Thunder Alley – Review: Everything You Want in a Stock Car Racing Board Game – The News Wheel
‘Thunder Alley’ Review: Everything You Want in a Stock Car Racing Board Game
When the automobile was very first invented, it wasn’t long before people found a fresh thrilling, high-speed sport: car racing. Even for those of us who have never driven our cars above eighty mph, we still feel an adrenaline rush watching a NASCAR race on television or a local track competition in person. While many immersive movie games have been able to simulate that excitement digitally, can the appeal of real stock car racing be captured in tabletop form?
The board game market is saturated with half-hearted, NASCAR-branded titles that fail to capture the excitement of watching a real stock car race (I mean, who indeed likes answering trivia?). Gratefully, GMT Games has published a title that strives-and manages-to be the definitive NASCAR-like racing game (without the official sponsorship).
Thunder Alley Stock Car Racing Board Game Review
Artists: Rodger B. MacGowan & Kurt Miller
Box Dimensions: 8.7 x twelve x three inches
Category: Card management/board movement
How to Play
To win Thunder Alley, you don’t necessarily have to have the very first car to cross the finish line; rather, because you’re controlling 3-6 cars on the track, you need to earn the most cumulative points based on all of your cars’ ending ranks.
Each player controls a team of cars of a certain color. Each round, all cars have the chance to be activated one at a time and budge along the track. Movement is based on cards that are played; different types of movement (solo, drafting, pursuing, leading) often stir other cars nearby too, either splitting up a pack of vehicles or bringing them together.
Depending on the moves a car makes, it might receive improvised (able to be immovable by a pit stop) or permanent harm. Its speed (the spaces moved) is hindered by its total harm and, if enough is accumulated, the car can be ejected from the race.
Once all cars have been activated, an event card is drawn that affects all participants (such as debris on the track, a rain storm, or a yellow flag). Lap leaders are awarded bonus points and players are able to budge their cars to pit row. Then, forearms are refilled and the next round commences.
Unboxing & Game Components Evaluation
Thunder Alley includes:
- 84 racing cards
- 26 event cards
- 7 team tracking mats
- 178 counter tokens-cars, harm, leads, lapped, bonus points
- Two double-sided game boards
- Rules booklet
The very first thing you’ll notice about Thunder Alley, even before you open the box, is how powerful it is due to the numerous boards within it. The inclusion of two double-sided boards provides four different tracks, all uniquely shaped (as other stock car racing games are typically a elementary oval track), which is essentially like including an expansion in the base game. You certainly want to store this box on its side; the mighty boards harm the cardboard inserts over time.
The cover is fairly appealing, with blurred stock cars hurtling across the framework and the title in bold print above. It’s kinetic, colorful, detailed, and clearly advertises the type of game you’re going to play. Inwards, the box includes a ton of puny tokens to punch out, so make sure you have a duo sealable baggies on mitt (not included). The boards will need to be flattened each time you play them, as they tend to curve.
Overall, the quality of the components is astounding and live up to the price of the game.
Review of Learning Practice
The directions booklet for Thunder Alley is a hefty, detailed 16-page manual with thorough, text-based instructions and diagrams. Divided into twelve sections (with numerous sub-sections, plus card explanations and a glossary), the rules book is daunting to read and requires a thorough explore before playing Thunder Alley for the very first time. This isn’t a game you want to learn as you play, especially for the sophisticated movement system you’ll spend your time deciphering.
If possible, your very first time learning Thunder Alley should be with someone who already knows the game or who’s ready to reaction questions. In fact, you might want to observe movie tutorials online before delving into the instructions to give you a better sense of the overall game. It will take you a duo rounds before weaning yourself off the directions book.
There are some typos in the text (for example, mixing up “cars” and “cards), but they don’t get in the way of understanding gameplay, and GMT does include an errata sheet for some typos. It would be nice to include reference cards for each player noting movement types and linking (the same tables printed on the board but for each player to have their own copy).
