Overview
Unmatched is a fast-paced, asymmetrical miniature dueling game that allows you to choose from an ever-growing roster of legendary heroes and villains from ancient mythology, classic literature, and blockbuster movies. This is a crossover like no other with many volumes, sets, and expansions that offer a wide variety of characters and playstyles. Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf pits the hero King himself against the most unlikely opponent, a feral Little Red Riding Hood.
Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf includes:
- 2 miniature figures
- 2 sidekick tokens
- 4 health dials
- 3 rage tokens
- 63 cards
- 1 double-sided game board
- 3 door tokens
- 1 rulebook
Presentation
One way Unmatched stands apart from other games is the dedication to art. In Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf, the new game board is colorfully printed with easily identifiable zones for combat and the reverse side features spaces that are not filled in the center so players can see more of the map. Both decks feature unique, stunning, and thematic artwork for each hero. Staying true to the concept of a crossover, each individual hero and their deck feel as if they were pulled directly from their source material and placed in an arena to battle one another. Each deck is incredibly thematic, featuring special abilities and card titles that include an abundance of references that fans of each hero are sure to appreciate.
Objective
In Unmatched: Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf, the goal is to pick your favorite hero and use their unique playstyle and abilities to defeat all who oppose you. You must take two of the following actions each turn: maneuver, scheme, and attack. You may choose two different actions or the same action twice. Each card has a special effect or value, leading to exciting and unique engagements every time you play. The two maps also provide unique environments that you can use to your advantage. You can also mix and match characters and maps from other Unmatched game sets.
For the full rulebook click here.
Gameplay
Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf can be played 1v1 with a single match taking around 20 minutes. The basic mechanics might seem complicated at first glance, but they are easy to learn once you start playing. Some heroes do have more complicated mechanics than others, so there can be a learning curve. Fortunately, every card has specific instructions written on them, but you can always turn to the included rule book and our FAQ for more clarification.
Both fighters in this set introduce unique mechanics not yet seen in Unmatched. Little Red’s discard pile is her basket, and this basket contains symbols. Each one of her cards will have effects that depend on which symbol is on the top of her basket. As for Beowulf, he gains rage tokens every time he is damaged, which makes him more powerful in combat. Both heroes have cards that are designed to counter one another, making this a well-balanced game.
Map: Heorot
Heorot introduces a new mechanic in the form of DOORS. There are three openings that lead within Heorot hall, and players may open and close those doors when they are adjacent or passing through. The doors can only be opened and closed during a maneuver action, not a card effect. To open a door costs 1 space of movement, while it costs nothing to close them. When a door is closed, players must treat all lines crossing the door as if they did not exist. This blocks movement, eliminates adjacency, and blocks attacks both melee and ranged.
Heorot is a well thought out map with plenty of options to move between spaces, many spaces containing multiple zones, and areas where fighters can be pinned. The placement of the zones make sense in the context of the environment, and is well balanced for both ranged and melee fighters. The addition of the doors introduces a new gameplay element that can work to every player’s advantage or disadvantage. Of course, the option remains to ignore the door mechanic and simply play as if the doors do not exist.
Heroes + Sidekicks
Beowulf
Every blow fills the War-King with rage. Soon you will learn why he was the equal of Grendel. With his kinsman Wiglaf by his side, they are sure to win this fatal struggle.
Read more about Beowulf here.
Beowulf
Once upon a time Little Red Riding Hood went into the belly of the beast, and lived to tell her grim tale. With the help of her friend the Huntsman, she’s ready to head back into the woods with a few terrible tricks tucked away in her basket.
Read more about Little Red Riding Hood here.
Final Thoughts
Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf introduces one legendary hero and one unexpected hero to the Unmatched battlefield. Beowulf grows in power the more damage he takes, and Little Red will attack you when you least expect it, dealing her opponent’s damage back at them. Both heroes are wonderfully represented thematically and manage to fit in perfectly with the ever-growing roster of Unmatched.
Little Red Riding Hood vs. Beowulf is an excellent game on its own, but when paired with the other editions players have access to a massive variety of matchups that continue to grow with each new addition. Both Beowulf and Little Red Riding Hood add unique play styles and mechanics to the game, making this set an excellent addition to the Unmatched series and a must have for Unmatched collectors. If you are looking to expand your collection further, check out the following sets and expansions:
