I don't think the time on the box is an outright lie. I think the way they're expecting people to play the game is to read a card, come up with an entire theory about what happened to use to answer the question, then get more information that either changes aspects of or completely debunks the theory, forcing the group to reconstruct their version of events from the ground up. Somewhere in the manual, it says something about how the game is the discussion, and it's not really a puzzle in the same sense that an escape room game is, where you're rewarded for figuring out the correct answer to a thing ASAP so you can solve it. THAT BEING SAID, I agree that it doesn't succeed at any of this. The stories just aren't interesting enough to warrant that much discussion/that kind of play. And sometimes the 3 options are so obvious that it's not even worth talking about anything. These games are a single Dark Stories card in a box for more money than a box of 50 Dark Stories. And maybe a single Undo is worth more than a single Dark Stories card. Historical tie-ins are ok, and you don't need a moderator like you do in Dark Stories... but I'd say a very tiny bit better, rather than 50x better.
These games are not for everyone, but I f you only play these games for fifteen minutes then I can completely understand why they feel underwhelming. The whole point is that the games give very subtle hints that need to be thoroughly talked through and explored as a group. The story of each game is not overt and requires careful deduction. They can be very satisfying when you work them out, but if you were just fishing in the dark and bouncing blindly from one timeline to the next, then I can see why the game feels random and unsatisfying. Some flaws with the review: all of the timelines are useful, it’s just that one if them (which is obvious if you think about it) gives clues to the overall story rather than a chance to help avoid the death. The game doesn’t say the events happen at the same time, just that they are independent and no change affects the story as much as you describe (the game even says that your actions are very subtle). The answer cards can’t give answers that are more than numbers else it would give away the story which is the whole point of the game. If you like stories that are big, brash and bold then avoid these games at all costs. What this review misses though is that if you want to try something with a lot more subtlety than most games that requires a keen mind (and a good knowledge of history) then these games offer something quite different from anything else out there.
Have to agree with the few comments here regarding the length of time played and discussion aspect: I played every "death case" with one other player and every card we tried to theorize about what happened, why, and what decision gets us the most points (as getting the best "ending" is quite hard). Every (overly) negative Review I saw, they played a game in half in hour O_o Yes, there are many things to be "patched" and will hopefully get improved (Art, the little clues, more complex choices), but it was so satisfying to get the best score! Because every card has "hidden" clues! It was never unfair or not doable! (After the first case we thought the next two were TOO easy, because we "understood" how its best to be solved) My conclusion: So much potential! Imo Time Stories had more potential, but never used it. The stories were often soo awful and boring... Here its only one little life you are figuring out. But without BS. I remember every case. I had fun discussing. I took my time and got more out of it than with some of the Exit Episodes (and thats sad XD) So I hope the series gets another "season", but with a biiig update/upgrade and perhaps different authors, so the stories stay a surprise and interesting :)
We did the one of them and it was an hour of play for us. We theorized in between each draw and actually managed to get quite close to the truth. They're not great - there's not enough direction and it's a bit random picking where to go. The scoring at the end is silly too. But we did get an hour of entertainment out of them. Can't help but think if you got through them in fifteen minutes then you somehow missed the game. Still wouldn't recommend them, but there's more to them that you let on. =
I think they're a fun way to spend 20 minutes, but daaamn am I glad I only bought 1, terrible value for money. Its so bizarre to have a game lie the wrong way about the playtime :P
I think Tom is being a bit harsh here. While the value for money is certainly lacking, and 45 mins playtime is overhyped, we did find that these games offer a fun experience if you take them for what they are. The fun comes from discussing and trying to theorise what happened. We found that there is logic to the choices, the key is knowing when to use your clues and figuring out which time cards to pick. The beauty in games like this is the near zero setup and teardown time, as such they worked best for my wife and I when we were feeling a bit too lazy to setup a big game, something Tom also probably errored on. Personally I would say give them a try.
0.38-0.43 - love the 'allriii' ... it was at THAT fine moment that i knew it was going to suck. I agree..if your game has only enough content for an app..its best to just consume it on that level. Waste of shelfspace i reckon, even for the small box size.
