@@TheShapingSickness ..and I don't? I am just asking out of curiosity, I watched way too many Game Night! episodes before learning that two of the players are married.
I know for a fact this game would take the top of my head off, seal it in a capsule, fly it to Mars and then shoot it straight into the sun. Very much appreciate the wonderful production quality of this video though!
Wow, spot on! I generally like this game (played twice) but that shuttle mechanism is brutal and if you make a couple of timing mistakes, you'll end up outside the dome gasping for air. Unforgiving.
Wow, another stellar review by NPI. I feel you really captured the full extent of what makes On Mars interesting, dynamic, and different despite it's complexity. And the comparison to Concordia seems really apt. Thanks for the work and effort you put into it -- definitely the most informative and useful review of the game I've yet seen!
New to this channel and I love the two of you already 😂❤️. I’ve been delving too much lately on channels that showcased lots of board game scales easy, intermediate and heavy and plethora of titles. Just got so overwhelmed and excited and your video is like breath of fresh air with the entertainment value sprinkled in it 😆👍.
Your videos just keep getting better and better, great insightful and thoughtful review, keep up the good work! Plus the lighting and editing was top notch.
Love your videos, and love the “guarded recommendation” for this game. I watched the video from start to finish, and have enjoyed other Lacerda games, so I suppose I’ll just have to start saving my money now...
I love the look of this game-all the colorful components, the art, the table presence-but I think if I ever tried to play it, my head would explode. :)
I sold _Lisboa_ and kept this because - yes, it is heavier, but the theme is more interesting and the mechanisms more interconnected. So I find it easier to teach than "over here is the bishop, he gives you bonus tiles and sometimes changes the economy" etc.
Regarding the stalemate you mentioned near the end; it's not necessary to have the technology to build complexes in order to advance the colony. You can build a lone building if it's exactly 2 tiles away from a matching tile. So in theory it's possible to level up the colony the whole way with no complex technology in play. P.S.: Good review though!
Two things. 1) I just bought this and it's my first Vital Lacerda game. Everybody told me not to buy it. They said it's too complicated. They said I'll be frustrated. They said Gallerist would be better. I don't care and I can't wait for it to get here after watching this video! :D 2) I just watched this and it's my first No Pun Included video. Loved everything about it. The camera work. The editing. The playful banter. Thank you for not fading to black in the first 45 seconds!
Excellent video and audio quality in this video. Crisp, is the word that sums it up. Plus top notch delivery of the content. Thank you very much for your review. Will NOT add this to my pledge manager when buying into Kanban EV (Upcoming review for that one perhaps?? ;-) )
Another fantastic review! This one would not be my cup of tea, but you still made it look quite fascinating. I think my brainy capacity isn't much beyond Tiny Epic Galaxies when it comes to colonization games. This video, the Essen games one, and the Foodchain Magnate one were all absolutely top tier.
Great to see Elaine back, and great to see you guys back to euro mammoths business! Awesome to see somebody not afraid of Master Vital's work 😋 Just to add, if this guy who just have finished Agricola wants to try Lacerda... perhaps s/he should start with Vinhos first ^^' I think it is the most approachable of all his heavy euro games. On Mars can wait for later. Albeit, not sure how well you can play such a demanding game without both of your kidneys... On a side note, I would say Lisboa, with their clunky building mechanisms, is indeed a bigger brain burner. And I still find Gallerist the best Lacerda game 😊
Another step up in production quality! Awesome work from both of you! In the past month I've had my first plays of both this and Lisboa. Gotta say I prefer the latter. With the advanced facilities and scientists On Mars started to be a bit too much. Still, if someone suggested a game of it, I wouldn't skip a beat to jump in :)
I'm guessing you guys got a new camera 📷. Those crisp shots and composition make me more immersed in the video! Keep up the good work! The video made me pretty lost as the game seemed way too crazy and huge but as always, enjoyed your dive into it!
