Reviewer: Ryan Greene

Nemesis a perfect world,
I had never heard of Nemesis a perfect world until visiting Texas Game Expo in Dallas. There I had a chance to meet the staff of Maximum CNG the publishers of this game and read the core game book. First I must tell you super hero RPG's are not my favorite genre even though I've played games like Aberrant, Champions and Brave New world. Only Champions have come close to doing the genre justice, until now.

Nemesis: APW is a superhero game almost, I say almost because there's more to it than that. Maximum CNG has evolved the genre beyond capes and cowls into something new and original. That being a game that combines elements of superheroes, anime, mythology and action movies in to something new and rich that works on almost every level.

What Works

The System

The System is simple yet capable of great realism. Its 2D6 nothing more, nothing less and combat flows fast and smooth. For those of you into realistic combat then look no further they have managed to balance superheroes and blood baths without skipping a beat.

Character generation

Nemesis: APW provides players with two-character creation option. One is a character built from scratch, the other is a character based on the player. Both are really simple and easy to work with although the "Self Character" rules really shine. The detail you can build into yourself is amazing and when you add in your template (there are 6 templates) you really have recreated yourself as a being of mythic power. As they say in the game, "Now comes the answer to the age old question, "what would you do with superpowers"

Templates

Templates are for lack of a better word are various super beings existing the Nemesis world. There're 6 basic templates each one with basic abilities and backgrounds

Mets: Modern gods who gained their powers through

something called "the Nemesis effect"

Magi: Wizards and magic users. They include everything from Neo pagans to Christian Priest.

Normals: Normal people with no powers but with awesome skills and talents.

Savad: Mystic Martial artist, They use Chi to perform awesome attacks and moves straight from your favorite Hong Kong action movie

Sorcerelle: Kinda like magi, only they are all female and their magic is based a lot on fairy tale witches. Something I thought was really original along with the Savads.

Supernaturals: Monsters and creatures of the night. Though that sounds pretty standard for comic book like adventures Maximum CNG has thrown in a twist. You can take a template and go beyond a cliche. Picture a spell caster with super strength, or Met who hates the idea of costumes and superheroes. The variations for each template is almost endless.

The World

I save the best for last. Nemesis: perfect world may indeed have the perfect world. Taking place in the present the idea of superheroes either as high paid super stars and corporate lackeys living like professional athletes or as struggling up and coming vigilantes waiting for their big break in the majors works well. Add in a world recovering from a new apocalypse, A new German Reich, Dinosaurs in Australia and a very gray tone that's not light but far from as dark as the last batch of superhero games. The game designers seem to want everyone playing to feel like they are part of the world and made it very much like the one we live in pulling no social, political or economical punches.

What does not work

The book seems crammed in some places. Supernaturals being the obvious place (although the people at Maximum I talked to said next year their will be a Supernatrual source book). Nemesis also tended to look like every other RPG book out on the market. If they had applied a bit of originality in that department I would be truly satisfied. Not to say the layout isn't good, just not different enough for my taste

What is average?

The art work isn't bad at all , in fact its as good as anything else being published now in any genre but nothing ground breaking or new here.

Overall

I rate it 9 out of a possible 10. Nemesis: APW isn't as perfect as its name but it comes pretty close. If you want to try something totally different yet familiar than pick up this book. You will not be disappointed. For a companies first book you can ask for nothing better. I personally can't wait to see what Maximum CNG and Nemesis: APW will do next.