Thank you for taking the time to review the game. I'll keep on trying to make them good, challenging and different enough, but pretty sure never a Zoo Game (My good friend Michael Schacht made the ultimate one). Cheers from Portugal
This game is outstanding. It has a splotter-esque approach in that it is a true player vs. player game where the person who plays the best wins. No catch up mechanics is a refreshing change of pace. The game rewards multiple plays with a group to allow a meta to develop. Everyone we've showed this to has enjoyed it (small sample size). The joy of setting up a big cascading turn and then executing it is pretty satisfying. While the frustration of having one stopped by an opponent is rage-inducing. Either way the tension it creates is the hallmark of a good design. Definitely a thinking mans game though. Full of tactics and playing off your opponents. You have to plan 5 or 6 turns ahead to do well. if that's not your thing then this game won't be for you. And if you need shiny pretty things in your game to enjoy them (another topic entirely) then ya, this one may not be your thing.
It will have its audience, albeit I believe a small one. Forward planning is all well and good, but it still has that rinse repeatness factor. Nothing feels interesting in it, even the turns where you unlock bonuses don't feel impactful and if it requires a meta to develop before it gets interesting that's going to exclude a ton of people.
My opinion is a bit more positive. It has smooth gameplay and I love what they did with the colorcoding workers. The puzzle is very sudoku-ish and the targetgroup is obviously a niche one, but I was enjoying the braincracker it gave me and the way it let me participate on my opponents actual and future actions. I think this game does its job pretty decent at the 2-player count, almost chess-like. With 4 players it is harder to get a good overview of whats going on. I should try the solo before I have a definitive judgement.
Certainly I feel a niche subgroup, it will have an audience but it's a hard sell for sure. Though honestly the ones who I see love it are those who love everything.
It’s telling that the attention for artwork was minimal. The tower on the left is very similar to the iconic tower in Shanghai, but the game is about other cities and countries. It’s like a game about the UK would feature an Eiffel Tower on the cover…
I played it with my group, and we rather like it. Definitely want to play it some more. It had a feeling of Arkwright and a bit of Panamax. But, we rather like these kind of games. It's only a game... 😉
There are literally thousands of great games at this point, if anything it's a helpful filter to just ignore the ones that look ugly. At the end of the day you're going to be staring at the damn thing for hours
Nice Video Review Luke as always, (always loved your Opening Theme) I'm so agree with you, the game look so bland overall (except for the box) that is holding me off to purchase this (even though maybe the game is amazing) for me myself: I'm looking forward to the game that gives me both good gameplay and of course, the looks. Thank you
The Game is brilliant. Sorry that you didn‘t get it. I constantly looked if other people can take my spot with the meeple colour. But yeah many people like the blenders more.
Well - some arguments - samye, rince and repeat, take a worker - build an infrastructure (and in that case - different one - which creates its own chain of events, consequence by the way) - could be applied to basically all euro games and some Your loved Obsessison - with same setup - also take workers (sorry - servants), put on a tile, get rewards - no interaction period - started to dislike as it feels dull despite of very themy (but who cares - it is still a game) And taking your other comment - I don’t like everything - but I am looking forward to this game with interesting worker placing mechanics and area control/majority puzzle - should be in Coffee Traders vicinity which I adored Board and colors are horrible - here I am with you - it is a shame - but if that does not disrupts the gameplay - I would play that anytime over Obsession
Agreed, this game doesn’t sugercoat what it is. The way your meeple row comes out creates a different gameplan for every player. Then when we unleash on the game board the interaction is where the fun is. Someone who hates this would likely hate most Knizia games.
Wasn't a fan of coffee traders but I do like obsession, not love it. But I don't have my turns fixed in place for the whole round, plus it's definitely better produced and the theme is one that can be hammed up for fun, this one doesn't even respect its own theme.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Sure - but there is 0 interaction in Obsession and I was bored after 2nd play (granted at 5p count). Asian Tigers provide way more - and turns are not fixed - your abilities are hindered - which is fine - Anyway - SETI - you gave 9-10 is not appealing to me period - watched multiple reviews and never understood all the hype - pretty forgettable plus I don’t like space thematic at all So it’s ok to agree to disagree - especially if you did not like Coffee Traders and similar games (with way more interaction than your normal euros) I was questioning more your arguments though as they are applicable to vast majority of euros to which you give way higher marks…. No worries - you still my top 3 reviews - that ratings has not changed!
Thank you for taking the time to review the game.
I'll keep on trying to make them good, challenging and different enough, but pretty sure never a Zoo Game (My good friend Michael Schacht made the ultimate one).
Cheers from Portugal
Thanks for your work designing this - one of my top ten games of the year and good enough to move me to go back and obtain Panamax (another banger).
This game is outstanding. It has a splotter-esque approach in that it is a true player vs. player game where the person who plays the best wins. No catch up mechanics is a refreshing change of pace. The game rewards multiple plays with a group to allow a meta to develop. Everyone we've showed this to has enjoyed it (small sample size). The joy of setting up a big cascading turn and then executing it is pretty satisfying. While the frustration of having one stopped by an opponent is rage-inducing. Either way the tension it creates is the hallmark of a good design.
Definitely a thinking mans game though. Full of tactics and playing off your opponents. You have to plan 5 or 6 turns ahead to do well. if that's not your thing then this game won't be for you. And if you need shiny pretty things in your game to enjoy them (another topic entirely) then ya, this one may not be your thing.