We haven't upgraded our cameras since... two years ago? I think the first video we shot with this camera was High Society. Just constant learning and the luxury of having Elaine working full time now.
I LOVE the look of this game! But experience has taught me anything this complex (above about 3.5 on bgg) makes me cranky like a 3 year old in need of his nap, and none of my gaming group will want to play it. So ill keep my bank account looking a little healthier on this one I think. Great review.
Thanks for the excellent review. I can’t believe I’m the first to ask where you got the lovey component trays matching the resource colours. Gawd I’m a suck for this sort of thing. You guys really are upping your game here. Nice one.
DIdn't think this game was a difficult as it was made out to be(not just by you guys to be fair). Surely it IS heavy and requires the rules to be read and then re-read. But after one mistake filled game, we got through game 2 with hardly any issues or rule checks. I just think there is much heavier stuff out there, and I think Lisboa is harder to learn. NPI being seasoned board game vets I was surprised they struggled with it. Those 18xx games they just reviewed are more complex then this. Just me. My point is: Give this game a shot, it's worth it!
Absolutely love this. This is the only 3 hour game I've ever played that immediately makes me want to play again. You think you know how to improve your play, jump into a new round and it's just a different game altogether and you're STILL left wondering why none of your plans line up. Shameless fanboying aside, completely agreed on the first 10 seconds of this video. If a 4.5 weight Lacerda game sounds like a good time to you, get this. Otherwise, probably stay away or try some of this other offerings first. I'd recommend Vinhos Deluxe for that, it was my entry point and still feels like the most accessible.
Thank your for a great review. I was looking into this game, because I love thematic euros (Terraforming Mars is favorite in my family), but also I kind of want something less involved lately. Sadly, I just don't have enough time and patience to learn and play such an extensive game.
This is your best video yet. I like that you don't just say a binary GOOD/BAD and instead clearly define who the target audience is. Your production keeps getting better and better!
Oh Efka. You set up the circle of farts and missed the opportunity to land it with a “i fart in your general direction” reference when someone gives you a “fart” for using your tech. Tsk. Loved the video. Love the game. Keep it up guys.
Cool, I played it once & it does give you that experience, that whatever you play later, no matter how complex - will always feel less complex than On Mars. I lover Lacerda games, I just stay on Earth.
Ouchy! Bought Terraforming Mars (LOVE IT!). Bought First Martians (UNPLAYABLE!). Dodged On Mars (THANK HEAVENS TO BETSY!). I enjoy Vinhos, but that's as Vital as I'll go... Awesome video - forget the camera quality and haircuts - I tune in for the white knee ;) Thanks E&E. X
Played it once. Didn’t have fun at all. Decided to not spend working hours trying to find out, if it probably could be enjoyable one day. The rocket mechanism/worker return thing alone was counterintuitive and made me angry. It also didn’t felt thematic to me, when I pushed up this scale with the white wood piece thing and those colored tiles on the right board side.
Hey the tumbnail has it's title blocked out by the time. So it just says it's bad. And then there's no title card to find out what the complete sentence was.
I'd like to try a Lacerda game, and _Escape Plan_ sounds like a good entry point, since it's supposedly less complex than his others, and I like the theme. But I'm just not sure it's worth ~$120, especially as a 2-player game.
For what it's worth, we didn't get on with Escape Plan. Purely from a thematic standpoint it promises you a getaway and then puts you in charge of planning your route on google maps for two hours. The Gallerist is a touch more complex but much more rewarding and dynamic.
@@NoPunIncluded - Ahh, thanks for the tip! I've also heard that _Escape Plan_ is too luck-based, when it comes down to seeing which lockers your key will unlock (or something to that effect).
I've got; Gallerist, Lisboa, On Mars, Escape Plan, and Vinhos. Gallerist was the one that drew me in, and it is probably the most accessible, but Lisboa or On Mars are my favorites. I like Escape Plan a lot partially because poor planning can cause you to fail to finish. Vinhos didn't click with me.
