I really love this game. I've been buying board games for four years. For the first time I've actually found a game that scratches the itch. I play solo with all four characters. Really enjoying the story. And the different challenges. I've already bought the expansion ( Friar Tuck in Danger) and I hope there will be many more expansions to come.
For clarification for people watching: when you defeat a guard it does come from off the board as Zee says, not off the book as Zee showed: defeating guards only helps you. :) For the bag: I'm less keen on it. When the seals are added to the bag, they are too-close in shape / size to the player discs. Many times I'd pull out two seals that were together rather than a disc. I'd prefer either a second bag or a different shape for the seals. The edges of the tiles is an issue. I ended up putting a thin layer of superglue on the edges of each tile where your fingernail touches and the issue has gone. There is also a branching story: you make a choice part way through and the next two chapters are different depending on your choice. So that will add to the replayability. One big criticism that I have: after the first chapter the other characters don't matter. Chapter 1 is the only one where other characters have unique story. I would have preferred an overarching story for each character - it would have improved replayability too if players played at less than four. Though yes the writing is very simple, and it does suffer from a few translation issues - it will keep the younger entertained though. I definitely enjoyed it more than you though. :)
Seeing as how this was a Spiel des Jahres nominee, I was surprised this wasn't a 4 Squares review, but then I watched Zee's review. This game needed to come with that plunger from The Rise of Queensdale!
This was a Spiel nominee? Why? This game should be called Magic Bag. Perhaps the Robin Hood-iness is all in the book, because vapor trail movement, ripping up the board to change the encounter, and Little John being replaced with little cubes doesn't get fire burning. I've never played it (obviously), but this game looks more boring and tedious than a corporate training video. I'll pass.
I haven’t played yet, but I am guessing the measurement imprecision is not game ruining in a cooperative game like this, since you are all pulling together. If it’s a hair’s breadth away, take a quick vote or just call it good. In a competitive game it would be a much bigger issue. In this, not a big deal. I feel like people around the table will be able to adjust their nitpickiness based on how difficult they find the game. If it’s crushing you, then a single printed pixel distance gets ignored. If you are breezing through, perhaps everyone will say “oops, not quite!”
We love the game. As long you are careful the tiles don't get damaged. There are lots of additional adventures online available. Not as challenging as Andor, but not a kids game. It wants to be a family game, which you play as a family.
@@EvanDuly: the adults I play with are mostly (more or less experienced) gamers. With those it becomes more a „read a book together“ like experience than a boardgame one. In our case, that means that we prefer actual games for the evening, but of course your mileage may vary here. Also - as Zee indicated - the writing is rather simplistic. Not bad, but it doesn‘t hold a candle to Tainted Grail for example. So my feeling is that it more suited to children than an all adult group. That said, I enjoy playing the game with my kids, which I can‘t say for every game they make me play with them. ;)
When I first saw this game many months ago, I was quite excited by it. The more time passed and the more I thought about it, the less enthusiastic I became. Your review has now confirmed that I don’t actually need this game 👍🏼
I have a capable 6 year old.... but he is 6 (for example, loves king of tokyo and tokaido) and a 9 year old....and a wife....anyone think this would be fun for the family to explore?
Yes, go for it. You might want to steer the decisions and actions of the 6 yo though. But the game has a great way of teaching you how to play, so you won‘t have to bore him with rules too much.
As a solo player I really liked Andor and I could play all 4 of the characters but I have avoided this game because I do not think this form of solo play would pay off. Now having heard your views, I think I made the right decision. Thank you.
The worst part about this game is that as of today, apparently the only retailer you can buy it from in the USA is Amazon. Amazon has had copies for more than a month, and, so far as I can tell, no one else is selling it.
@@brettpetersen1671 That’s good to hear-I assume you’re in the USA? My local FLGS hasn’t received any copies yet, nor have any of the online game stores (so far as I can tell). I know the game was just released but, as I mentioned, Amazon has been shipping copies to US customers for more than a month now. I’ve been surprised to see that they received their shipment so early compared to all other retailers.
@@brettpetersen1671 That’s good to hear-I assume you’re in the USA? My local FLGS hasn’t received any copies yet, nor have any of the online game stores (so far as I can tell). I know the game was just released but, as I mentioned, Amazon has been shipping copies to US customers for more than a month now. I’ve been surprised to see that they received their shipment so early compared to all other retailers.
Depends on your style. If you like games that are extremely replayable then this you will get like three plays maybe. The first to get into flow the second to enjoy the experience and the third to probably let you know is time to let it go.
I've always found it weird the way Americans emphasize the 'Robin' in Robin Hood, ROBIN Hood. In the UK he's just Robin Hood, or maybe Robin HOOD. But Americans always say ROBIN Hood. They don't do it with other names, it's not TOM Vasel or ZEEE Garcia. But in America, always with the ROBIN Hood, like they're trying to differentiate him from a load of other guys named Tony Hood or Bill Hood. Anyway, nice review.
