Funkoverse and a True Nostalgia

22 Apr Funkoverse and a True Nostalgia

I don’t know about you, but as a kid, I loved playing with and collecting action figures. I had everything from Batman to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Spending afternoons creating epic battles and wars was a true delight. I even went so far as to wrap some of my favorite characters in special aluminum foil armor I created. I would sit and construct grand narratives that would result in unlikely mashups. Whether it was Spiderman trying to take out the Joker or GI Joe infiltrating Master Shredder’s layer, there was always a strange collection of heroes and enemies coming together to produce the most compelling of stories. As life moved on and my action figures were donated to other kids who needed them, I had forgotten about the times I had with them. The folklore I had spent years creating drifted away and became something of the past; that is until recently.

I had heard some great buzz around Funkoverse and to my surprise, the Batman version came on sale for $10.49 a couple months back. I could not pass up such an amazing deal. Without really looking into it at all, I bought it and had it shipped to my door. As embarrassed as I am to say it, the game came in and sat on my shelf for more than a month before I picked it up. This tends to happen when I purchase games simply based on a sale price and a bit of buzz. I am generally really involved in researching the games I pick up, so by the time they arrive, I am ready to get them to the table. When I buy games based on a good deal, I am not necessarily as involved in the process which means they often sit on my shelf of shame (the games on my shelf that I have yet to play).

Luckily, Funkoverse didn’t sit there too long. Being a game that is recommended at two players, it was pretty easy to get to the table. Reading the rules was pretty simple and this looked like it would be a nice tactical game to bring out every once in a while. That was until I played it. I had anticipated that it would remind me of games like Summoner Wars and Unmatched Legends, which it did, but there was one thing I had not anticipated at all. It feels like you are playing the board game with action figures because each character is represented by a chunky Funko Pop! character. I was immediately immersed into the story of each scenario and I could just feel my inner child wash over me as I devised a plan to stop the evil Joker and his mistress, Harley Quinn. As quickly as we started pushing the characters around, I was in a nostalgic haze. Who knew some chunky components could define a game so heavily?

But wait, there’s more! One of the best parts about this game is how it can become a complete mash up just like the action figure stories of old. I recently ordered an expansion with a couple of the Golden Girls. I can’t wait to see how Batman and the cheesecake weapon can synergize. It will be completely off the rails! Funkoverse hasn’t stopped there though. They are cranking out all sorts of different versions of the game. Whether its Jurassic Park or Harry Potter, they have access to some really great Intellectual Properties. So much so that half the fun of the game will be curating a team of misfits to extinguish the other band of expendables sitting across the table. This will be a great addition to the collection, and I am really excited to see what adventures come from it.

Thanks for reading, keep on gaming, and stay safe out there,

Matt Pioch