Front Page

Content

Authors

Game Index

Forums

Site Tools

Submissions

About

Reviews written by Gary Sax

120 results - showing 91 - 100
« 1 ... 7 8 9 10 11 12 »
Ordering
April 19, 2019 (Updated: December 15, 2020)
Rating 
 
4.0
Board Games

Root gives a great first impression and I think it's critical that most of the sides score differently but are still mainly concerned about board control. It makes the game readable for newer players. I think, ultimately, the sides have a couple strategic options and then the rest of the game is in the little tactical interactions with other players. I like Root a lot, but it doesn't have the creativity of play to push it completely over the top.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
4.5

Theseus is a fun, confrontational, quick playing game. The mancala setup gives you a focused decision space that is nevertheless rich in long term thinking (with 2 players, at least). Theseus is all about disempowering your opponent, rather than empowering yourself, which is a brave choice.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019 (Updated: December 15, 2020)
Rating 
 
4.0

I think this is the best One of These, These being sandbox pick up and deliver games. It maximizes the sandbox element, sometimes even to its detriment, but it is *constantly* trying to mix up the incentives in the game to encourage you to do something different with money, points, and opporunities. When I think of games like these I think of satisfying economic chains and routes, which is covered perfectly by Merchants of Venus, but I also think of opportunistically swashbuckling across the galaxy, which is this game's forte. It never lets you slip into a rut---it's always sort of asking "yes, and?" Its lack of any brand or theme also pushes it, imo, above the branded versions in this genre (e.g. Firely) because it has no need to give you any of the "YOU REMEMBER THIS PLANET AND GUY FROM A MOVIE?" fanservice and can just focus on the mechanical variety.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
4.0
GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
3.5
Board Games

In some ways a more modern, more cohesive design than Arkham Horror. Ultimately, however, it does not capture that AH random story generator magic with its tighter narrative and I finally sent it on its way to a new home.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
2.0

I regret to inform you that Car Wars is still a dreadful slog that gives you no sense of speed. Customizing your cars/trucks/semis/helicopters is still legitimately good fun.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
2.0

I don't think that Battletech holds up well at all. It's a clunky, ancient system that grinds badly when you have play with more than 3-4 mechs per size. Still down with the cool setting, of course.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
4.0

Labyrinth is a good game (made even better by the expansion) but abhorrently inaccurate history. It reminds me of Twilight Struggle in that TS is conceived as the Cold War as the participants saw it---I think this game is a good attempt at constructing a "War on Terror" as US officials, defense inner circle and beltway saw it. Turns out that it was a highly unrealistic view of the world in terms of what factually was going on, but I think this is what Washington thought was occuring. I facilitate back and forth about the pure ethics of having a piece of propaganda on my shelf that does, admittedly, play well.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
4.0
Board Games

Shadows is clunky and doesn't always flow just right but it features extremely creative design decisions, front and center. Not making the game a latter day D+D clone and creating your own monsters is inspired and fresh. In fact, it most resembles 1st edition D+D in its do-it-yourself, think outside the box, aesthetic. Gary Gygax would be proud, I think.

GS
Gary Sax
April 19, 2019
Rating 
 
4.0
Board Games

I am the quarriors apologist around here. It's about the same weight as Yahtzee and I like it better.

GS
Gary Sax
120 results - showing 91 - 100
« 1 ... 7 8 9 10 11 12 »