At the beginning of this review, I would like to thank 1985 Games for sending us two sets of the line VHS Dice to try them and give you our opinion. 1985 Games is based in Oregon and was founded by a group of gamers looking for a better way to play in real-time, without interrupting the action to draw every tree on the map. Their huge catalogue includes some beautiful maps for the fights, which you can find the review here.
If after reading this article you want to grab one of the many sets in the line, you can find them in the official store for $70 for each set. Do not forget that if you use the code NoDiceUnrolled15 at checkout, you will receive a 15% discount on your order!
The line currently includes five different sets: Plasmic Punch, Starstorm, Ruby Red, Surge and Crystal Ball.
Bright Colors and Sharp Edges
I received two sets of dice from this line and with some trepidation I opened the packages. Inside them, I had the great pleasure of finding the sets Plasmic Punch and Ruby Red.
First of all, I must say that the case reproduces very faithfully that of the old VHS. Naturally, the dimensions are adequate to contain a set of dice; the package, therefore, fits comfortably in one hand.
The dice are held in a static position inside the package by a high-density plastazote plate with pre-drilled slots; in this way, every single dice has its own housing, without the risk of getting lost.
Once removed from the packaging, the dice are very colourful, bright and with sharp edges. They are handmade in resin, light, and have very particular reflections that know how to fascinate and capture attention. Each set of VHS Dice consists of 7 polyhedral dice; we find the classic d4, d6, d8, two d10 (one with units and one with tens, for percentages), d12 and d20.
VHS Dice Technical Review
The dice in this collectable line maintain the standard 16 mm format. They are particularly easy to handle, shiny and with iridescent reflections so much so that, once hit by the light, they seem to reflect it and almost change colour. The resin is of excellent quality and the tactile sensation is almost that of having a gem in your hands, rather than a polyhedral dice.
These dice sets are particularly easy to handle, each piece has the right weight and an excellent balance to allow adequate rolling and leave the inevitable suspense on the outcome of the shots. The chosen font is decidedly large and legible, even at a certain distance. I particularly appreciated this aspect and the fact that they still manage to stay themed (albeit in chromatic contrast) with the aesthetics of dice.
Experience, Imagination and Passion
1985 Games is a company made up of gamers dedicated to providing other gamers with products to enhance their gaming experience. The passion of this company shines through in the craftsmanship of these dice. In the same set, precisely due to the craftsmanship, there are small differences between one dice and another, which makes every single piece unique.
Undoubtedly the chromatic choices and the so original packaging transform every single set into a collector’s item.
VHS Dice Review Conclusion
In conclusion of this review, I must say that I really liked the VHS Dice: practical to use and easy to keep thanks to the special retro case.
Considering the variety of products in this category on the market, the price may seem high, but I guarantee you that they are very durable and that the quality can be seen in every single detail. They really might be the last set of dice you ever buy!