San Juan

I was looking for a new game to try and was torn between San Juan and Race for the Galaxy. The two games, on the surface, look quite similar, one being set in old-timey San Juan and the other set in space. And both got decent reviews--the mark I generally use to determine whether a game is worth checking out. Since my wife has a tendency to reject anything space-related categorically (though The Omega Virus gets a pass, most likely because of its electronic-talking component), I figured San Juan was a better choice for us even though personal preference leaned toward Race for the Galaxy. And while there were certain things about San Juan that I liked, and I acknowledge it's probably a better game than I give it credit for, my opinion of it can be summed up with "meh."

It's a Rich Man's World

I don't win giveaways often. At least, that's what I think. Then again, family and friends may point out the strokes of luck I've had in my life: I won a Nintendo 64 when I was in ninth grade. I won a backpack (which was later stolen) full of gift cards (which were to stores whose merchandise was too expensive, even with the gift cards). And I won a collection of CDs from artists included on the WOW 2002 album (most of which I gave away). So, I guess I have won my fair share of swag. The most recent item to enter this illustrious lineup of free stuff is Money.

Citadels

I mentioned last week that Bang! is great for atmosphere and is a decent way to pass the time with a mid-sized group. My main gripe is with player elimination, which generally is not fun and can ruin an otherwise good game night. This is why I prefer Citadels for a large-group game.

Bang! Bang! You're Dead!

Finding a game to play with a group is easy. Finding a good game to play with a group is hard. When many people think "board game," I'm sure Monopoly, Life, Sorry, etc., come to mind. But when stores think of "game," if we can judge their thoughts by what they stock, they must think "party game." That's the bulk of what's sold at Target, at any rate. Party game after party game. Games for large groups of people. The ubiquitous (and insufferable) Apples to Apples. Trivial Pursuit. Pictionary. Guesstures. Scattergories. On and on. These games all have their place, and in their own way they are fun, but these are mostly specific skill based games. (We all, I'm sure, know what it's like to play with the know-it-all in Trivial Pursuit. Or the artist in Pictionary. Or the actor in Guesstures. Or the wordsmith in Scattergories.) Cranium seemed so revolutionary because it balanced these skills against each other...but it's still very much a specific skill based game. If you have the skill outside the game, you have a heavy advantage within the game. What's often missing in party games is strategy and atmosphere. This is where a game like Bang!, the Wild West card game, fills a gap.

A Blaze of Lightning

In honor of my grandmother, who passed away on April 9, today's game review will focus on her favorite game, Rook.


It's not often that I admire marketing copy. In fact, I often consider myself immune to tricks and gimmicks (though my watching America's Next Great Restaurant could refute this idea) and doubt the effectiveness of most advertisements. But even though I already owned a copy of Parker Brothers' Rook game, I bought the newer version because of the marketing copy, mostly so I could read it aloud before each game. In order to get the full effect, or at least to understand why I love it so much, try reading it in a deep, gravelly voice, emphasizing each time "rook" appears in all capitals:

A blaze of lightning. A wind turned cold. Beware the power of the Rook. The eerie black bird can make all the difference. Four players (options for two, three, five, or six). Partners or not. You bid. You name trump. You take tricks (when you're lucky and smart). But beware the wild ROOK! When he lands, everything can change. A classic game. (A favorite since 1906. Oh, my!) Easier than bridge. More challenging than Hearts. Custom-designed cards. Gorgeous. Perfect for a dark, stormy night. Bring home the ROOK card game and find out.

Then, after reading this, it's necessary to read the front of the box in a shrill, scared-sounding voice: "It's only a card game, but I'm feeling an odd chill in the air!"

Jaipur: The Trading Game for Two Players

I had heard buzz around the Internet about a great two-player game called Jaipur, but I wasn't sure about it. Mostly because the pricetag was $25, the box was small, and the components, as far as I could gather, were a deck of cards (granted, beautifully illustrated cards) and a few stacks of pogs. But when I found it for $15, I decided it was worth a try, and I haven't been disappointed.

Vonderful Goot Fun

My family grew up playing games, and there are a few games that could bear the title "Schindler family game"--games that, no matter the gathering, we would play together. The few games that really captured the entire family, young and old, and have endured through the years are Pinochle, Rook, and Dutch Blitz. The last of these is what I will talk about today.

Corner on Wheat!

One of my fondest memories of college is family game night. I didn't have any actual family at college, but that didn't stop a group of us from gathering every Saturday night to play games. There were many family game night staples (including Kill Doctor Lucky and Bang!), but one that I was introduced to there and that remains one of my favorite party games is Pit.

Pinochle

Yesterday marked eleven years since my dad passed away, so to celebrate and remember, my Monday game review will explain one of his favorites, Pinochle.