I agree that The Gallerist is a good entry point. Kanban is perhaps a bit more straightforward, but I think a little less forgiving. Escape Plan is really a different style of game.
@@Grumplestitskin - Does Escape Plan have a lot of luck? I read a review saying that (about the keys & lockers, I think). I've heard Kanban is really good, but the theme (building & testing race cars, right?) doesn't really interest me.
Both of you are so charismatic. And you have such a subtle sense of humor. Despite your warning I bought the game. I hope if my brain explodes, you won 't get splattered (because Russia is too far away from you)...
I'm a Vital fan for the most part and play heavier games. I played it 4 times and just got frustrated with all the rule exceptions... Take that for what it's worth.
I always thought the idea that euros lacked interaction and tension was...not really what euros are actually about. Euros tend to be hyper-cutthroat, just not like a fist to the face.
Agreed. Funnily enough considering it was mentioned in this review I played a game of Agricola recently - I think it’s fair to consider that a very Euro-y Euro. It is still absolutely cut-throat, because of the way the worker placement spots work - like the resources building up over time. I lost a game I played because another player took the 5 Stone from the stone spot on the 13th round of the game. I had played the profession that would have allowed me to upgrade my wooden hut into a stone hut, without needing to go through clay first. Renovating my hut to stone would have been an 8 point play for me; all I needed was the stone itself. Another player saw that, and took it from me. Just because we aren’t rolling dice and knocking over minis, doesn’t make Euros any less cut-throat. And this is coming from someone who loves rolling dice and knocking over minis!
On Mars was the second Lacerda game I played, the first being Lisboa. This may sound weird, but I feel that On Mars made a lot more sense than Lisboa in terms of grasping the rules and understanding the why and how of applying them. With that being said, On Mars is in a weird state of flux in my opinion-space after playing The Gallerist, and I'm not jumping to play On Mars anymore despite it being a pretty darn "quick" Lacerda game. On Mars feels messy at times and while I won't turn down a game of it, I'm not asking for it as my first choice. The more I play it, the less certain I am that I love it, and the less certain I am that I really understand what makes it tick. There are a lot of systems at play and I wonder if it'll hit a stride for me or if it will become a game that continues to feel a bit messy. I want to add that I feel that the Concordia comparison is a bit odd. I love Concordia, I will never sell my copy, but I find them to be highly different games. Both about efficiency of limited actions and managing resources appropriately, but On Mars is significantly more interactive, for better or worse. Concordia has some interactivity in the card market and vying for space on the map, but with On Mars every action feels dire. Anyway, great review as always, I don't know if there's a better board gaming UA-cam channel.
I really want to pick up this game as it looks amazing. Sadly I think this is far too complex for my usual gaming group. Aesthetically On Mars is probably my favourite of the various recent Mars themed games with Mission: Red Planet coming in a close second.
This game looks great! Moon meeples! I tried to understand the game but it was like listening to Chinese to my English speaking ears. I did enjoy the circle of farts!!! Lol Way too complex and fiddly for me. You guys are great I love your channel and humor. Also, moon meeples!
elaine! bessie! together with efka at last! how happy they are. but on mars? nah. fresh and clean with the future bright ahead, oh 2020, you silly year.
Fewwwf! I'm exhausted just watching that review! It looks way too complicated and, knowing my game group, will never get played. Which is why I just bought it. Obviously! Because, like actually settling On Mars, it will probably never happen in my lifetime. But, if the right sequence of events takes place, maybe it will. And I don't want to miss that opportunity, no matter how unlikely.
We got to play a demo of On Mars with Vital Lacerda at Essen Spiel 2019 and we were sold on it immediately. But then we own Lisboa, The Gallerist and CO2, so maybe we're just closet masochists.
