I’m 5 plays in – three using the basic game rules and two with scenario rules. So far, I’ve only managed to have a minor victory in a single game. (Let’s be clear – this is what happens when you put a risk-taking maniac in charge of the resistance who sends out his Maquis one time too many… or is successful at completing missions but manages to get a bunch of civilians killed.) This is what makes Resist! exceptional. The cards themselves are not complicated and the gameplay is easy to understand. Yet each and every moment of the game is saturated with decisions on when and how to play your cards for maximum effect, how to get the most information for the least investment, and most importantly when to cut your losses. There are times when you realize too late that a Mission is out of reach and all you can do is try to mitigate the damage. Civil Service Maqui cards have special powers which are activated if played in a particular phase, and some of those powers can be utilized in either phase. Final Score: 3.5 stars – A brutally punishing solo experience showcasing tight hand management with a focus on toppling a rising regime.

There is one misprinted card in the original version – Adolfo’s hidden side should be a zero value rather than 2. As is, Adolfo is being played by A. Schwarzenegger in “Commando”. (It’s a joke; you have permission to laugh.) More and more effort was made by Franco’s government to crush the Maquis that ultimately ended the resistance roughly 25 years after it began. Basically, stop before something horrible happens… then figure out your score. Defeating all ten missions is an Epic Victory – I figure that is likely to happen just after Hell freezes over for me. Right now, I’m aiming for just a plain old “Victory”. The other aspect that impacts the portability is the sheer table space that it takes up. With the location cards and all of the troops at the location as well as a play area for yourself, this is no small game. This does reduce the amount of time that it will likely get for me as it fits in that small game genre in my collection, yet I need to then make sure that there is enough space to get everything out. Overall I love the decision making in Resist! The decisions on whether to use the Hidden or the Revealed side of your character and then, at the end, whether you are going to push on and try and get a new high score or whether you are going to call it quits where you are. All of these aspects make me want to keep playing this game more and more. What Is There To Dislike

Man on a Mission

Resist! takes place over a series of rounds with a simple phase structure. It features two distinct options for play. First, players can choose a beat-your-highest-score game. For those who prefer a different approach, you can dig into the scenario book for eight standalone scripted games, as well as an additional three historic scenarios.

And you will fight. This is a difficult game. It requires planning and flexibility. It asks players to consider civilian loss as a necessity while at the same time leaving little room for error. The margin for error can be a little too punishing. At times it can turn the game into a min/max exercise, one that highlights the war of attrition while also lessening the impact of the unique maquis cards. In case it isn’t obvious: I think Resist! is an incredible game, a clever and taut design that captures the theme well. While many solo players don’t care for beat-your-own-score modes, it works for me here since there is a clear threshold for victory at baseline. For those looking for a long-term challenge, there’s a set of 8 scenarios to play as well as a campaign mode that links them all together. The scenarios and campaign do not introduce any new cards or major rule changes, though, so they’re mostly similar to the standard game. The interior of the box leaves something to be desired, as it’s way too empty and the cards don’t fit particularly well.

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In short, the Maquis were loyalists to the Republic who continued a guerilla war against Franco from the late 1930s into the early 1960s. Experiences during World War II waging a guerilla war in southern France to thwart the Nazi occupation there helped to train and organize the Maquis, leading to the greatest amount of activity following the close of the war. Robberies, sabotage, assassinations… all were a part of the efforts devoted to undermine the regime.