This doesn't make any sense. If anything, when I introduce myself I put the emphasis on the first name. But in the end, I'm not sure it matters at all.
yes mike, i know exactly what you mean. it's like the words are not read straightforward/with a forward motion, but rather the "robin" is being pulled back, for lack of a better term. while listening i imagine a guy sat on a horse carriage pulling back the leash to make the horses stop :-D zee doesn't understand what you mean because he got too hung up on the first name bit, i got you ;-)
The name Robin suggests Robber to an American. Perhaps because Americans celebrate Robbers like Jesse James, dubbed an American Robin Hood. Tom Vasel pointed out Robin=Robber to his daughters in his family review episode of this game. An English sheriff might see Robin Hood as a no good hoodlum or "Hood", putting more emphasis on his last name.
Zee, I bought this game in the original German. It's on the way to me, and I expect to start playing it soon. I chose it for 2 reasons, although it is not like the deep, complex games I usually play (always playing alone): 1: The incredible originality; 2: The book seems to be written in fairly easy German, and I hope to learn some German while playing it. This IS a campaign game, and I wonder if I will want to play through the whole campaign. I will wonder the same thing next Summer, when I'm playing Oathsworn or ATO. -Toby
This game actually looks great . One of my biggest turn off in games is when the writing are over enthusiastic or wordy. I hate it when they take some as simple as "he walked down the hallway and into the lobby" and instead is written as " he walked into the corridor and arrived at the foyer" .if the writing in this game is written without those unnecessary fillers/wordy jargon than I'm definitely gonna buy this game .
I really love this game. I've been buying board games for four years. For the first time I've actually found a game that scratches the itch. I play solo with all four characters. Really enjoying the story. And the different challenges. I've already bought the expansion ( Friar Tuck in Danger) and I hope there will be many more expansions to come.
For clarification for people watching: when you defeat a guard it does come from off the board as Zee says, not off the book as Zee showed: defeating guards only helps you. :)
For the bag: I'm less keen on it. When the seals are added to the bag, they are too-close in shape / size to the player discs. Many times I'd pull out two seals that were together rather than a disc. I'd prefer either a second bag or a different shape for the seals.
The edges of the tiles is an issue. I ended up putting a thin layer of superglue on the edges of each tile where your fingernail touches and the issue has gone.
There is also a branching story: you make a choice part way through and the next two chapters are different depending on your choice. So that will add to the replayability.
One big criticism that I have: after the first chapter the other characters don't matter. Chapter 1 is the only one where other characters have unique story. I would have preferred an overarching story for each character - it would have improved replayability too if players played at less than four. Though yes the writing is very simple, and it does suffer from a few translation issues - it will keep the younger entertained though. I definitely enjoyed it more than you though. :)
I can agree about the great playability as a family game. My boys (10 and 6) love it
Seeing as how this was a Spiel des Jahres nominee, I was surprised this wasn't a 4 Squares review, but then I watched Zee's review. This game needed to come with that plunger from The Rise of Queensdale!
This was a Spiel nominee? Why? This game should be called Magic Bag. Perhaps the Robin Hood-iness is all in the book, because vapor trail movement, ripping up the board to change the encounter, and Little John being replaced with little cubes doesn't get fire burning.
I've never played it (obviously), but this game looks more boring and tedious than a corporate training video. I'll pass.
@@yourebelscum9662it’s actually fun
I haven’t played yet, but I am guessing the measurement imprecision is not game ruining in a cooperative game like this, since you are all pulling together. If it’s a hair’s breadth away, take a quick vote or just call it good. In a competitive game it would be a much bigger issue. In this, not a big deal. I feel like people around the table will be able to adjust their nitpickiness based on how difficult they find the game. If it’s crushing you, then a single printed pixel distance gets ignored. If you are breezing through, perhaps everyone will say “oops, not quite!”
We love the game.
As long you are careful the tiles don't get damaged.
There are lots of additional adventures online available.
Not as challenging as Andor, but not a kids game.
It wants to be a family game, which you play as a family.
I played it with my Girlfriend back in March and we had a lot of fun. She isn't into boardgames at all.
Well we had The Sheriff of Nottingham already, so a Robin Hood game makes sense!
I play it with my kids (7, 11, 13) and it works beautifully! Would not play it with an adult group though.
Why not?
@@EvanDuly: the adults I play with are mostly (more or less experienced) gamers. With those it becomes more a „read a book together“ like experience than a boardgame one. In our case, that means that we prefer actual games for the evening, but of course your mileage may vary here. Also - as Zee indicated - the writing is rather simplistic. Not bad, but it doesn‘t hold a candle to Tainted Grail for example. So my feeling is that it more suited to children than an all adult group. That said, I enjoy playing the game with my kids, which I can‘t say for every game they make me play with them. ;)
@@mistertaktvoll makes sense! Thanks for clarifying!