I guess I'm weird. I held off from Lacerda games until the last year. I mean, they're so COMPLICATED, right? But then I finally said "okay" when a friend (who buys all the Lacerdas) brought Vinhos (2016). It took a while to teach and to play. But I won. And I had a great time. And once the teaching was over, I didn't find it all that complicated at all. In fact, I found it less complicated than most "medium+" weight games I played. We went on to play Lisboa, The Gallerist (twice), Escape Plan (twice) and finally On Mars. Each time this cycle repeated. Super complicated teaching, thinking "how the heck do I get started", but then about 30 minutes in it started to sing. And I was good at it! Of those seven games played, I won every single one except the two plays of The Gallerist. And I still enjoyed that game and really want to play it again. And this is against players who are not slouches in any way. Often these are players that trounce me in other games. On Mars was fantastic. Yes, it took us about 5 hours with the setup and teaching. But every turn, I was eager for my NEXT turn. I was always thinking about my grand plans. Sure, I had to unwind a few turns due to doing things wrong, but it wasn't too annoying as a learning game. It just hummed along. Again, for *my* brain, these games just click into place. They are far simpler and less stressful for *me* to play than Concordia, Agricola/Caverna, Great Western Trail, Terra Mystica, Brass, Scythe, etc. I'm just so lucky I don't have to pay for all them. :)
Thanks for the shout out!
Is this really Matt Damon?
Thats pretty cool!
Does Matt Damon play board games?
@@maximilliansantiago5208 If Matt Damon plays a boardgame in Mars, can anyone hear him scream?
@@Heldermaior When he plays "on mars", then it is depending:
- yes if he is on mars
- no when he is in orbit (no athmosphere) :P
The game does have a "Martian Potato Survival" mode
The first 5 seconds is really all you need to know.
This made me want to watch the review more. Not because I want a complex game, I don't, but I wanted to know just how deep this rabbit hole would be.
Edwin speaks the truth!
You guys look great in this review!
Are these two married? Cause Efka doesn't wear a ring
@@pipos193 who cares if they're married or not. I care about the quality content they pour out.
@@TheShapingSickness ..and I don't? I am just asking out of curiosity, I watched way too many Game Night! episodes before learning that two of the players are married.
@@pipos193 I bet it's Lincoln and Nikki.
Just kidding, it's obviously Lincoln and Dave.
@@danpsou no it's not Lin... of course it's Lincoln and Nikki!
Let's talk about how amazing these haircuts are!!!
I was going to make the same point! Elaine's new bob looks so great on her and Efka's trim is pretty fly, too.
They are very amazing.
Nottingham must have some great hairdressers!
100% my reaction upon starting the video
Right?!
beard looking good, my man. glad to see you look happier and healthier overall! thanks for all your dope content!
I know for a fact this game would take the top of my head off, seal it in a capsule, fly it to Mars and then shoot it straight into the sun. Very much appreciate the wonderful production quality of this video though!
Wow, spot on! I generally like this game (played twice) but that shuttle mechanism is brutal and if you make a couple of timing mistakes, you'll end up outside the dome gasping for air. Unforgiving.
Some really lovely photography in this one!
The color in your videos keeps getting more and more full and saturated, and I'm loving it. Keep up the good work!
Wow, another stellar review by NPI. I feel you really captured the full extent of what makes On Mars interesting, dynamic, and different despite it's complexity. And the comparison to Concordia seems really apt. Thanks for the work and effort you put into it -- definitely the most informative and useful review of the game I've yet seen!
New to this channel and I love the two of you already 😂❤️. I’ve been delving too much lately on channels that showcased lots of board game scales easy, intermediate and heavy and plethora of titles. Just got so overwhelmed and excited and your video is like breath of fresh air with the entertainment value sprinkled in it 😆👍.
Your videos just keep getting better and better, great insightful and thoughtful review, keep up the good work! Plus the lighting and editing was top notch.
Love your videos, and love the “guarded recommendation” for this game. I watched the video from start to finish, and have enjoyed other Lacerda games, so I suppose I’ll just have to start saving my money now...
