1.Introduction

This game is not my cup of tea, because I like games of strategy and tactics; this is not intended to be such a game. For people who like this style of game however I think it an excellent game-- so much so that I am about to pack it up as a belated birthday present to one of my dearest friends in the world whom I KNOW to love this type of game. The title of the review is not meant to demean Scattergories, albeit I happen to loathe that game as much as my firend loves it, but rather to both suggest the game most people know to which this is most similar and nevertheless explain what is different about this game at the same time.

2. Components

The box-art is frankly gorgeous and is reproduced for both the front of the rules pamphlet and the backs of cards. A timer with light blue sand is included in the copy I am looking at. The score-sheets are plentiful but simple so that when and if they ever do run out, this is not a big deal.

3. Game-play

The game consists of five rounds. In each round, a player draws a tile with a letter on it and a card with a choice of either categories or sub-categories within a specific category. Sub-categories are optional however, at least in the basic game. Players then have until the sands in the timer [nominally 5 minutes] run out to write down as many items in the category and sub-category (when applicable) beginning with the letter on the chosen tile.

Scoring is by the correct number of entries tallied simply. The player with the most points wins. Rules are also included for play in teams, with childen or with people who wish to make things more diificult; for example, one can either make sub-categories no longer optional or even combine sub-categories so that an item must belong to both sub-categories. Thus the game has a vaiety of play-options and therefore replayability.

The thing that I imagine people would be most concerned about with this sort of game is that it would become dated. This is certainly not the case. The categories and sub-categories are broad enough not to be noticably effected by passage of time, except that where specific wars are mentioned conflicts such as Viet-Nam are conspicuously absent. Likewise, the game is tailored to Americans. For example, on a card listing the category "living statesmen/politicians", something like a quarter of the listed sub-categories are US-specific [US Congressmen, State Governor (U.S.) and so on].

These examples also serve to point out that this game draws on genuine knowledge. For example, one card lists the category scientists with sub-categories like chemist and physicist. This is a game for the educated or at least genuinely knowledgable.