鶹
Customer Review
- Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2019A (longish) TL;DR:
This game is very good. People who are experienced with board games can pick this game up and play fluidly in just a few turns, but it can initially be overwhelming for casual players. The game is quite difficult, especially at first, but everything is tied together very well thematically and is very much less luck based than most cooperative board games; therefore, the (base) game is easier to play and win the more you play, but there are several ways to increase the difficulty once it feels too easy. Everyone playing feels important and all choices matter. Replay value is very high, and nobody I've played it with has had anything negative to say about it.
Pros:
+ Thematically Consistent
+ Truly 1-4 players (even single player is fun and challenging)
+ Various difficulty levels and options for gameplay variation offer high replay value
+ High-Quality pieces with great art
+ Very hard to take control of other players - everyone feels important and their choices matter
POSSIBLE Cons:
- Overwhelming at first (many different pieces and gameplay elements)
- Can be difficult to teach because of the above point
- Seemingly few 'scenarios' and 'adversaries' (but ultimately enough once you understand how they work)
- Generally very challenging for new players even with the most simple set-up
Neutral Points:
~ Long play time for casual players (30-40 minutes for single player, 60+ minutes with 2 players, and easily 90-120+ minutes with 3 or 4 players, especially if playing with new players)
~ In-box dividers/piece holders are flimsy and bulky, but box includes many resealable plastic bags for pieces
~ Random elements are a small part of the game, but are very predictable, fit with the theme, and don't feel 'luck-based'
~ NOT kid friendly. Don't be fooled by the colourful art - This game is challenging and complex for many adults, and I wouldn't even want to try playing it with anyone younger than a board game savvy 13 year old (I'm thinking of my younger siblings and cousins around that age as examples: some are definitely able to play and some I wouldn't let touch the box)
Things to keep in mind when first playing the game:
* If you can, learn the game with 2 players first, with the rule book and online FAQ open - learning with a single player will likely result in a quick and brutal loss that won't teach you enough, and learning with more than 2 players will likely result in a jumbled mess which will take far too long. Playing with several people is much easier when at least one person already knows how to play.
* USE THE 'EASY' CHARACTERS - Seriously, their rules and powers are much easier to manage, and you can eliminate the deck building portion of the game as you learn the more integral elements
* Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of the game. This game is hard to beat at first. Once you learn some strategy through trial and error, victory is much easier (which is why scenarios, adversaries, and blighted island cards are in the game, all of which increase the difficulty and/or complexity)