I love the look of this game-all the colorful components, the art, the table presence-but I think if I ever tried to play it, my head would explode. :)
Thank you. Lisboa may be harder to learn but that doesn't make it more complicated to play.
You've done it again! Dare I say: perhaps NPI is beginning a golden age of reviews?
you're late to the party :D
Recently discovered your channel really enjoy the reviews. Thanks for making them.
I sold _Lisboa_ and kept this because - yes, it is heavier, but the theme is more interesting and the mechanisms more interconnected. So I find it easier to teach than "over here is the bishop, he gives you bonus tiles and sometimes changes the economy" etc.
Regarding the stalemate you mentioned near the end; it's not necessary to have the technology to build complexes in order to advance the colony. You can build a lone building if it's exactly 2 tiles away from a matching tile. So in theory it's possible to level up the colony the whole way with no complex technology in play.
P.S.: Good review though!
Two things. 1) I just bought this and it's my first Vital Lacerda game. Everybody told me not to buy it. They said it's too complicated. They said I'll be frustrated. They said Gallerist would be better. I don't care and I can't wait for it to get here after watching this video! :D 2) I just watched this and it's my first No Pun Included video. Loved everything about it. The camera work. The editing. The playful banter. Thank you for not fading to black in the first 45 seconds!
Welcome! So glad you enjoyed the vid. If you're into Lacerda games, our review of Kanban is some of my proudest work (Efka).
Easily the most engaging, funny and insightful reviews of boardgames on UA-cam.
The new camera is so damn good!!!! You're videos reached next level!! Thank you for your effort
Another great review Efka and Elaine! Awesome stuff!
Excellent video and audio quality in this video. Crisp, is the word that sums it up. Plus top notch delivery of the content. Thank you very much for your review. Will NOT add this to my pledge manager when buying into Kanban EV (Upcoming review for that one perhaps?? ;-) )
Another fantastic review! This one would not be my cup of tea, but you still made it look quite fascinating. I think my brainy capacity isn't much beyond Tiny Epic Galaxies when it comes to colonization games. This video, the Essen games one, and the Foodchain Magnate one were all absolutely top tier.
Great to see Elaine back, and great to see you guys back to euro mammoths business! Awesome to see somebody not afraid of Master Vital's work 😋 Just to add, if this guy who just have finished Agricola wants to try Lacerda... perhaps s/he should start with Vinhos first ^^' I think it is the most approachable of all his heavy euro games. On Mars can wait for later. Albeit, not sure how well you can play such a demanding game without both of your kidneys...
On a side note, I would say Lisboa, with their clunky building mechanisms, is indeed a bigger brain burner. And I still find Gallerist the best Lacerda game 😊
"So what is it about the surface of this planet that has such a gravitational pull." Mass. It is mass.
4:10 dude this transition is insane
Even if it's a heavy game, once it's running, the choices are not as much as you thought. My group enjoyed this so much!
Another step up in production quality! Awesome work from both of you! In the past month I've had my first plays of both this and Lisboa. Gotta say I prefer the latter. With the advanced facilities and scientists On Mars started to be a bit too much. Still, if someone suggested a game of it, I wouldn't skip a beat to jump in :)
Just from the beginning of the explanation it was brutal.
Congrats. The best opening to date on any review to date.
I'm guessing you guys got a new camera 📷. Those crisp shots and composition make me more immersed in the video! Keep up the good work! The video made me pretty lost as the game seemed way too crazy and huge but as always, enjoyed your dive into it!
We haven't upgraded our cameras since... two years ago? I think the first video we shot with this camera was High Society. Just constant learning and the luxury of having Elaine working full time now.
@@NoPunIncluded the lighting was boss!
Well, the work shows and the video *shines*
I wish I had the table space for this game...looks great.
Your game criticism has gone up to 11. I'm really enjoying your insights in a whole new way (not to mention your comedic timing and production!).
I had placed this game on my "for sale" pile but rewatching this review made me change my mind. Maybe I'll just play it solo after all.