Review of Playing Practice
Your very first practice playing Thunder Alley will consist of a lot of “Ugh, I should have…” regretted decisions, but the more times you play, the more your spectacle and enjoyment of the game will improve. That replay value sets Thunder Alley apart from the numerous other surface-level racing games that are effortless to learn but fail to challenge players. Many games simplify the track-racing elements into basic practices all ages can participate in, but Thunder Alley concentrates primarily on adults who want more out of their games.
My practice playing Thunder Alley was on the Columbus track (being an Ohio native, I love all the references to Ohio on the tracks and team cards) with four players. That seemed like the ideal number of players, however Thunder Alley can accommodate up to seven. Despite being the very first to cross the finish line, I didn’t win the game, and that made me rethink my entire strategy the next time I played. It’s not just about completing very first-you have to see other players’ cars and stir all of yours up identically.
The mechanics of Thunder Alley were appealing enough for the game to be recently re-implemented by the Horgers as a Formula One game in Grand Prix, and elements were also borrowed for their Prompt and Furious: Utter Throttle last year. And while both of those are appealing in their own ways, neither hit the taut gameplay of Thunder Alley. The fluid interplay inbetween cards and board movement-especially the interaction inbetween all cars on the track-make the numerous complicated steps in each turn sequence feel natural and necessary. You’ll be cautiously watching the board and feel like you’re always participating, even when it’s not your turn, because of how all cars are affected.
If you’ve been disappointed by all the mediocre NASCAR-branded board games released over the years and are looking for a game that truly captures the white-knuckle pressure of stock car racing, Thunder Alley produces. Of the numerous automotive racing tabletop games I’ve played over the years, Thunder Alley lightly feels the most like a NASCAR race. There’s a lot of cars on the track, with movement that affects other cars and harm that accumulates.
I very recommend making Thunder Alley your next Sunday afternoon strategy game. It’s almost as titillating as watching the real thing.
Thunder Alley is available for purchase through the publisher’s website, Amazon, Cool Stuff Inc, and other retailers.
Product provided for review by publisher.
Thunder Alley – Review: Everything You Want in a Stock Car Racing Board Game – The News Wheel
‘Thunder Alley’ Review: Everything You Want in a Stock Car Racing Board Game
When the automobile was very first invented, it wasn’t long before people found a fresh thrilling, high-speed sport: car racing. Even for those of us who have never driven our cars above eighty mph, we still feel an adrenaline rush watching a NASCAR race on television or a local track competition in person. While many immersive movie games have been able to simulate that excitement digitally, can the appeal of real stock car racing be captured in tabletop form?
The board game market is saturated with half-hearted, NASCAR-branded titles that fail to capture the excitement of watching a real stock car race (I mean, who truly likes answering trivia?). Gratefully, GMT Games has published a title that strives-and manages-to be the definitive NASCAR-like racing game (without the official sponsorship).
Thunder Alley Stock Car Racing Board Game Review
Artists: Rodger B. MacGowan & Kurt Miller
Box Dimensions: 8.7 x twelve x three inches
Category: Card management/board movement
How to Play
To win Thunder Alley, you don’t necessarily have to have the very first car to cross the finish line; rather, because you’re controlling 3-6 cars on the track, you need to earn the most cumulative points based on all of your cars’ completing ranks.
Each player controls a team of cars of a certain color. Each round, all cars have the chance to be activated one at a time and budge along the track. Movement is based on cards that are played; different types of movement (solo, drafting, pursuing, leading) often budge other cars nearby too, either splitting up a pack of vehicles or bringing them together.
Depending on the moves a car makes, it might receive improvised (able to be immovable by a pit stop) or permanent harm. Its speed (the spaces moved) is hindered by its total harm and, if enough is accumulated, the car can be ejected from the race.
Once all cars have been activated, an event card is drawn that affects all participants (such as debris on the track, a rain storm, or a yellow flag). Lap leaders are awarded bonus points and players are able to stir their cars to pit row. Then, mitts are refilled and the next round commences.
