How many wrestling board games are there in the world? Honestly, I can think of none, but if there are any, I guarantee you two things. First, you can count the number of them on one hand. Second, "Submission" leaves them all in a humongous trial of dust. Now, obviously you can tell I have never played a wrestling board game before due to my comments above, so how can I make the claim that "Submission" leaves them in the dust? Well, when you play the game, you will understand too.
So what is "Submission?" Well, it is the first of hopefully many games by long-time wrestling fan Chris Holley and is basically as advertised: a "beat the clock wrestling trivia game." Sounds simple enough. Upon receiving the game, I immediately went to the instruction booklet, as most normal people do. Unlike other games (major games I might add), "Submission" leaves no question unanswered. This is undoubtedly the most detailed, thorough, and ultimately best instruction booklet for any game I have ever played in my life. That's impressive, and it really set the tone for the game I was so excited to begin playing. Even more, upon reading the booklet, I couldn't help but notice just how much you can customize this game to suit your players, your mood, et cetera. Most games have complete set rules while this has only a few rules here and there. If you don't like a category, take it out. If you're playing with average wrestling fans, you can make an easier deck in under a minute. Sure, a lot of board games let you customize, but that requires you to change a lot of the rules and such. This game encourages you to customize and allows it in a way that doesn't hinder the game in any way, shape, or form. That's impressive and that's enjoyable. For me, that's an amazing feature.
Sitting down to actually play the game, I was pumped and not let down at all. I grabbed my girlfriend and played it with her while SmackDown! played in the background. We played the first mode we saw, which was also the easiest: Classic Mode. This mode is great for quick games. I mean great! If you wanted, you could take a deck, pen, paper, and the timer and just play in the doctor's office with someone while you wait for your appointment. It's literally that simple. Even more, because of how you customize the game, you can play this mode for however long you want to. Each round or "pinfall" is one minute. So if you're waiting for dinner that is taking about 5 minutes, pull out this game and play a game of 5 pinfalls! The Classic Mode is great for just a quick game to pass the boredom. Hell, you could even play this during the commercials of a wrestling show! It was great.
However, if you're looking to play a serious game of "Submission," then the Classic Mode is not the premier choice. Enter Tap Out Mode. This mode incorporates a whole new deck of cards into the mix and unlike the other one where there is a set amount of "pinfalls," this one is based more on points which I found to be more enjoyable. If you base it on pinfalls alone, if you get behind, you will probably not catch up, and if you lose by one answer, then it won't do much for your overall score. In the Tape Out Mode though, you tally up answers as points so even if you consistently lose by one answer, you still have a chance in the game. The cards themselves add a new layer of intrigue as well as make it feel much more like a board game. Certain cards give you certain advantages. For instance, if a category is shown like, "Wrestlers who wrestled in 1970 or before," and you have no idea of any, then you could simply flash a "Rope Break" card and skip that category. Even more, some cards in the Tap Out deck are mini-games and give the card holder a chance to win 5 additional points while the other player(s) try and stop you. This mode of game play was certainly fun and exciting, and for novice fans matching up against long-time fans, it gives you a great edge.
The game may be amazing, but it is definitely not without its problems. For starters, I thought my game had been packaged wrong as there was no actual game board and I definitely remember seeing it in a picture somewhere. Going to the website, I found out why: you have to print out your own game board. Now, this is a completely minor detail as you really don't even need the board, but something about it just didn't sit right with me. I guess it's because the game is very professional in every aspect from timer to pencils, yet the board has to be printed out. I wish I could say there were more bad things about the game because it seems like I am overrating it too much, but to be honest, there aren't any other faults. Some have complained that you need another fan to play it with, but in all honesty, what kind of fun board game doesn't require two people? It eliminates all the fun. The board is the only problem I have with this game, and if it's bothering you that much during the game, then you just need to have some sense slapped into you.
To be very blunt and forgetting the minor things, the game is great. It sparks debates about wrestlers; it triggers memories of wrestling past; and it offers some very funny moments, like me making up members of the Hart family! It's simply fabulous too how some questions you would think are amazingly easy like, "Wrestlers whose name starts with the letter S," would be so hard when you have a timer counting down faster and faster as you go into a severe brain freeze and skip over greats like Sting and Scott Steiner (like I sure as hell did). This game is everything. It's fun and agonizing, it's quick and long, it's fair and unfair. It's everything people, but one thing about it sticks out above all else: amazing. This game is amazing and if you're a true fan of wrestling, you should buy this game. You should play this game. Trust me, you'll love it. Making friends "tap out" in a game solid from top to bottom; what could be better? That's all that is dwelling in my mind about this product, so this is "Squared Circle Reviews" signing off and hoping you enjoy what you watch...or play in this instance!
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