Proving that despite rumours that say otherwise, Coengar2 is not dead but has been locked away in the secret manga cave reading until his eyes fall out. This time he reviews an sit down RPG with an interesting premise and a stupid name.

Title: Panty Explosion
Publisher: Atarashi Games
Type: Sit down pencil and paper RPG
Cost: $20.00 US (2300 JPY)

Despite the stupid name that brings forth visions of sleazy hentai this game deals with Japanese high school girls facing off against demons and creatures of the dark with a game system that throws what you’re use to in an RPG right out the window.

What doesn’t this game have? Stats like strength, dexterity, intelligence. Racial varients (everyone is a high school girl) there’s no magic system, no extensive weapons and armor lists, hit points or anything else like the more common games out there.

What the game DOES have: an open story base that relies more on player descriptions than dice rolls. All rolls are made by rolling dice taken from various dice pools based on your character’s blood type and Chinese Zodiac sign as well as thier affinity for Earth, Air,Water or Fire. Oh yeah and psychic powers too!.

How’s it all work? Surprisingly simple actually. When a player is called on to make a dice roll, they chose any number of dice taken from the appropriate pool (Combat actions come from Fire, Strength actions from Earth etc.) But be careful, when a dice pool is out of dice, it’s empty for the rest of the encounter and you must use a new pool while describing the new action you are using. To succeed roll a 5 or better on any dice, the more you roll the better.

Important notes that affect the game: At the start of the game each player nominates another character to be thier Best Friend and a second character to be thier Rival. If you succeed on a roll your best friend gets to describe what happens, screw up and your rival gets to give you the bad news.

Also at the start of each game the players vote for which character is the most popular kid in class and which one is the least popular. The most popular kid rolls D10’s for thier dice pools, the least popular kid rolls D6’s while everyone else rolls D8’s.

Final Thoughts: This is a rather unique game that seems best suited for either long time experianced gamers or for complete novices who have no preconceptions about a role playing game, for everyone else the system takes a bit to get use to. It helps if the group you are playing with are either very good open minded friends or complete strangers you’ll never see again as instant deaths for characters are quite common with a botched roll. This is also the first game i’ve played where the penalties for having psychic powers almost outweighs the benefits of having them. (the best benefit: the power to make heads explode! instant kill!!)

All in all, it’s a dark take on a popular anime genre that makes for an interesting variance from the usual RPG. You’ll either like this game or hate it but it will certainly make you feel something one way or the other.

Note: There is a companion game using the same system called “Homeroom Death Match” for those who want to relive the thrills of the Battle Royale manga.

Coengar2 says CHECK IT OUT! you just might like it. I know i do.