Compile: Main 2 Review

Putting it all together.

Compile: Main 2 is a strategic, area control card game and the standalone expansion to Compile: Main 1. As a standalone expansion it can be played in conjunction with the original Compile: Main 1, or played on its own. In some ways, calling it an “expansion” feels unkind, as Main 2 is just as robust of a package as the original, featuring 12 unique protocols and decks, each with six cards. This makes it just as complete as playing Main 1 on its own.

Product: Compile: Main 2

Designer: Michael Yang

Publisher: Synapses Games, Luma Imports

Price: $24.99

Age: 14+

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The ruleset is exactly the same between Main 1 and Main 2, so if you’re already familiar with the concept and gameplay loop of the original, don’t expect any changes in that regard. Each of the two players will select three Protocols each to work with, which are then played into “command lines” or lanes. These protocols each have their own unique identity, such as “Luck” utilizing a sort of luck-based approach to play and “Chaos” that implements chaotic card management, drawing and rearranging. Once the value of a line is 10 or more and that value is more than your opponent’s value on the same line, you must compile them. Compiling deletes all cards on that line for both you and your opponent, placing them into the trash. The player who compiled flips the associated protocol card, generating new effects. The first player to flip all 3 of their protocol cards to the “compiled” side wins.

All things considered, the ruleset and main flow of the game are both quite simple, with very little to keep track of on that side of the equation. Where Compile: Main 2 really shines is in the ways the card effects themselves interact to create these constantly evolving board states that can change the way players approach each turn and every game. This was true of Main 1, as well, but I find this newer entry to be a bit more balanced overall with a greater distribution of powerful effects that allow for player experimentation without engendering a feeling of being pigeonholed into particular strategies or protocols.

While it is true that not every protocol synergizes well with other protocols (or even within its own deck), the open nature of play allows for unique and experimental strategies in every new game. Synergy is not entirely necessary when you can simply combine multiple powerful effects to achieve the same goals, even if those effects don’t compound or compliment each other in obvious, natural ways. Furthermore, as each game will only run you about 20 minutes to play, you can really throw caution to the wind to try new approaches. You’ll never feel punished in an existential sense for messing around and trying out a new combination. If something didn’t work as well as you intended, you still got the opportunity to play a fun game for a little bit of time, and you can just move on and try again. There’s no hours-long investment to see your strategies come to fruition — you play the cards and things are done.

These cards are amazing to hold and behold.

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I do want to take the time to speak about (and compliment) the actual “product” itself, not just the game quality. Compile: Main 2 comes in a small, black box, and only contains a single piece of paper for its ruleset. The compact nature of the box, along with its gold accents and design that is reminiscent of computer hardware, holds a simple beauty. The box is nothing compared to the cards, though. I wish I had a way to gush about these cards for more than a few lines. They feel phenomenal to hold in your hand — there’s a nice texture to them that you rarely see in card games, and they seem to be made of sturdy stock. There is also a light foil effect on each, with some accents around the command lines and names that highlight the individual areas of the card in a really cool way. I won’t pretend to know the specifics of how card making happens, or how different foil effects change the quality of a card, but none of my cards have come warped or deteriorating in any way — something I wish was also true of my collections across other media franchises.

There is one additional aspect of these cards that took my breath away when I first saw it — the artwork. The cards within each deck themselves look extremely simple, with basic shapes and colors that don’t seem to mean or depict anything in particular. However, when examined closely, we can see that each is a piece of a larger whole, a part of a mosaic that ultimately makes up the whole image on the “compiled” side of the protocol cards. These full works on the protocol cards are stunning, and the texture and light foil effects on each only serve to accentuate that. Looking at and holding these cards is just such a wonderful feeling. I want to keep them around even when I’m not playing.

Verdict

Ultimately, it’s hard to argue against Compile: Main 2 as a product or as a game. The packaging and presentation is great, the game is a lot of fun and it can be played by all skill levels, and it is a low-investment game. Being able to mix and match these cards with Main 1 is simply a bonus at this point. This is a full game, worthy of its own praise and play, and one I highly recommend.

Disclosure: We received a free copy of this title from the publisher.