Well, I have covered the book and the unit cards, so I cannot leave out the Japanese Command Card set! Since these are not represented in the army book, you either have to gain access to them by using the online army builder or buying this set. These are of the same high quality production as the unit card (all the BF card sets for that matter) and quite nicely done.
The set includes the normal generic upgrade cards, some new weapon options, special characters and formations. All come in the usual small box and are undersized to go with the unit cards.
The upgrade cards are pretty much what you find in the other sets (I have not done a one to one comparison). A number of them have more Japanese centric titles, but they are the normal fair. The Human Bullet card is the normal AT3/FP1 assault card you get in every other set. However, this represents the Nikuhaka teams. The old rules were way over the top. These just make them standard tank assault. Considering the lack of strong AT weapons, these will most likely still be a standard card for most players. This might be a disappointment for some, but puts them back into the world of reality.
Next we have the weapon and formation cards. I have to say, these are a big dud. The 37mm guns should have just been in the AT unit cards as a separate listing. For mid war, they should be more prevalent than the 47mm. Then you get an Engineer company (standard fare) and an SMG upgrade for a Naval Infantry platoon. That’s it… No captured M3 Stuarts, captured guns or light AA. No specific division cards to tweak formations. Just four cards….
Next we get the special characters. Since the set is light on unit upgrades, this could have made up for it. However, we get two, that is right, just two special characters… There are generic nest and soft transport upgrades. I would have liked to see a card for the Su-Ki amphibious truck or FB swamp vehicle. However, Battlefront never made these as models, so that is probably a bit of a high ask. I also would have like to see some Chiyoda armored cars, but again never made by Battlefront.
The final group are two sets of quality upgrade cards for both the army and navy. These upgrades allow you to make your units veteran. If you want a little more reliability in the assaults or getting your special orders, these will do the trick. I kind of like that they made these upgrades and not the starting point for Japanese units.
Well, I have to say, I am a little disappointed in this set. It may just be that my expectations were too high. I can understand them not including units that they never made vehicles for, but I think they are a bit skimpy on the formation and weapon upgrades. Hopefully, when, or if, they do a late war version, these will be more filled out!
- Manteuffel