Invasion from Outer Space

The last few nights we have given Flying Frog's newest game, Invasion from Outer Space, a try. This is the same company that makes Last Night on Earth, which is an incredible zombie vs. humans game.

With Last Night you play as a group of humans during a zombie apocalypse. It is a real screw your neighbor type of game, but it is a riot. The creators really like the zombie genre stuff and it shows in this game.

Now Invasion from Outer Space throws an alien invasion into the midst of a archetype filled circus. Wha? Yup it is pretty much side-show vs. aliens in this game.

Now it is and isn't Last Night, but it is very similar. The main game is still there; scenarios, 4 humans, aliens, cards, board with 4 L shaped corners and some minis of the heroes/aliens. The mechanics are also very similar; the fights, the shooting, movement, drawing/ playing of cards (some of the same named cards) and the turns.

Now there are several differences as  well. The aliens have guns where zombies don't. The circus folk have an agility score where the zombie survivors have none. The aliens can also build technology to help their invasion. The circus folk also have power tokens they can spend to use their "special" abilities.


A quick player overview

ALIENS
can only move one board space (unless special cards drawn)
very poor while alone, can run in pack (group of 3 in one space) marginally better then
have guns- 1 space range, hit target on D6 roll of 6, can hit on 4+ if they are in a "pack"
one hit and dead, roll 1 D6 when fighting close combat (highest roll wins)
can have 2-18 aliens on the board
have command tokens to spend every turn on tech or shenanigans
can build cool technology, but need to draw the cards to get it
have a leader and big beast ( a.k.a "Mr. Smothers" copyright Lew S.) that can bolster the invasion

CIRCUS FOLK
have multiple wounds
move D6 board spaces
have agility score (pass that when hit by alien lasers make = not wounded)
have two skills each, one requires power tokens to use
start game with 1 power token (can have max 3) and roll for another each turn
can find weapons and items to help fight/ survive
roll 2D6 in close combat

After two games, as the aliens, I found it is sort of an up hill climb for the little dome headed terrors. Their limited range guns, needing a pack of 3 for an average chance to hit, and the agility rolls that negate ranged hits make it rough for the aliens. Sure I can make cool weapons and such, but that is dependent on drawing cards. I think as we play more it will change.

The humans or Circus Folk all have their own helpful abilities: extra fight dice, healing, fire breathing, re-roll this or that. They also have the chance to dig up some great gear while searching: weapons, items and all that. The biggest help is that the weapons in this game, so far, are much more forgiving than Last Night. The guns seem to be better at the circus for some reason. In the zombie game, the guns usually run out of bullets on D6 roll of 1, 2 and sometimes 3. So far in this game it has only been on a 1. The same for the few hand-to-hand items (zombies is usually 1, 2 or 3 so far here only 1). The power tokens are also rough as they allow for all sorts of re-rolls added rolls, human cannon ball launches etc. The fact they roll every turn for a chance to get them is ok since it is a 5+, and as in 40K I have no faith in a 5+. I think the agility is their best asset as it is tied to their wounds. If you have 3 wounds then you have a 3+ agility (roll equal or above and dodge laser fire). I have had poor luck wounding with guns as even worst roll for agility is 4+.

The game plays like Last Night with scenarios and number of turns to accomplish or stop them from happening. They are fun and thematic just like the cards, characters and game bits. This company gets it. The problem is that they are much bigger zombie fans than 50's-60's sci-fi fans. Last Night is full of zombie movie imagery I love and have seen 100's of times. Invasion from Space just feels like a carnival being invaded by Tim Burton's Mars Attacks. Now this isn't awful, since that movie cracks me the hell up. Every time Carl (the circus strongman) beats down some aliens I see Jim Brown popping Martian domes with his fists. I'm just thankful there isn't a Sarah Jessica Parker head on a chihuahua anywhere in this game. I make little Martian movie noises when I move the pieces (yeah I'm a nerd and I'm that cool). Hell the occasional Invader Zim reference has flown out from Manders as well as myself, and we have only played two games. So it is fun and memorable, just not as much as the zombie version.

"Don't run! We are your friends!"

Is this game worth it? Yeah it is, especially if you're a cool nerd and get what these guys are doing and have done with this game. It is also 100% compatible with Last Night, so we look forward to zombies vs. circus or aliens vs. zombie survivors or the Royal Rumble (which I am waiting for) of zombies vs. aliens vs. humans of any sort. Yeah they wrote that into the rules and that is awesome! If you like Last Night on Earth and/or awfully awesome 50'-60' era sci-fi then drop the cash on this. You'll like it.