What a dissapointment. This game looks so deeply unsatisfying despite a great premise! 1. No art on the locations. 2. No commitment to theme A. Flavour text for choices. For narrative purposes and to help clarify why that mattered and what it might affect. B. Decisions should have consequences, not the equivalent of a happy or sad face C. Muddies a clear goal. Save a life. 3. No app integration. It could... A. Alter the timeline. Unlocking new versions of events and adding options depending on other choices B. Add difficulties where the game will help guide decisions and add logic by suggesting key events and individuals. C. Save space in the box by needing less components, leaving room for all 3 scenarios like Unlock.
This is probably why RPG referees are called "Game Masters": because every adventure they create are basically one-shot game designs, and it takes a master to design so many.
Good Lord these games are utter rubbish. Took longer to set up than to play. The whole thing was over in 15 minutes, though granted it did seem like 90 as I was that bored! I truly didn't get them or see the point in playing - a complete waste of time and money. I have no idea how they have managed to release even more of these dreadful games after plaguing the market with the first 3 !! Stay well clear, the juice is just not worth the squeeze.
best component drop ever
I don't think the time on the box is an outright lie. I think the way they're expecting people to play the game is to read a card, come up with an entire theory about what happened to use to answer the question, then get more information that either changes aspects of or completely debunks the theory, forcing the group to reconstruct their version of events from the ground up. Somewhere in the manual, it says something about how the game is the discussion, and it's not really a puzzle in the same sense that an escape room game is, where you're rewarded for figuring out the correct answer to a thing ASAP so you can solve it. THAT BEING SAID, I agree that it doesn't succeed at any of this. The stories just aren't interesting enough to warrant that much discussion/that kind of play. And sometimes the 3 options are so obvious that it's not even worth talking about anything. These games are a single Dark Stories card in a box for more money than a box of 50 Dark Stories. And maybe a single Undo is worth more than a single Dark Stories card. Historical tie-ins are ok, and you don't need a moderator like you do in Dark Stories... but I'd say a very tiny bit better, rather than 50x better.
These games are not for everyone, but I f you only play these games for fifteen minutes then I can completely understand why they feel underwhelming. The whole point is that the games give very subtle hints that need to be thoroughly talked through and explored as a group. The story of each game is not overt and requires careful deduction. They can be very satisfying when you work them out, but if you were just fishing in the dark and bouncing blindly from one timeline to the next, then I can see why the game feels random and unsatisfying.
Some flaws with the review: all of the timelines are useful, it’s just that one if them (which is obvious if you think about it) gives clues to the overall story rather than a chance to help avoid the death. The game doesn’t say the events happen at the same time, just that they are independent and no change affects the story as much as you describe (the game even says that your actions are very subtle). The answer cards can’t give answers that are more than numbers else it would give away the story which is the whole point of the game.
If you like stories that are big, brash and bold then avoid these games at all costs. What this review misses though is that if you want to try something with a lot more subtlety than most games that requires a keen mind (and a good knowledge of history) then these games offer something quite different from anything else out there.
I'm still not sure these are for me, but you review saved me from writing them off.
Yes, I 100% agree with your assessment.
Have to agree with the few comments here regarding the length of time played and discussion aspect: I played every "death case" with one other player and every card we tried to theorize about what happened, why, and what decision gets us the most points (as getting the best "ending" is quite hard). Every (overly) negative Review I saw, they played a game in half in hour O_o
Yes, there are many things to be "patched" and will hopefully get improved (Art, the little clues, more complex choices), but it was so satisfying to get the best score! Because every card has "hidden" clues! It was never unfair or not doable! (After the first case we thought the next two were TOO easy, because we "understood" how its best to be solved)
My conclusion: So much potential! Imo Time Stories had more potential, but never used it. The stories were often soo awful and boring... Here its only one little life you are figuring out. But without BS. I remember every case. I had fun discussing. I took my time and got more out of it than with some of the Exit Episodes (and thats sad XD) So I hope the series gets another "season", but with a biiig update/upgrade and perhaps different authors, so the stories stay a surprise and interesting :)
Tom needs to go back in time to undo his time spent on playing this game.