If the first 25 seconds were the entire review I would have loved you forever 😂
But I would have wanted the entire thing the next day.
I LOVE the look of this game! But experience has taught me anything this complex (above about 3.5 on bgg) makes me cranky like a 3 year old in need of his nap, and none of my gaming group will want to play it. So ill keep my bank account looking a little healthier on this one I think. Great review.
Thanks for the excellent review. I can’t believe I’m the first to ask where you got the lovey component trays matching the resource colours. Gawd I’m a suck for this sort of thing. You guys really are upping your game here. Nice one.
You're by far not the first. They're from the BGG Store.
Great Job ! Thanks for the in depth analysis of this very deep game.
DIdn't think this game was a difficult as it was made out to be(not just by you guys to be fair). Surely it IS heavy and requires the rules to be read and then re-read. But after one mistake filled game, we got through game 2 with hardly any issues or rule checks. I just think there is much heavier stuff out there, and I think Lisboa is harder to learn. NPI being seasoned board game vets I was surprised they struggled with it. Those 18xx games they just reviewed are more complex then this. Just me. My point is: Give this game a shot, it's worth it!
Absolutely love this. This is the only 3 hour game I've ever played that immediately makes me want to play again. You think you know how to improve your play, jump into a new round and it's just a different game altogether and you're STILL left wondering why none of your plans line up.
Shameless fanboying aside, completely agreed on the first 10 seconds of this video. If a 4.5 weight Lacerda game sounds like a good time to you, get this. Otherwise, probably stay away or try some of this other offerings first. I'd recommend Vinhos Deluxe for that, it was my entry point and still feels like the most accessible.
I suspect this post is more to brag about how smart you are than anything else..
@@AbeBSea you'd suspect wrong
Thank your for a great review. I was looking into this game, because I love thematic euros (Terraforming Mars is favorite in my family), but also I kind of want something less involved lately. Sadly, I just don't have enough time and patience to learn and play such an extensive game.
This is your best video yet. I like that you don't just say a binary GOOD/BAD and instead clearly define who the target audience is.
Your production keeps getting better and better!
Nice look, Elaine :)
You guys are awesome. Best BG content creators!
Oh Efka. You set up the circle of farts and missed the opportunity to land it with a “i fart in your general direction” reference when someone gives you a “fart” for using your tech. Tsk. Loved the video. Love the game. Keep it up guys.
Every time you show the box on the table, I think "Damn, that's a huge box! "
Actually LOL'd at the intro. Great review, ya'll!
Cool, I played it once & it does give you that experience, that whatever you play later, no matter how complex - will always feel less complex than On Mars. I lover Lacerda games, I just stay on Earth.
Ouchy! Bought Terraforming Mars (LOVE IT!). Bought First Martians (UNPLAYABLE!). Dodged On Mars (THANK HEAVENS TO BETSY!). I enjoy Vinhos, but that's as Vital as I'll go...
Awesome video - forget the camera quality and haircuts - I tune in for the white knee ;) Thanks E&E. X
Best 30 seconds review EVER!
That's what s-
15:35 oh but wait, soon it will be cooperative! Lacerda is making an expansion for it - Surviving Mars
Played it once. Didn’t have fun at all. Decided to not spend working hours trying to find out, if it probably could be enjoyable one day. The rocket mechanism/worker return thing alone was counterintuitive and made me angry. It also didn’t felt thematic to me, when I pushed up this scale with the white wood piece thing and those colored tiles on the right board side.
Hey the tumbnail has it's title blocked out by the time. So it just says it's bad. And then there's no title card to find out what the complete sentence was.
I just ordered this. A great crunchy euro, this will satiate my cravings for worker placement and meeples, and I thought A Feast For Odin was complex.
This is the greatest board game review humanity has ever made
I'd like to try a Lacerda game, and _Escape Plan_ sounds like a good entry point, since it's supposedly less complex than his others, and I like the theme. But I'm just not sure it's worth ~$120, especially as a 2-player game.
