Fighting Fantasy: Bloodbones Review

The first of Tin Man Games’ 2015 offerings, Fighting Fantasy: Bloodbones, is a fairly solid entry within the field. Offering a few twists and turns that haven’t been utilized before in a Fighting Fantasy game, it should make a pleasant change of pace.

You’re an adventurer out to track down the dread pirate Cinnabar, who murdered your parents. First of all though - and after rolling a few dice to see what skill, stamina, and luck you possess - you’ve got a fair bit of gold to spend. That’s one of the new inclusions within Fighting Fantasy: Bloodbones: a gold supply that can be used to buy many items as well as gamble in the hope of earning more. Early on there are plenty of opportunities to do both, opening up plenty of new paths to check out. The gambling isn’t overly gripping but the results are certainly useful.

Time also plays a role, with each hour counting towards your chances of success and also affecting how things turn out. It’s a relatively subtle mechanic that occasionally makes a noticeable difference, but when it does it's a significant one.

New weapons that can be used alongside traditional fights also ensure that Fighting Fantasy: Bloodbones is a bit different from the rest. As always, there are still plenty of battles to take part in, and wimps can choose to go the free read path to circumvent much of the difficulty that resides by playing it in a more traditional mode.

While the storyline isn’t quite as gripping as some of the other classic Fighting Fantasy games, it’s the new changes in game mechanics that ensure that Fighting Fantasy: Bloodbones is still worth checking out. The illustrations throughout look gorgeous too, as Tin Man Games titles invariably do.