Android: Netrunner

Today's review is of the 2012 release, Android: Netrunner.  For 2 players, it takes 45 minutes.

Overview
In a dystopian future, netrunners vie for the upper hand against huge corporations.  The latter have agendas that, when advanced to a sufficient degree, earn them points.  The former are hackers looking to infiltrate the system and get the agendas (and points) for themselves.  But the corporate pockets are deep, and defenses many . . .

Simplified Gameplay
Android: Netrunner is an asymmetric game.  The corporation is 'defense' and plays servers, enhancements, and "ice" systems to protect themselves (by playing the cards directly in front of a given column).  The netrunner is 'offense' and players programs, hardware, and resources to bypass the corporate ice systems and access the servers.

On each player's turn, they get a certain number of action points (called 'clicks').  Either side can use those clicks to 'install' (play) cards (face-up or -down), earn credits, draw cards, or perform other actions specific to their role:
- Netrunners can do 'runs' on a given column to gain access to whatever's in that column.  The ice systems in that column, if 'rezzed' (turned face up by paying the specified cost), block the player and require levels of strength and certain abilities/resources to bypass.  If successful, the runners can take agendas (earning points) or trash resources to harm the corporation.  
- The corporation can advance agendas (completing them to earn points), or deploy additional ice systems.  First to acquire seven agenda points wins (the netrunner also wins if the corporation's deck runs out of cards).  A game in progress is below.

image from here

Review
This is a good game.  It's simple enough once you get the hang of the terminology and action point system. The interaction is good and mechanics sound. A Living Card Game, it's also customizable through purchase of additional card packs. My only complaint is the degree of luck involved. I've played three times- always as the netrunner- and I often spent a lot of resources to make runs on a given column. No problem there, but when that column turned out to be worthless or an ambush, it was difficult to recover from that- both to pay any penalties involved and replenish resources for another run. But then, there are other luck components (like a good card draw) that can rebalance things. Ultimately, I'm not a dystopian future fan (the theme didn't appeal to me), but I understand why this game is highly regarded.

Rating: A-