Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
San Juan in Space?, 18 May 2008
Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars
Anyone familiar with Puerto Rico or more specifically, PR's card based spin-off San Juan will find the mechanics of "Race for the Galaxy" very familiar.
The game is playable by 2 to 4 players (preferably 3 or 4).
The maximum number of actions per turn is 4 - one per player but it is possible for all four players to select the same action.
There are six actions to chose from
Explore (players draw new cards)
Develop (players may put a development card into play by discarding a number of other cards to pay for it)
Settle (players may put a new world into play by discarding a number of other cards to pay for it)
Consume- Trade (player gets to cash in a trade good for more cards)
Consume - 2xVP (player gets double VP for any trade goods consumed)
Produce (produce trade goods on worlds which can do so)
If any player selects an action all the players get to do that action too. but the player who opted to do that action gets a bonus of some sort.
The purpose of the game is to have the most Victory Points when the game ends (normally when one of the players get 12 cards into play).
Victory Points are obtained by a couple of different mechanisms:
Having cards in play (each card has its cost in cards to get played and its VP value printed on it).
Selling trade goods.
Some special cards ( Cost 6 developments) also provide additional 'bonus' victory points at the end of the game for having certain combinations of things.
As in San Juan, learning which combinations of cards work well together is the key to success.
One (valid) criticism of the game is that there is little direct competition with the other players. There is subtle interaction however, particularly in selecting which action you want to activate this turn.
If, for example, you want to put out a new card you need to Settle or Develop, but you may need another card in your hand in order to pay for it
Do you take Explore this turn to make sure you have a card for next turn or do you take Settle (say) and hope/guess that one of your opponents will take Explore?
Overall there is a fantastic balance to the game and although there is an element of luck in the drawing of cards this is less important than making the best use of the cards that one does draw.
The space theme is fun and provides an element of rationale, but it doesn't drive the game and the lack of open conflict between players can make it feel like a competitive solo game - more like playing golf (say) than tennis. However it is varied and involving enough to overcome these quibbles and as it only takes around an hour to play a game, it makes an excellent short filler or gives the chance to play multiple games in an evening.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You want a top game? This is it., 23 Sep 2008
Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars
The learning curve is steep but mercifully short, and that's where things really take off. It's no Monopoly, but fortunately it's no 400-page-rulebook wargame either. What it is is a beautifully designed, beautifully rendered card game for 2-4 players, with just the right amount of interaction between them, and a replay value that goes off the scale.
If you enjoy games, you'll be playing this one a LOT, and for many years to come, and each time you'll be figuring out yet another route to success, yet another strategy to hinder your opponents, and loving every minute of it.
Thoroughly recommended for anyone with even a hint of a strategic game-player's bent.
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good and complex enough, 9 Jul 2009
Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit similar to the Puerto Rico, this is another fun game for up to 4 people (or 5, if you buy and extension pack). Not a direct conflict game, but one has to watch closely what your opponents are doing.
The total score will show who is the best.
Might be a bit overwhelming for a novice player.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