For what it's worth, we didn't get on with Escape Plan. Purely from a thematic standpoint it promises you a getaway and then puts you in charge of planning your route on google maps for two hours. The Gallerist is a touch more complex but much more rewarding and dynamic.
@@NoPunIncluded - Ahh, thanks for the tip! I've also heard that _Escape Plan_ is too luck-based, when it comes down to seeing which lockers your key will unlock (or something to that effect).
I've got; Gallerist, Lisboa, On Mars, Escape Plan, and Vinhos. Gallerist was the one that drew me in, and it is probably the most accessible, but Lisboa or On Mars are my favorites. I like Escape Plan a lot partially because poor planning can cause you to fail to finish. Vinhos didn't click with me.
I agree that The Gallerist is a good entry point. Kanban is perhaps a bit more straightforward, but I think a little less forgiving. Escape Plan is really a different style of game.
@@Grumplestitskin - Does Escape Plan have a lot of luck? I read a review saying that (about the keys & lockers, I think). I've heard Kanban is really good, but the theme (building & testing race cars, right?) doesn't really interest me.
automatic english captions: "it's the equivalent of mr. lizard asking you tu run when you've only just learnt to put on your own diaper"
It’s heavy but once you play it and understand the game, it is very thematic and every step makes sense.
I agree, worth the investment if you care to make it. I have hard time separating the theme and mechanisms in this one.
Love the Wavelength shoutout
Love the channel. Love the game. Great review!
Great content, as usual! Keep up the good work!
Great review as always! If you mind sharing, what camera do you use?
Did you guys get makeovers? Looking good!
Great review ;) Always entertaining
Both of you are so charismatic. And you have such a subtle sense of humor. Despite your warning I bought the game. I hope if my brain explodes, you won 't get splattered (because Russia is too far away from you)...
I'm a Vital fan for the most part and play heavier games. I played it 4 times and just got frustrated with all the rule exceptions... Take that for what it's worth.
I don't think you're alone there.
NPI: On Mars is as complex as board games get
High Frontier: Hold my beer.
For box size reference, always use Elaine.
As usual, great work.
Can I just say how great you both look? Cause you both lookin' great!
I always thought the idea that euros lacked interaction and tension was...not really what euros are actually about. Euros tend to be hyper-cutthroat, just not like a fist to the face.
Agreed. Funnily enough considering it was mentioned in this review I played a game of Agricola recently - I think it’s fair to consider that a very Euro-y Euro. It is still absolutely cut-throat, because of the way the worker placement spots work - like the resources building up over time. I lost a game I played because another player took the 5 Stone from the stone spot on the 13th round of the game. I had played the profession that would have allowed me to upgrade my wooden hut into a stone hut, without needing to go through clay first. Renovating my hut to stone would have been an 8 point play for me; all I needed was the stone itself. Another player saw that, and took it from me.
Just because we aren’t rolling dice and knocking over minis, doesn’t make Euros any less cut-throat. And this is coming from someone who loves rolling dice and knocking over minis!
What camera and mic are you guys using to make this great videos? Production and environment is really great
On Mars was the second Lacerda game I played, the first being Lisboa. This may sound weird, but I feel that On Mars made a lot more sense than Lisboa in terms of grasping the rules and understanding the why and how of applying them. With that being said, On Mars is in a weird state of flux in my opinion-space after playing The Gallerist, and I'm not jumping to play On Mars anymore despite it being a pretty darn "quick" Lacerda game. On Mars feels messy at times and while I won't turn down a game of it, I'm not asking for it as my first choice. The more I play it, the less certain I am that I love it, and the less certain I am that I really understand what makes it tick. There are a lot of systems at play and I wonder if it'll hit a stride for me or if it will become a game that continues to feel a bit messy.
