I agree with Tom's assessment, but, You can share that knowledge of the portalsand the game is tough enough that it doesn't suffer from it, I think. The last game we played we lost on the turn we were going to win on, and we were sharing portal information. I think you can safely ignore that rule, and it still has plenty of tension and challenge.
Ok, we played this FIVE times over the weekend and we lost ALL five games. I really like the way the game plays, but damn, its next to impossible to win (from what we experienced).
If you don't like the hidden information, don't hide it. You're the one playing the game, and there are plenty of other ways to make the game harder.
Personally I like it because it means everyone should want every player to make their own decisions, rather than one player telling everyone what to do, as happens frequently in e.g. Pandemic or Ghost Stories.
@kryptx0 : i feel the same way, but he was giving an overview of the original rules. I see it as 1 person is assigned to close portals, 1 is assigned to get items, 1 blah blah...whatever...there's cooperation right there, but I guess he didn't see it that way. He also thinks that ghoulish creatures scare children or something *shrugs* won't even let his daughter come in the room 'shut the door'...for what? really? bah, whatever. love the reviews though.
Would the co-op element in this game not be the fact that you can openly share information, but be able to read other player's moves based on the information of whether they have looked at a portal or not? This seems like it would need a stronger gaming group to accomplish such a goal. Granted, if your teammates don't really know the game, then their moves would be hard to read. If the game group is experienced, then you can read each other's moves to see where the portals are.
Tom, great review as always, but can you explain how does the "cooperation without colleboration" mechanic in this game any different than the one in SoC (which features high up in your top 100)?
It seems to me all the issues you described with this mechanic apply to SoC as well ("...On Collaboration...").
How are they different? Not trying to troll, just to understand.
Because in this game, there is a VERY important piece of information that you simply can't share with the other players. So while you can cooperate in every other way, it feels a bit jilted.
Great review Tom. From what I've seen I think I agree with your assesment although if someone pulled it out I would probably give it a try, of course I'll try just about anything once.
One thing though, I don't understand why you think this should be a family game. You mark that as a point against it since you state that it should be a family game but the theme is too dark. Why should it be a family game exactly?
Yeah, that sounded weird when you said that you cant say about the portal to your teammates.. This is good, when you are sabotaging other team and you have to hide you identity, but in this case i just dont see a motivation for that.
Shut the door! ha ha.
zebrakiss2000 2 weeks ago
Shut the door!
Judgedredd1973 2 months ago
I agree with Tom's assessment, but, You can share that knowledge of the portalsand the game is tough enough that it doesn't suffer from it, I think. The last game we played we lost on the turn we were going to win on, and we were sharing portal information. I think you can safely ignore that rule, and it still has plenty of tension and challenge.
limiter3118 11 months ago
0:33 shut the door! Again!
Tuzze2 1 year ago
arkham horror made lite
gamergrounds 1 year ago
That game had me completely bought. Then the hidden information thing came up.
I'm no longer interested.
MoltenPlastic 1 year ago 2
Ok, we played this FIVE times over the weekend and we lost ALL five games. I really like the way the game plays, but damn, its next to impossible to win (from what we experienced).
Ogma01 1 year ago
Comment removed
Ogma01 1 year ago
at 4:17 was that a racial slur? JUST KIDDING!
joelat713 1 year ago
Shut the Portal....I mean Door!!
DreadArkive 1 year ago 2
Shut the door!
radon777 2 years ago 11
lol
dkindependentfilm 2 years ago
If you don't like the hidden information, don't hide it. You're the one playing the game, and there are plenty of other ways to make the game harder.
Personally I like it because it means everyone should want every player to make their own decisions, rather than one player telling everyone what to do, as happens frequently in e.g. Pandemic or Ghost Stories.
kryptx0 2 years ago
@kryptx0 : i feel the same way, but he was giving an overview of the original rules. I see it as 1 person is assigned to close portals, 1 is assigned to get items, 1 blah blah...whatever...there's cooperation right there, but I guess he didn't see it that way. He also thinks that ghoulish creatures scare children or something *shrugs* won't even let his daughter come in the room 'shut the door'...for what? really? bah, whatever. love the reviews though.
sabriath 2 years ago
SHUT THE DOOR LOLOLOLOL
qaesyan 2 years ago 3
Shut the door ~~~
gagawolala 2 years ago
As I looked through it, it...Shut The Door...as I looked through it. So stern.
So, the game sound alot like Arkham Horror except not as fun. Seems alot more random and isn't Shub Niggurath of Arkham Horror?
LookAThereThatsACard 2 years ago
No, Shub-Niggurath first appeared in "The Last Test" in 1928.
dattHoppi 2 years ago
Would the co-op element in this game not be the fact that you can openly share information, but be able to read other player's moves based on the information of whether they have looked at a portal or not? This seems like it would need a stronger gaming group to accomplish such a goal. Granted, if your teammates don't really know the game, then their moves would be hard to read. If the game group is experienced, then you can read each other's moves to see where the portals are.
cajuninms 2 years ago
haha, that "shut the door" scared me :/
Raphaelus13 2 years ago 37
Tom, great review as always, but can you explain how does the "cooperation without colleboration" mechanic in this game any different than the one in SoC (which features high up in your top 100)?
It seems to me all the issues you described with this mechanic apply to SoC as well ("...On Collaboration...").
How are they different? Not trying to troll, just to understand.
abeheron 2 years ago
Because in this game, there is a VERY important piece of information that you simply can't share with the other players. So while you can cooperate in every other way, it feels a bit jilted.
thedicetower 2 years ago
@thedicetower That mechanic struck me as a major Murphy's Rule's as well 'Did they REALLY think this rule through?" moment.
Maximara 1 year ago
objective is:
- lock old one with proper items in R'lyeh
- and at the same time close portal in University with any artifact
- and have hidden portals locked with proper artifacts
- and have no artifacts where is solid wall
You lose
- when necron goes to edge of the board and You don't reveal all old ones
- or when necron finish his move
- or there is only one player alive
I have german version... nive game but I agree that this (not bad) mechanic don't goes nice with this (not bad) theme
khaox3 2 years ago
So you're saying the objective of the game is to shut the door on monsters before they enter through portals into our world?
walt776 2 years ago
Thanks Tom. I've had my eye on this one for a while. I've always loved the board illustrations and it's good to hear a substantive review.
Madisonmofo 2 years ago
Great review Tom. From what I've seen I think I agree with your assesment although if someone pulled it out I would probably give it a try, of course I'll try just about anything once.
One thing though, I don't understand why you think this should be a family game. You mark that as a point against it since you state that it should be a family game but the theme is too dark. Why should it be a family game exactly?
EirikrThorvaldsson 2 years ago
SHUT THE DOOR!!!! ^^
etzend 2 years ago
Yeah, that sounded weird when you said that you cant say about the portal to your teammates.. This is good, when you are sabotaging other team and you have to hide you identity, but in this case i just dont see a motivation for that.
wr00t 2 years ago 2
Shut the door!
Yeaah!
MoltenPlastic 2 years ago
I understaind the theme mechanics uncompatibility.
DeepSpaceFreelancer 2 years ago
wouah tom looked real pissed when he said shut the door at :33
Medsas 2 years ago
The game's gorgeous, too bad that it doesn't seem to live up to that in gameplay.
YoksterMan 2 years ago 2
"Shut the door" That is the high point of this video.
gagawolala 2 years ago 3
Tom you need a tie clip lol, great review once again
SwimmingInMtDew 2 years ago