C'mon, everyone needs an Acquire version. The old bookshelf editions are pretty cheap aren't they?

Absolute must have. Reasonably priced if you don't HAVE to have the version shown.

They are not that much, but even now, old and beat up versions are going for $25-$40.
Carpe Diem...

Get it of your wishlist. By buying it...

You will not regret owning your own copy. Get the oldest one you can find, it makes you geek cool.

Read the rules first. I fear this one is going to fall real flat.

There is definitely conflict here, but this game is more of an experience than a competition the first few times you play. It takes a while to understand the value of certain DNA cards and genotype cards. This game just takes you on a ride until familiarity sets in. Later, you'll be able to inject more strategy into your sessions. The theme is abundant, and I just purchased Origins for the same reason. I'd say that AM is a quirky game and not a must-have for 99% of gamers. But I dig it.

Some great opportunities to really mess your opponents up. A great experience game, well worth the effort. Get it.

In my experience playing the game once, when you simply optimize all variables for your species, there is little room left for confrontation. Either a species is fitter, and will take over your terrain inevitably. Or they do not.


Mike, don't kill me, I still like the game (somewhat)

This is a computer sim on paper....

It's a Sci-Fi game - keep it on there at least till we see how good it is (or isn't).

I think this one is for younger kids than Gulo Gulo.

How old is your daughter?

I play this game with my 5 and 3 year old kids, and they love it. So I think it depends on your daughter's age.

This is a good memory game. It's probably best for 3-5 year olds.

This one can be fun after a few beers, as well. Well, at least we have fun with it.

Look, a game with very few interesting decisions.

It's okay, and if you really want it for the theme, I do understand. Just don't get it for the game play...

and another

I feel I must counter the negatives. This game is an incredible two player game that only gets better as you play the same person.

I have a zillion plays under my belt and different opponents come at the game with different angles, which is fun. However, as you get to know a standard opponent you start making double and tripple blind bluffs (think of the scene in The Prince's Bride with the poison drinking game). It has this great feel of Cold War Intelligence thinking.

You also get real good at knowing the value and importance of the "Text 5 point" cards. You can pull off some tricky moves with them. This has been one of my favorite games in the last few years.

What does it cost online? $16? It is worth it. Great components as well.

It is also card game where you never hold a group of cards in your hand (good while eating dinner). Very portable and you can easily vary the VP needed to win to govern a the leangth of the game.

Most people who say ill things of the game play only a few games and then stop. This game grows on you.

Nah, I can tell a lukewarm game when I see one. I never said it was bad, just not great. If he's looking to strike some games off the list, might as well start with the "meh" stuff.

The 5-pointer cards would indeed be more interesting if it weren't for the fact that acquiring them is the pure chance of a card-flip for each player, more or less.


The theme just isn't there. Stock photos of Cold War events aren't enough. Very much like Blackjack, you'll be saying "Hit me!" within four turns of your first game. It's also Illumanti-esque in its Madlibs..."The Bankers fund the Police, who execute the religious leaders, who..."

I'll throw my hat in the ring with Mr Fuller and MrSkeletor.

I really like this game but agree that there is subtlety here that requires multiple plays. If you have someone that is likely to spend the time to 'go the journey' with you then it's a worthy addition.

Don't cut this off your list. Very good game.

Do you like rolling dice? And then rolling them again? And then again, a thousand times over? 'Cause that's all this game is, really.

If you're getting it for the cows and aliens, fine. Just don't get it for the game.

The theme in this game is very shallow and pasted on. Think Yahtzee where instead of scoring with pen and paper you score by moving little cows. If the gameplay doesn't interest you, I doubt if the theme is deep enough to make it worthwhile.

As noted, the game is merely a head-to-head Yahtzee kind of game. The original German edition is actually called Kniffel Duel (Kniffel being the German name for Yahtzee). If you hate Yahtzee, you won't like the game. I don't hate Yahtzee and don't mind spending a few minutes with the game.

If you like cows and aliens, Cosmic Cows has 'em.

Theme..... - that was a good one.

My boys love playing Dad at this (8 and 7). But it really is 'Yahtzee-light'.

Good for a game or two once a month.

I think it sounds better than it actually plays, though I need to play it again with 4-players (three was disappointing) to know...

The box is huge for what you get. There are much better games to be had.

I found this to be very boring, lack any meaningful player interaction, fill with down time that I woulds expect from an 80's game and well a little long for what it is.

I would play before buying, I did and ended up not buying.

-M

Trade fodder at best....

I liked this one a lot. I'd like a little more direct player interaction, but overall a pretty good one.

Owned and played once in 12 months. The fact it hasn't compelled me to get it out again probably says more than any words.

Well, if you need to shorten your wishlist, a game of which you don't even know why it is on your list seems like a good candidate to go.

Some interesting ideas, but the new Mutant Chronicles does the same ideas better. I'd say drop it.

Own it and have played it once so far.

Standard kind of miniature rules. Great back story if you like an "AMERICA IS THE EVIL EMPIRE!!" tag. Haven't played enough (because I lent the copy to a friend...). Got it because it sounded like Battleground Fantasy Warfare gone SciFi. Not nearly as complex. Oh, and the carboard components rock! The maps are kinda meh.

Definately something to get if you are into wargaming ala Warhammer 40k or Warmachine, but with a more elegant rulesystem and a whole lot cheaper with the cardboard cutout units. It really has a good mix of action and tactical play.

Looks like a

This looks really promising. Unless the first reports come back as super negative, this is likely to be on my gaming table by years end.

I think this was the game on my wishlist the longest as well. I just bough it last week finally during a Game-a-thon. Come on, Buy it! Everyone's else is doing it!

My experience with this game is limited to a couple of plays via VASSAL. (If you want to try this game out, you might consider doing it on VASSAL.) And I'm not much of a wargamer, so my comments may be of limited value if you have a lot of wargaming experience.

Anyway...

The two sides of the game play very differently, so be sure that you're OK with that before getting this game. Try brute force with the Scots and you're likely to get pounded quickly.

And we ran into a lot of rules problems. Stuff that seemed hard to figure out from the rules themselves but was addressed in the approximately 150 (!) threads of rules questions here on the Geek.

Finally, the game involves a mix of chaos (die rolls, anticipating opponents' moves, and the English draw pool), and strange rules (especially the multi-step wintering process and the "noble switches sides" mechanic). The interaction of these means that it may take a play or two (or more) to get to the point where you feel like you can decisions that will have the effect you want. After two games, I was starting to get some of the strategy, but the game still felt...bumpy.

Probably because Columbia games are pricey.

I would get Crusader Rex instead.

-M

I have a UT going on for Crusader Rex if you are interested

Do what I do, and what most people I know do that own this game: play it online as a PBEM game. The game was basically developed through PBEM playtesting so it works well. Plus, where else you gonna find 5 other Geeks to commit this much to a game?

Yeah, you'll be hard pressed to ever find the chance to play this one. Great theme, but it's a full day ... and you'll need some dedicated players to join you. Play online or use someone else's copy someday.

The two-player variant was quite good. You can play a scenario with multiple players in less time. Really great game, get it.

I am placing an order for this today and it comes with the French and Indian War expansion.

If you like Memoir 44 but are frustrated when you can't pull the left flank card you need, get this.

Similar complexity but more flexible.

I just preordered it even though I already have Clash for a Continent: Battles of the American Revolution and French & Indian War

These are on my wish list as well, albeit a bit lower down.