Unboxing & Game Components Evaluation
Thunder Alley includes:
- 84 racing cards
- 26 event cards
- 7 team tracking mats
- 178 counter tokens-cars, harm, leads, lapped, bonus points
- Two double-sided game boards
- Rules booklet
The very first thing you’ll notice about Thunder Alley, even before you open the box, is how strenuous it is due to the numerous boards within it. The inclusion of two double-sided boards provides four different tracks, all uniquely shaped (as other stock car racing games are typically a plain oval track), which is essentially like including an expansion in the base game. You certainly want to store this box on its side; the mighty boards harm the cardboard inserts over time.
The cover is fairly appealing, with blurred stock cars hurtling across the framework and the title in bold print above. It’s kinetic, colorful, detailed, and clearly advertises the type of game you’re going to play. Inwards, the box includes a ton of petite tokens to punch out, so make sure you have a duo sealable baggies on palm (not included). The boards will need to be flattened each time you play them, as they tend to curve.
Overall, the quality of the components is exceptional and live up to the price of the game.
Review of Learning Practice
The directions booklet for Thunder Alley is a hefty, detailed 16-page manual with thorough, text-based instructions and diagrams. Divided into twelve sections (with numerous sub-sections, plus card explanations and a glossary), the rules book is daunting to read and requires a thorough probe before playing Thunder Alley for the very first time. This isn’t a game you want to learn as you play, especially for the complicated movement system you’ll spend your time deciphering.
If possible, your very first time learning Thunder Alley should be with someone who already knows the game or who’s ready to response questions. In fact, you might want to see movie tutorials online before delving into the instructions to give you a better sense of the overall game. It will take you a duo rounds before weaning yourself off the directions book.
There are some typos in the text (for example, mixing up “cars” and “cards), but they don’t get in the way of understanding gameplay, and GMT does include an errata sheet for some typos. It would be nice to include reference cards for each player noting movement types and linking (the same tables printed on the board but for each player to have their own copy).
Review of Playing Practice
Your very first practice playing Thunder Alley will consist of a lot of “Ugh, I should have…” regretted decisions, but the more times you play, the more your spectacle and enjoyment of the game will improve. That replay value sets Thunder Alley apart from the numerous other surface-level racing games that are effortless to learn but fail to challenge players. Many games simplify the track-racing elements into basic practices all ages can participate in, but Thunder Alley concentrates primarily on adults who want more out of their games.
My practice playing Thunder Alley was on the Columbus track (being an Ohio native, I love all the references to Ohio on the tracks and team cards) with four players. That seemed like the ideal number of players, tho’ Thunder Alley can accommodate up to seven. Despite being the very first to cross the finish line, I didn’t win the game, and that made me rethink my entire strategy the next time I played. It’s not just about ending very first-you have to observe other players’ cars and budge all of yours up identically.
The mechanics of Thunder Alley were appealing enough for the game to be recently re-implemented by the Horgers as a Formula One game in Grand Prix, and elements were also borrowed for their Prompt and Furious: Total Throttle last year. And while both of those are appealing in their own ways, neither strike the taut gameplay of Thunder Alley. The fluid interplay inbetween cards and board movement-especially the interaction inbetween all cars on the track-make the numerous sophisticated steps in each turn sequence feel natural and necessary. You’ll be cautiously watching the board and feel like you’re always participating, even when it’s not your turn, because of how all cars are affected.
If you’ve been disappointed by all the mediocre NASCAR-branded board games released over the years and are looking for a game that truly captures the white-knuckle strain of stock car racing, Thunder Alley supplies. Of the numerous automotive racing tabletop games I’ve played over the years, Thunder Alley lightly feels the most like a NASCAR race. There’s a lot of cars on the track, with movement that affects other cars and harm that accumulates.
I very recommend making Thunder Alley your next Sunday afternoon strategy game. It’s almost as titillating as watching the real thing.
Thunder Alley is available for purchase through the publisher’s website, Amazon, Cool Stuff Inc, and other retailers.
Product provided for review by publisher.
