this series—a deck builder for the solo player in which Hercules tries to tackle 12 tasks. With distinctive artwork (hand puppets), players take on those 12 tasks. It’s a challenging little game in a small package. The best part: this publisher always gives players the option to buy games at a price they decide themselves.
In Micro Hero Ulysses, players step into the shoes of Odysseus or another hero from Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey. As Odysseus feels like a marionet in his own story, the artwork is very suiting. Players must confront Poseidon and plot the right course home. Along the way, they encounter challenges to overcome and risk incurring Poseidon’s wrath.
How do players chart a course? By carefully observing the stars and assembling the best combination of constellation cards. Players build a hand and compare it at the end of a round to Poseidon’s hand. Both hands are made up of cards laid out on the table. Most cards are face down at the start, but as the player picks up cards, some are revealed. When a player has a hand of five cards, they compare it to Poseidon’s. Poseidon usually has cards to his left or right, and depending on how Poseidon feels, the sides are combined with cards still face up on the table. Players must therefore create the best combination, while ensuring that Poseidon does not receive a brilliant hand. However, Poseidon is a sensitive fellow, and certain actions cause him to become angry, possibly moving himself, which can lead to defeat. If you complete the journey, you win.
Micro Hero Ulysses, like Hercules, is fantastically designed and delivers a deep, complex experience in a very small package. The interesting and intense gameplay creates a true odyssey.
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