I admit I was surprised to find the many contents of the so-called stripped down "Next Millenium" miniatures set. Minis! Dice! Templates! Pentagrams! (Well, it's not hex paper, technically.) And very few rules to memorize!

This is a well thought out system. The interaction is clear and concise, rules for facing and movement are easy to understand and track during play, and balancing two sides is straightforward. As someone who considered "Space Hulk" the ultimate minis game due to its clarity and simplicity, I was likewise struck by this system.

Basically, it gives you a lot for your money and it's easy to pick up. It was with great sadness that I passed it along to another for the full playtest, but I consoled myself by reading the background book for the full-fledged version... but that's another review.

I highly recommend this for the novice mini explorer, and surprisingly, for the expert as well. The straightforward rules and clean system result in an excellent arena for showing tactical prowess, and the style (both of the miniatures and of the game in general) is very conducive to deep immersion into any chosen scenario. At $20, this isn't just a bargain, it's almost required of any tactical fan.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)