Even though he didn't like it, I am happy that he made sure not to spoil anything. Good job!
He spoiled several things.
We did the one of them and it was an hour of play for us. We theorized in between each draw and actually managed to get quite close to the truth. They're not great - there's not enough direction and it's a bit random picking where to go. The scoring at the end is silly too. But we did get an hour of entertainment out of them. Can't help but think if you got through them in fifteen minutes then you somehow missed the game. Still wouldn't recommend them, but there's more to them that you let on.
=
I think they're a fun way to spend 20 minutes, but daaamn am I glad I only bought 1, terrible value for money.
Its so bizarre to have a game lie the wrong way about the playtime :P
I like that you pulled examples from another game to show how it works without spoiling it. Unfortunate that everyone seems to dislike this series.
There is only one thing better than amazing game review - bad game review
Like or hate Time Stories it's disingenuous to say the stories don't make sense and can't be fathomed out. If anything they are too obvious
This could have been better as an adventure book.
Sounds like Ghost trick phantom detective spinoff
I'm glad I'm not the only who thinks this. And not the only one who knows what ghost trick is
@@willboy334 'twas such a great game, deserves a sequel
I think Tom is being a bit harsh here. While the value for money is certainly lacking, and 45 mins playtime is overhyped, we did find that these games offer a fun experience if you take them for what they are.
The fun comes from discussing and trying to theorise what happened. We found that there is logic to the choices, the key is knowing when to use your clues and figuring out which time cards to pick.
The beauty in games like this is the near zero setup and teardown time, as such they worked best for my wife and I when we were feeling a bit too lazy to setup a big game, something Tom also probably errored on. Personally I would say give them a try.
And yet again.... I agree with Tom 100%
Something must be wrong in the universe :)
0.38-0.43 - love the 'allriii' ... it was at THAT fine moment that i knew it was going to suck. I agree..if your game has only enough content for an app..its best to just consume it on that level. Waste of shelfspace i reckon, even for the small box size.
I bought three oh well it looks pretty cool though.
So it’s Time Stories without dice. Maybe that’s an improvement? (this looks terrible)
What a dissapointment. This game looks so deeply unsatisfying despite a great premise!
1. No art on the locations.
2. No commitment to theme
A. Flavour text for choices. For narrative purposes and to help clarify why that mattered and what it might affect.
B. Decisions should have consequences, not the equivalent of a happy or sad face
C. Muddies a clear goal. Save a life.
3. No app integration. It could...
A. Alter the timeline. Unlocking new versions of events and adding options depending on other choices
B. Add difficulties where the game will help guide decisions and add logic by suggesting key events and individuals.
C. Save space in the box by needing less components, leaving room for all 3 scenarios like Unlock.
This is probably the first Tom Vasel video I've seen so far that was so incredibly negative about the game. Wow!
Lol. He didn’t even bother spilling out all the components
Only way this review could have been better is if the judgement was a raspberry sound
The fact that you get no story-based feedback on your choice is just really really poor. Just lazy. Ugh.
This is probably why RPG referees are called "Game Masters": because every adventure they create are basically one-shot game designs, and it takes a master to design so many.
So i shouldnt get this? Lol
from the beginning it didn't seem to have much hope because Tom couldn't contain his sarcasm and even pretend they might be good. lol.
Thanks for saving me some money, I will not be buying any of these games.
Nice give me diamondd
yeah, thanks for making me save my money. not buying anymore..
Black stories
Good Lord these games are utter rubbish. Took longer to set up than to play. The whole thing was over in 15 minutes, though granted it did seem like 90 as I was that bored! I truly didn't get them or see the point in playing - a complete waste of time and money. I have no idea how they have managed to release even more of these dreadful games after plaguing the market with the first 3 !! Stay well clear, the juice is just not worth the squeeze.