Hopefully these reviews will offer very short, though hopefully helpful pro/con reviews for those trying to make their mind up about this game.


GAME: BLOKUS TRIGON (2006)
PUBLISHER: ALARY GAMES

PROS

- Pure strategy. Building on the success of original Trigon, Trigon Blokus reduces the square-composed pieces into triangle-based pieces. And like original Trigon, strategy is everything. What piece out of 22 should you use? Will you build with your own side in mind, or will you try to block the other players? Can you make a move to suit all your needs?
- Great playing board. A matte-silver hexagon board made of sturdy plastic and ridged to hold the playing pieces securely in place.
- Attractive design. Three and four colours battle it off, making an impressive looking mosaic by the end of the game.
- Strategy from beginning to end. Your beginning setup is key, plus your ability to work your remaining tiles into an increasingly crowded board makes for a game that requires thinking and plotting with every move towards the end.
- Easy to learn and easy to play with everybody. A child could learn this in a couple of minutes, and be a worthy challenger to a person of any age. And there's something naturally attractive about this game to children. Dare I say it's shapes and colours? It's a good reason why I like it!
- Time. 20-30 minutes. Not too cold, not too hot, this game is just right. Plays long enough to feel like you've gotten a good game in, but with enough time at the end if you feel like a rematch!

CONS

- Not really suited for two players. Some games are just meant to be played with 3 or 4. Blokus Trigon offers 2-player rules, but they are simply to have each player use two colours. Not bad, but not great. Fortunately, the Blokus people know it too, so they made Blokus Duo for just those occasions.


Final comment:



Blokus Trigon is a great way to welcome the Blokus family into your home, or a necessary stand-alone to those who already own original Blokus. Using triangles instead of squares to compose the playing pieces was a smart idea, and one that forces new ways to think about the mechanics of Blokus. The game stands up firmly on its own (no need to label it as a "filler" game) and can be introduced to anybody and almost everybody will like or love it after their first play. For those who like abstract strategies, any form of Blokus is a must, and Blokus Trigon fits the role perfectly.

ps. My Blokus Trigon came with a piece missing. After contacting Blokus through their website (blokus.com - obviously), they sent me a replacement piece in under a week. They even have a "replacement piece" page on their website for these sorts of gaming emergencies. The letter of apology and "good gaming!" they sent with the piece was hand signed. Best. Customer. Service. Ever.