When I first saw this game many months ago, I was quite excited by it. The more time passed and the more I thought about it, the less enthusiastic I became. Your review has now confirmed that I don’t actually need this game 👍🏼
I have a capable 6 year old.... but he is 6 (for example, loves king of tokyo and tokaido) and a 9 year old....and a wife....anyone think this would be fun for the family to explore?
Yes, go for it. You might want to steer the decisions and actions of the 6 yo though. But the game has a great way of teaching you how to play, so you won‘t have to bore him with rules too much.
As a solo player I really liked Andor and I could play all 4 of the characters but I have avoided this game because I do not think this form of solo play would pay off.
Now having heard your views, I think I made the right decision.
Thank you.
Thanks for the review Zee! Appreciate hearing your thoughts!
I think you may have had the wrong expectations for this game. It can´t be compared to Sleeping Gods because that is a totally different audience.
I think an expansion or two will add more shelf life.
Is this a one time playthrough game. Like an exit game.or can you play it multiple times like sleeping gods
Only 6...wow
But, I love game bits ... dice, cards, etc. :)
This reminds me of Age of Wonders, but with a sorta Gloomhaven gameplay.
The worst part about this game is that as of today, apparently the only retailer you can buy it from in the USA is Amazon. Amazon has had copies for more than a month, and, so far as I can tell, no one else is selling it.
It was at my FLGS this weekend
@@brettpetersen1671 That’s good to hear-I assume you’re in the USA? My local FLGS hasn’t received any copies yet, nor have any of the online game stores (so far as I can tell). I know the game was just released but, as I mentioned, Amazon has been shipping copies to US customers for more than a month now. I’ve been surprised to see that they received their shipment so early compared to all other retailers.
@@brettpetersen1671 That’s good to hear-I assume you’re in the USA? My local FLGS hasn’t received any copies yet, nor have any of the online game stores (so far as I can tell). I know the game was just released but, as I mentioned, Amazon has been shipping copies to US customers for more than a month now. I’ve been surprised to see that they received their shipment so early compared to all other retailers.
Cardhaus has it in stock. Coolstuff also had it a couple weeks ago but then it sold out.
Great review. I’ll be passing on this one. I think Sleeping Gods and Destinies are giving me more of what I am looking for in an adventure game.
I 100% agree with the imprecision of the movement
Best suggestions for people that were interested in this, but now think they may need to look elsewhere?
Depends on your style. If you like games that are extremely replayable then this you will get like three plays maybe. The first to get into flow the second to enjoy the experience and the third to probably let you know is time to let it go.
I've always found it weird the way Americans emphasize the 'Robin' in Robin Hood, ROBIN Hood. In the UK he's just Robin Hood, or maybe Robin HOOD. But Americans always say ROBIN Hood. They don't do it with other names, it's not TOM Vasel or ZEEE Garcia. But in America, always with the ROBIN Hood, like they're trying to differentiate him from a load of other guys named Tony Hood or Bill Hood. Anyway, nice review.
This doesn't make any sense. If anything, when I introduce myself I put the emphasis on the first name. But in the end, I'm not sure it matters at all.
yes mike, i know exactly what you mean. it's like the words are not read straightforward/with a forward motion, but rather the "robin" is being pulled back, for lack of a better term. while listening i imagine a guy sat on a horse carriage pulling back the leash to make the horses stop :-D
zee doesn't understand what you mean because he got too hung up on the first name bit, i got you ;-)
The name Robin suggests Robber to an American. Perhaps because Americans celebrate Robbers like Jesse James, dubbed an American Robin Hood. Tom Vasel pointed out Robin=Robber to his daughters in his family review episode of this game.
An English sheriff might see Robin Hood as a no good hoodlum or "Hood", putting more emphasis on his last name.
@@adilion2413ahhh right! Like there is "Normal Hood" and "Robbin' Hood"
Legends of Andor "remake" and "remaster".
Zee, I bought this game in the original German. It's on the way to me, and I expect to start playing it soon. I chose it for 2 reasons, although it is not like the deep, complex games I usually play (always playing alone): 1: The incredible originality; 2: The book seems to be written in fairly easy German, and I hope to learn some German while playing it. This IS a campaign game, and I wonder if I will want to play through the whole campaign. I will wonder the same thing next Summer, when I'm playing Oathsworn or ATO. -Toby
This game actually looks great . One of my biggest turn off in games is when the writing are over enthusiastic or wordy. I hate it when they take some as simple as "he walked down the hallway and into the lobby" and instead is written as " he walked into the corridor and arrived at the foyer" .if the writing in this game is written without those unnecessary fillers/wordy jargon than I'm definitely gonna buy this game .
The game looks good, but I'll pass.
This game looked great, but unfortunately in reality there isn't enough game here. Such a shame as the concept had pulled me in. Going to Pass