Here is my take on the new set. I want to preface this with the fact that
1. I am not an artist, nor will I ever be.
2. I did get the set for free (thanks again Mr. Vegas).
3. I have never created a card for Filsinger Games.
4. I have been a customer of Filsinger Games since around 1991.
5. I no longer play CotG, just LOW and LotF. Therefore, if there are new game mechanics in recent CotG sets, I am unaware of them.
Now on to my review:
1. Roderick Strong--- Fantastic art! I like the “Messiah of the Backbreaker” mechanics. The ONLY thing I would change would maybe make the powerbomb backbreaker an Add 1 move. He will be real tough once he lands the 3 backbreakers.
2. MsChif---One of the best art of the set! The green mist mechanic can be fun too. Very strong stats. Should be able to hold her own against the other women in LotF.
3. Icarus---Personally, I think this is the worst art in the set. Sometimes the art isn’t the problem but the pose is (will get into that later), but that isn’t the case in this matter. This picture doesn’t look like Icarus at all. He looks to be about 70lbs too heavy. His stats are really strong. In fact, I think he is too strong. I have seen his work and he is a good wrestler, but his stats appear to be better than Roderick Strong and on par with Davey Richards (even in singles matches). I don’t see him as good as either men in real life. I think if the Level 2 defense “dazed-1” was changed to a “down-3” he would be on par with the rest of the set. I know his Level 2 Offense isn’t so strong in singles matches, but with his two finishers, PIN 6 (3) and only 2 down-3s, he is too strong for this set.
4. Gran Akuma---I was really looking forward to him. I am a huge fan. The art looks good. But when I look at the card, I just think “Godsend” because of the background. Oh well, there are only so many backgrounds you can do. While I know I am biased, I think his stats are a little weak. That Level 2 down-3 is going to kill him (a theme in this set).
5. Jigsaw---Great art! Background is great. Only problem is cropping. There are some reasons to crop pictures, but this picture doesn’t appear to need to be cropped. Stats look to be on. Like Akuma, the Level 2 down-3 is going to hurt him.
6. Davey Richards---When I was talking about picking the wrong pose, this was one of the cards I was talking about. He looks like he is about to fall asleep in this picture. Stats are good, making him one of the best in the set. Another Level 2 defense reverse may have made him the second strongest card in the set.
7. Jay Briscoe---Like many on this board, I agree that the art appears “off”. Nothing the artist did, it is just the cropping isn’t right. Looks like one half of a second card, but it isn’t. Maybe the Mark Briscoe part of that drawing wasn’t good enough, so they used another one. Either way, it just doesn’t look right. As for stats, he looks to be really good on offense, and terrible on defense.
8. Mark Briscoe---Art is solid, if uninspiring. Nothing wrong with it, but doesn’t “pop” out to me. A little worse than his brother on offense and a little better on defense. Looks like the Briscoes will be a solid tag team.
9. Eddie Edwards---Another one of those cards with the wrong stance. But I also don’t like the art. He is another one that looks about 40lbs too heavy. Also, like others have said, he looks like he has a bad lazy eye in this picture. I have never noticed him having one in real life, but maybe he does. While I am not a huge fan of his work, I am a little disappointed by his stats. He looks really weak. Only thing helping him is 3 level 3 offensive moves on level 2 (2 in singles matches) and his low pin rating.
10. Amasis---The art is strong and looks like him. I think the background could be a little better. Maybe a pyramid or a sphinx in the background? But that is just nitpicking on my part. As for stats, this is another guy who appears to be a little too strong in comparison. Maybe if his pin was raised by 1 or 2, I would be happier. He does have a down-3 on Level 2 Defense, so that does level him out a little.
11. Ophidian---Again, good, if uninspired, art. Every time I see Ophidian doing a promo, he is always bent over trying to be “snake” like. However, he appears to be standing straight up in the picture. Again, something else in the background besides a small shadow would add to this picture. His stats appear to be on point. The Snake Charmer mechanics is something interesting. However, I would limit the number of times it is allowed to be used or limit the length of time it is effective.
12. Austin Aries---Great art. In fact, I would argue it would look better without the background. He seems to be the strongest in the set (even though he does have a down-3 on Level 2 Defense). I like the mechanics of the ability for Aries to use the 450 Splash. But I would have made it at least a +2 if not higher.
13. Bryce Remsburg---Just doesn’t look like him to me. Nothing wrong with the art but it just doesn’t appear to be him. Another picture that seem to add about 20lbs. Since they used the Chikara logo on his shirt, it would have been nice to have it in the background. Even though the Chikara Special function on his card is interesting, it doesn’t make much sense for it to be on his card. However, I can understand why it is there (wouldn't be as usefully or logical if it was put on the Quack card).
14. Soldier Ant---If there is a more perfect reason for the cards to go to color, I don’t know of one. Unless you are very familiar with the Ants, you cannot tell them apart. Yes, Soldier Ant is easy to tell apart because of his stance, but the other 2 are not. And, in real life, they all appear very different because of their color schemes. The art is fine. Not great, not bad. But, jeeze, why does everyone need a shadow? His stats look about right. His card is real close to Eddie Edwards’ stats. That just shows how weak Edwards is.
15. Fire Ant---Art looks ok. Stats look really strong, especially in tag matches. I like the “En Fuego” tag, but, since it is used only once a match, I would have him enter on Level 3 Offense instead of Level 2.
16. Green Ant---Uninspired art. Nothing bad, but even the stance is boring. Appears to be the weakest of the 3 Ants. The SUPER MEGA ANTAPULT SPLASH option is interesting as well. Only thing I would do would limit it to once a match.
Overall: The art is very good at times (MsChif, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, Gran Akuma), but besides those, the art appears very uninspiring. Whether it is a cropping problem, a problem with the pose, or just the artist being bored, something appears off in the rest of the set. I know not every picture can be a homerun, it doesn’t seem like the artist tried to swing for the fences. In fact, it looked like he was just trying to move the runner over (if you know baseball, you understand what I mean). The stats appear to be on for everyone except Icarus and Eddie Edwards. Icarus seems way too strong and Edwards too weak. I like some of the new mechanics in the game, especially the “Messiah of the Backbreaker” mechanic. I give the grade for the art as a C+ and the stats a B+, giving the set a final grade of a B. These are just MY opinions and I hope I didn’t hurt too many feelings.