I mentioned in an earlier post that one of my earliest gaming memories (outside being mercilessly creamed in Risk, Monopoly and Dutch Blitz), and one my favorites, is when my dad taught me how to play Pinochle. What I really wanted in life was to be like my dad, so instead of fellowship with my sisters, I would often watch him as he played games even if there was little chance of my understanding what was happening. I watched him as he played Rook and Pinochle, and while I didn't know this at the time, I was apparently observing one of the best. (At least, his friends and family thought so. My mom still tells me when we play games about Dad making outrageous bids and meeting them.)

Quest for Riches in the Ruins

Playing games with kids can be a drag sometimes. You have to put up with the tantrums. You have to spend lots of time explaining and correcting. And, worst of all, most games for kids are just not fun for adults to play. Uno? Life? Even Clue? No thanks. This was primarily my reasoning behind trying Incan Gold, a 3-8 player party game based on Diamant (and this video review was what convinced me--those kids are great salespeople). I wanted a game to play with my niece and nephew that the adults would enjoy, too. I just wasn't expecting to play it so much when only adults are present.

Hot Basket

One of the best purchases I've made--at least, if we define best as "gotten the most use out of for the price"--only cost me $5.99, and it can fit in my pocket. It's a little card game called Canasta Caliente.

I know, I know--isn't that a game for old people? That's what I thought, too. I thought it belonged to the category of old people card games, along with Bridge and Pinochle. And perhaps it does. But I do love Pinochle...

"I Shall Rule the Land and I Shall Call It...This Land"

So this isn't quite my next post, but it's next in succession from my post on collectible card games. I thought I should explain what's good and bad about collectible card games before I showcase a recent game that has already become one of my favorites: Dominion. (By the way, my friend Wolfie has an excellent review of this game on his blog--you can read his in lieu of mine or in addition to it. But you might not want to take what he says too seriously, since he is my Dominion nemesis.)

Dominion comes in (probably) a bigger box than is necessary. From the size of the box, you might guess it's a big-box board game. In fact, Dominion is a card game, and the box is a giant sorter (which I'll get to later).

Collect Them All!

I have a long history with card games. One of the first card games I played was Dutch Blitz, which I was woefully outmatched at. (It doesn't help when you are the youngest in your family. It also doesn't help when you miscount your pile at the start of the round, don't play any cards in the round, and your family holds you accountable for the twelve cards in your should-be-ten-card pile.) Being the youngest, I often found my way into family games through watching, asking questions, and trying to learn on my own. This is how I learned Pinochle, which remains one of my favorite card games, though I haven't really played since my grandma died in 2007 (and didn't play much after my dad died in 2000). While my sisters were doing other things, I sat at my aunts' table and watched closely as my dad--renowned for his high bids and frequent victories--carefully chose which cards to play. He didn't get to play Pinochle often, so he valued the few opportunities he got to play--namely, when Grandma was around. (Grandma was the only person I knew who had an electronic handheld Pinochle game.) So it was so special to me when Dad scooted his chair over a little bit to allow me a better view of the table and explained in full the rules I had guessed in part. This is one of my favorite memories, because it is one of the first times I felt included in something.

After Pinochle I learned Rook (which was played in both my dad's and mom's families); after Rook, Euchre (which always seemed the sickly Eustace to the robust Lucy and Edmund of Pinochle and Rook); and from there, the collectible card games that bled my allowance dry in my adolescence.

Bean Farming Has Never Been So Fun

I mentioned before that my sister got me Ticket to Ride: Europe for my birthday. I believe I also mentioned that this has rekindled my excitement for board games. What I didn't tell you about is Bohnanza.

I had some birthday money, and I thought I would try a new game. I read several reviews, and my choice came down to two games: Puerto Rico and Bohnanza. I thought Puerto Rico was a better bet in terms of which game I would prefer...but I also doubted I could find anyone to play with me, since the rules look complicated. Bohnanza looked stupid, but the Amazon customer reviews were glowing, and I also thought I had a better chance of finding other players, so I chose in favor of it. When the game arrived in the mail and I examined the simple, cartoony cards, I thought I had made a huge mistake.

I was wrong.

Board Games for Two

Recently I've renewed my interest in board games, specifically strategy (and mostly Euro) board games. There are several reasons for this. One is my colleagues' seemingly inexhaustible enthusiasm for Cosmic Encounter (an enthusiasm I moderately share). Another is that my sister and brother-in-law got me Ticket to Ride Europe for my birthday, which is excellent fun (and which I prefer to the game's American counterpart, in part because of the enhanced rules, but mostly because I get to feel classier traveling around Europe instead of the U.S. It feels more exotic, and since I'm not likely to be able to visit Europe anytime soon, the game lets me pretend). And finally, sometimes I just need to escape. Life is hard sometimes, and a good game with good friends is good medicine.