It will have its audience, albeit I believe a small one. Forward planning is all well and good, but it still has that rinse repeatness factor. Nothing feels interesting in it, even the turns where you unlock bonuses don't feel impactful and if it requires a meta to develop before it gets interesting that's going to exclude a ton of people.
Also saying the word Splotter only hurts it more 😁
My opinion is a bit more positive. It has smooth gameplay and I love what they did with the colorcoding workers. The puzzle is very sudoku-ish and the targetgroup is obviously a niche one, but I was enjoying the braincracker it gave me and the way it let me participate on my opponents actual and future actions. I think this game does its job pretty decent at the 2-player count, almost chess-like. With 4 players it is harder to get a good overview of whats going on.
I should try the solo before I have a definitive judgement.
Certainly I feel a niche subgroup, it will have an audience but it's a hard sell for sure. Though honestly the ones who I see love it are those who love everything.
It’s telling that the attention for artwork was minimal. The tower on the left is very similar to the iconic tower in Shanghai, but the game is about other cities and countries. It’s like a game about the UK would feature an Eiffel Tower on the cover…
Can't wait to play it! 😄
I played it with my group, and we rather like it. Definitely want to play it some more. It had a feeling of Arkwright and a bit of Panamax. But, we rather like these kind of games. It's only a game... 😉
Luke, did you review Ironwood yet? If so, what rating did you give it?
No I spoke about it on UK games expo review. It's ok but nothing special.
Love your reviews, and I most always go for the inverse of your views so it's a win-win for both of us. ❤😊
Trust me on this one, don't go inverse! 😉
@@TheBrokenMeepleToo late unfortunately. 😅
It's very shallow of me, I know, but it looks so darned uninspiring. I have no desire to try anything looking so dull.
Not shallow, I mean, the first bite is with the eye and in 2024 there's no excuse for not trying to make some thing presentable.
There are literally thousands of great games at this point, if anything it's a helpful filter to just ignore the ones that look ugly. At the end of the day you're going to be staring at the damn thing for hours
Nice Video Review Luke as always, (always loved your Opening Theme)
I'm so agree with you, the game look so bland overall (except for the box)
that is holding me off to purchase this (even though maybe the game is amazing)
for me myself: I'm looking forward to the game that gives me both good gameplay and of course, the looks.
Thank you
Bought it after seeing the review of boardgame ramblings. Still have to play it, but after seeing youre review it's with a small heart.
They love spreadsheet games (ugh) and the designers previous fare. If you fit in that category then hopefully result. Otherwise, yeeeeeaaaaa.......
Better try Nippon if you haven't. Nippon is one of the best Euros ever made even good with only 2 players.
I have tried Nippon. Many years ago. I'm not sure when I fell asleep....
Ay yi yi. I keep blowing up the image of the board in disbelief. Is it really as ugly as it looks? 😂
Ha ha yes. 😅
The Game is brilliant. Sorry that you didn‘t get it. I constantly looked if other people can take my spot with the meeple colour.
But yeah many people like the blenders more.
Got it just fine thank you, still found it totally boring.
I thought the cover was human created? I am sure there was a whole thread on bgg where the designed confirmed they had an artist make it
I must have missed that thread, but it's still not good art.
Way too harsh in my view. A solid 7/10.
Even on a good day I'd struggle to go past 4. It's going to have a niche audience for sure but I don't just see the appeal.
Harsh is not a term we use when rating games. Honesty is an "H" word you need to learn.
@@clvrswine thanks Mr Condescending
Well - some arguments - samye, rince and repeat, take a worker - build an infrastructure (and in that case - different one - which creates its own chain of events, consequence by the way) - could be applied to basically all euro games and some
Your loved Obsessison - with same setup - also take workers (sorry - servants), put on a tile, get rewards - no interaction period - started to dislike as it feels dull despite of very themy (but who cares - it is still a game)
And taking your other comment - I don’t like everything - but I am looking forward to this game with interesting worker placing mechanics and area control/majority puzzle - should be in Coffee Traders vicinity which I adored
Board and colors are horrible - here I am with you - it is a shame - but if that does not disrupts the gameplay - I would play that anytime over Obsession
Agreed, this game doesn’t sugercoat what it is. The way your meeple row comes out creates a different gameplan for every player. Then when we unleash on the game board the interaction is where the fun is. Someone who hates this would likely hate most Knizia games.
Wasn't a fan of coffee traders but I do like obsession, not love it. But I don't have my turns fixed in place for the whole round, plus it's definitely better produced and the theme is one that can be hammed up for fun, this one doesn't even respect its own theme.
Knizia does make a lot of boring games 😁 This game isn't interactive though at least not beyond standard euro game interaction , you race up tracks.
@@TheBrokenMeeple
Sure - but there is 0 interaction in Obsession and I was bored after 2nd play (granted at 5p count). Asian Tigers provide way more - and turns are not fixed - your abilities are hindered - which is fine -
Anyway - SETI - you gave 9-10 is not appealing to me period - watched multiple reviews and never understood all the hype - pretty forgettable plus I don’t like space thematic at all
So it’s ok to agree to disagree - especially if you did not like Coffee Traders and similar games (with way more interaction than your normal euros)
I was questioning more your arguments though as they are applicable to vast majority of euros to which you give way higher marks….
No worries - you still my top 3 reviews - that ratings has not changed!