As a long time NBN player, I always look forward to critically examining each new ice my favorite faction gets and deciding whether it gets to replace or compliment my existing choices. This pack has two yellow ice, fresh of the press. The much talked about Endless EULA is one of them, and while I don't know if it is as good as some people say it is, I definitely think it has some value as a Paperclip counter and another powerful barrier for NBN. The other ice is this one, and... yeah this will be a quick review.

If Yog were still with us (may it rot in hell where it belongs), everyone would immediately laugh at the mere existence of this card and immediately resign it to the back pages of their binder. But even without Yog, I don't think this card has much value. First off, the numbers on it are not fantastic. 5 to rez, 3 strength. Black Orchestra breaks this for 3 credits, which is laughable. Other popular ice breakers like Gordian Blade, Abagnale or Refractor also go through it for less money than the rez cost, and Aumakua gets within the Sandman's range in no time.

But it has two subroutines, are they worth it at least? In theory, yes, in practice, no.. Getting to choose two cards to bounce is very powerful. The problem is, that this ice is very distinctly a mid game ice. In the first few turns it does very little, and turn 1 the runner can face check this with impunity. Runners tend to run first and install cards with their third and/or fourth click. Late game this could theoretically be devastating, sending expensive cards to the grip, but by then the runner will be able to easily break this. So you need a good moment to rez this, when the runner has at least 1, and preferably two, quite expensive cards installed. In that case it will be a great way to make them lose tempo. But it doesn't stop them outright, and like Archangel, they can even ignore this card after a while and just keep hammering your servers and win.

Is it complete ass? No, but in the current meta this card is simply not worth a slot. Maybe if you are a filthy rich corp, and can afford 5 credits to crush the runner's tempo in the early game. But even then there are probably better alternatives.