Tabletop role-playing games have been around for decades, and they’re still going strong. Whether you’re a veteran gamer or just getting into RPGs for the first time, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. Today, we’ll be taking a look at one of the newer RPG releases: The Crow Cinematic Adventure expansion of Everyday Heroes by Evil Genius Games. Let’s dive in and see what this game has to offer!

First The Crow Book and Movie World

The Crow is a classic tale of gothic revenge that has left its mark on both film and literature. The 1994 movie adaptation of The Crow and the 1989 book both share a profound story of redemption and justice as we follow Eric Draven’s journey from death to life in an effort to avenge the brutal murder of his lover. The similarities between the two stories are undeniable; each follows an emotionally-charged character who has lost their loved one, battling for what’s right in a morally grey world. The Crow movie and The Crow book have stood the test of time, remaining critically-acclaimed masterworks worthy of the title ‘gothic classics’.

The Crow RPG – Does it Stack Up?

Although The Crow Cinematic Adventure is based on the 1994 movie of the same name, it’s not just an adaptation – it’s an entirely new story set within the same universe. You play as agents of destiny with The Reborn (think Crow) and the Soothsayer (think the really weird magic lady who eats eyes or something in the movies) who must investigate strange occurrences in their city and unravel its secrets. This game is unique in that it focuses more on narrative storytelling than traditional dice rolling combat. It encourages players to think outside the box and get creative with their solutions to puzzles or challenging situations.

Playing The Crow may just be the best way to spend a dark, stormy night. Jim going ‘dang this is good’

The game is designed for 2-6 players and can be completed in 1-2 hours depending on how quickly you work through it. The rules are simple enough that even beginners can pick them up quickly while experienced veterans will appreciate the challenge posed by some of the scenarios presented in The Crow.

The components included with The Crow are top-notch; everything from character concepts to new powers are high quality and well designed. This is obviously an act of love from Chris “Goober” Ramsley. The art style also captures the dark, mysterious atmosphere of the film and book perfectly, which adds to your experience when playing this game.

Pros

There are a lot of upsides to this game. I love the detail the creator put into the characters. Not only can you use the characters and design your own for this module, but you can import them into any campaign. That’s right–We will get The Crow and Rambo vs Kingpin (generic!) one day!

You can play characters as the kid or adult version of them. Imagine the depth of detail here that was involved in figuring out strengths and weaknesses across the timeline of iconic characters.

The adventure is smart and it allows people to really explore their character making and decisions. In this game, decisions really do matter and how you play is as important as the d20.

I also love how it captures the feel of The Crow movies (first two) and book. This is a must-have for any Crow fan.

Cons

The elephant in the room is the con. Love The Crow? Great! This is a great expansion for you. But you will need the core set to play this. The expansion, as-is, can be confusing without the core book and requires it to play. Terms are not inclusive to just the expansion. You definitely need to buy into the Everyday Heroes ecosystem to play this.

If that’s a con for you or not, I’ll let you decide.

Final Verdict

The Crow Cinematic Adventure is a great addition to any RPG fan’s collection. It offers a unique twist on traditional table-top gaming by focusing less on combat and more on narrative storytelling. Even those who aren’t familiar with RPGs should give this one a try! With its high quality components and immersive atmosphere, it’s sure to provide hours of fun for gamers both old and new alike! Playing The Crow may just be the best way to spend a dark, stormy night. (4 / 5)