I'm happy with my purchase of this game and it was received in perfect condition comparable to those seen in stores. Being able to get this game outside of specialty stores is appreciated as it is not always easy to find especially in rural areas.
The best part of this game is it is actually 2 different games in one. The game board itself is reversible providing "The World" gameboard on one side and "The Great Lakes" gameboard on the other. Instructions are provided for both as well as all components necessary to play each game. The instructions are similar for both games and most components are used for both with specialized "Tickets" for each.
I was introduced to Ticket to Ride years ago by friends by playing the game in a large group. While game play is more challenging in larger groups (play up to 5 players) it is still enjoyable with 2 players. This new game provides a few twists on the classic style in that you can now travel overseas and there are new ports. This opens up new directions of travel as you travel is now connected between the left and right edges of the map. Further there are additional challenges in managing your playing pieces as you have limited numbers of trains and ships and need to plan your routes to keep within these limitations....don't worry all your planning will go out the window when your opponent(s) inevitably "accidentally" (*on-purpose*) blocks your path.
Additionally, there is a new style of "tour ticket" that includes a multi-leg style trip that needs to be completed in the order described on the ticket for maximum points. I must admit we are still getting used to the game so I have not tried many of these tickets yet but I cringe in thinking about drawing them when the game is nearing completion.
The one area that could have been planned better is one that was mentioned by another reviewer where the scoreboard goes only to 100 but it is common to well exceed this. I like his suggestion of replacing coloured wood markers with coloured dice with faces indicating your score in multiples of 100s so you can track it easier.
I would recommend this game to any Ticket to Ride enthusiast. It is definitely appropriate for play for ages 10+. Family members well into their 70s also enjoy the game. Game play so far has been well-within their suggested timeplay of 60-120 minutes and we've averaged about 90 minutes.
I hope this review was helpful!
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