This is my first shot at a review and because of the format I have chosen to use it may very well all end in tears if my "review" is shot down in flames ...
Anyway , here goes ...

There seems to be a fair number of excellent reviews and session reports which deal with the rules , gameplay and mechanics with regard to this game . Hopefully my "review" will help you to decide whether you should bother to save the world from virulent disease or not ..

6 Reasons To Buy Pandemic :

]1) Thematically It's Strong : With outbreaks of disease and epidemics occurring - players striving in the roles as Medics , Scientists , Researchers and the like to find a cure and stop the spread of the infectious diseases (i.e.cubes)it does have strong elements of saving the world from apocalyptic disaster . Give the coloured cubes a name (i.e. Ebola Virus , A.I.D.S., Avian Bird Flu and Mad Cow Disease) like we have and it's even more thematic .

2) Replayability : Start game setup means that each scenario is different - the roles the players receive mesh in different ways meaning each game requires different tactics - the initial spread of diseased cities requires a differing plan - and the appearance of cards throughout the game skews gameplay significantly each time . Add the option of playing with fewer players (easier) or more "Epidemic" cards (harder) and you can make this as (relatively - but not very easy) or as devilishly difficult as you like .

3) It Scratches A Little Scratched Itch : There are a number of co-operative games out there and in truth I cannot comment on them as I have not played any of these . Suffice to say that my impression from my time at BGG is that this a category which could always do with more options . Pandemic delivers . Getting the table talk and group think thing going is a wonderfully different and refreshing slant to gaming . I love competitive gaming but this is a delightful and satisfying itch to scratch too .

4) Family Gaming Is Fun : I have a wife and 2 children aged 12 and 9 and this has been a hit - the 9 year-old generally takes one of the easier roles (Medic or Operations Expert)and again the sense of co-operation involved just sits oh so well with a mad gaming father who wants to integrate board gaming into as many aspects of family fun times as he can ! Again , in this respect , Pandemic delivers .

5) Time Is Of The Essence : You soon realize that this is true as you play the game - thus providing one of it's delicious challenges - but it is also true literally because the game (give or take 10 minutes or so) rarely takes more than an hour .

6) Theatre And Tension : Like the plot of an intriguing novel there are twists and turns , moments of tension and in most games a buildup of events to the endgame where you all win OR all lose . I've played around 15 games now and whilst we have had our head handed to us on a platter on some occasions and also had a (relatively comfortable) victory in a few -most games are "down to the wire" affairs where just one more move/card/action may have been enough to save us all . Theatre - yes as the plot thickens . Tension - definetly !

6 Reasons Not To Buy Pandemic :

1) Beware The Significant Other : This game CAN be hijacked if you or your spouse/relative/gamer friend is strongly opinionated . Groupthink is a plus here but it can be destroyed by someone who has a tendency to ride roughshod over others .

2) It's A Small World After All : Well the board is - anyway . At game setup and when there are many diseased cities in a small area the board can be crowded and difficult to examine . Sorry but this a design flaw that could have been easily avoided .

3) Err ...

4) Ummm ...

5) Ahhhh ...

6) It's Time Consuming : That's because one game soon is followed by another and another and ...


So , should you splash out on Pandemic ? Maybe I'm not to be trusted because I've been well and truly infected ...!!!