Facts:

Designer: Alfredo Genovese
Year: 2005
Players: 2 to 8
Ages: 14 +

Factors:

Presentation:
Covers the overall look and feel of the game (graphics, box art, board art, pawns, etc.) Scored 1-5

The box art has much of the flavor of Formula 1 style. It’s sleek, black, with a hint of checkered motif. Pawns are little cars similar to other racing games like Formula Dé. The boards are a little different, they are nicely printing but fit together like a puzzle. You’ll want to take care of them because any warp will produce bumps at the seams. This causes a problem when you are playing against a “pawn-slider” that hits a seam and shifts the board. Since each player has a car pawn and a momentum pawn, these can be shifted if the board is bumped too hard. Still I rate it a 4.

Rules:
Rates how easy to understand the rules are, and how those rules apply to gameplay. Scored 1-5

Keeping with the racing chic design, the rule book keeps up appearances. It’s printed in a few languages so it looks bigger than it is. The game has a couple of modes of play, so there are a couple of sections to the rules. You’ll want to have a read through before sitting down to a game, but the overall mechanics are fairly easy to grasp. Rules gets 3 and a half because as they are not hard to understand, it’s not a game you’d want to break out cold and try to learn while playing.

Time:
Covers the amount of time needed to play based on a standard knowledge of the rules. Scored 1-5

BGG list the play time as 2 hours, and it could be. It really depends on which mode you are playing (basic or advanced with tires and brakes). Plus it depends on the number of laps you agree upon. For quick games we do the basic mode with two laps, and we’re through a game in under an hour. I’m giving 4 and a half to time because of its versatility.

Gameplay:
Rates how the game mechanics work to create an enjoyable experience. Scored 1-5

Bolide is ALL (99.9%) strategy. The only thing the dice is used for is to check for a good/bad/normal start and actual starting position. Once the cars are moving, it’s all about the momentum marker. Hardcore race fans will LOVE this. People who favor Formula Dé with the different dice for each gear, will find it all together different. When you move your car, the rules tell you how to counter move your momentum marker. Next turn, you are forced to approach that marker, so choosing the correct line to run is key. Running off the track will stop you in some places, and eliminate you in others. I’m giving gameplay a 4 and a half for the simulation-like aspect of the mechanics. The rules don’t over saturate these mechanics and it is a near perfect blend.

Overall:
Represents an average of Presentation, Rules, Time, & Gameplay. Shown 1-5

If you prefer strategy over dice rolls and you love racing games, you shouldn’t be disappointing in Bolide. Putting it all together Bolide crosses the finish with a solid 4 stars.