I want to add that I feel that the Concordia comparison is a bit odd. I love Concordia, I will never sell my copy, but I find them to be highly different games. Both about efficiency of limited actions and managing resources appropriately, but On Mars is significantly more interactive, for better or worse. Concordia has some interactivity in the card market and vying for space on the map, but with On Mars every action feels dire.
Anyway, great review as always, I don't know if there's a better board gaming UA-cam channel.
Top review guys! Another game ill be avoiding like the plague...wait
I have nothing valuable to say here. Just punching up the algo.
same here.
The one-sentence review is pretty much perfect.
That incidental music is 💯
Oh, the puppy has grown so much! Still cute, but not ridiculously cute like before. I guess that can be said for all of us as we grow up?
I am in the 95%
I really want to pick up this game as it looks amazing. Sadly I think this is far too complex for my usual gaming group.
Aesthetically On Mars is probably my favourite of the various recent Mars themed games with Mission: Red Planet coming in a close second.
Great to see Elaine again. The new guy does good reviews. Who is he?
Nice wavelength reference
I love this game. Every time I play it I love it a bit more. But yeah it really isn't for everyone.
This game looks great! Moon meeples! I tried to understand the game but it was like listening to Chinese to my English speaking ears. I did enjoy the circle of farts!!! Lol
Way too complex and fiddly for me.
You guys are great I love your channel and humor. Also, moon meeples!
If you think this is complex, try High Frontier, 1 look at the board is enough to scare most people
Was that Ameritrash/euro doohickey from Wavelength?
Yes!
@@NoPunIncluded you sly dogs!
You have yet to play coin war games. Ey Efka? 😀
Efka: keep the beard. It makes you look like a goddamn badass!
We've got that kitchen.
elaine! bessie! together with efka at last! how happy they are. but on mars? nah. fresh and clean with the future bright ahead, oh 2020, you silly year.
Great video!!
Fewwwf!
I'm exhausted just watching that review! It looks way too complicated and, knowing my game group, will never get played.
Which is why I just bought it.
Obviously!
Because, like actually settling On Mars, it will probably never happen in my lifetime. But, if the right sequence of events takes place, maybe it will. And I don't want to miss that opportunity, no matter how unlikely.
We got to play a demo of On Mars with Vital Lacerda at Essen Spiel 2019 and we were sold on it immediately. But then we own Lisboa, The Gallerist and CO2, so maybe we're just closet masochists.
Reggie1408 I’d suggest CO2 Second Chance. It has a cooperative mode, and you’re working against ever-escalating odds. Welcome to the Lacerda-verse.
I guess I'm weird. I held off from Lacerda games until the last year. I mean, they're so COMPLICATED, right? But then I finally said "okay" when a friend (who buys all the Lacerdas) brought Vinhos (2016). It took a while to teach and to play. But I won. And I had a great time. And once the teaching was over, I didn't find it all that complicated at all. In fact, I found it less complicated than most "medium+" weight games I played.
We went on to play Lisboa, The Gallerist (twice), Escape Plan (twice) and finally On Mars. Each time this cycle repeated. Super complicated teaching, thinking "how the heck do I get started", but then about 30 minutes in it started to sing. And I was good at it! Of those seven games played, I won every single one except the two plays of The Gallerist. And I still enjoyed that game and really want to play it again. And this is against players who are not slouches in any way. Often these are players that trounce me in other games.
On Mars was fantastic. Yes, it took us about 5 hours with the setup and teaching. But every turn, I was eager for my NEXT turn. I was always thinking about my grand plans. Sure, I had to unwind a few turns due to doing things wrong, but it wasn't too annoying as a learning game. It just hummed along.
Again, for *my* brain, these games just click into place. They are far simpler and less stressful for *me* to play than Concordia, Agricola/Caverna, Great Western Trail, Terra Mystica, Brass, Scythe, etc. I'm just so lucky I don't have to pay for all them. :)
Argh! You got me! I fell for your joke!
Did you use the red plastic cover as a filter for when you said “angrrrryyyyyy”?
Shhhhh... Don't give away my secrets 😉