Bruno Faidutti’s Game of the Year 2005
June 30th, 2005Bruno’s choice has been the best predictor of quality for me over the years, apart from possibly the International Gamers Award.
This year, I am not sure. I was not blown away by Himalaya, and I never enjoyed Lord of the Rings too much, so I doubt Shadows Over Camelot will be my type of game. Manila looks good. I’m short on gambling games – I think just Royal Turf.
July 1st, 2005 at 06:24
Don’t know about the others, but I certainly second Manila. It’s good fun, and pretty unique at it, too. Royal Turf is close, but I think Manila might be better than Royal Turf.
July 4th, 2005 at 17:55
I’ve played Manila once, and it was loud and fun, but before the end I think there was a sense around the table that it had gone on long enough. Seems to be a common reaction, and next time I intend to try the variant where the commodity markers are started once space further up the track, though I imagine with fewer rounds the greater the luck factor. There is a lot about the game I like – the auction phase, the hidden shares, the balancing of risk/reward in the meeple placement – but having made all those decisions I’d rather gamble on my judgement without the die roll.
July 4th, 2005 at 23:35
I did not enjoy LoTR, either. Didn’t care much for it the first time I played it, cared less for it each subsequent time. However, kids love it. It is tolerable when playing with enthusiastic kids.
I just played Camelot 2x this weekend. I do like it. Players have real choices to make. One dominant person can’t suck the fun out of the game by directing the whole flow of the game. (Maybe that’s why LotR is better with kids, the kids I play with are too independant to allow that to happen).
Players can consult with each other in Camelot, but your decision is yours alone.
Time will tell if it is a good game, but the addition of the traitor was a stroke of genius.
July 5th, 2005 at 21:00
My main problem with LOTR is that I’d rather just play an RPG. They seem so much richer than this predictable, linear game.
Manila does look good. I’m going to have to go back to Swiggers soon. My regular games nights have become very infrequent and unsatisfying.
So many games, so little time.