Disclaimer: This is a devil's advocate review, written to present a minority viewpoint of those who might not like the game. In truth I'm a big fan of Through the Ages; it's one of my top-ranked games. But over time I have run into some issues, and I think there's some value in arguing the other side. While I still look upon TTA favorably, nothing in this review is a "false" opinion and I'll stand by everything I've written.
In the beginning the gods of gaming made Civilization, and it was good.
Then came the ill-conceived Civlization: The Board Game. And it was not good.
And then they tried to emulate the epic scope of Civilization with games such as 7 Ages. And it was... not as good.
And finally there came Through the Ages. And there was much rejoicing.
<PERSON> instant classic has soared to the top of the BGG ratings, and for many it has finally filled the hole of a millenia-spanning civilization game worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as <PERSON> seminal computer game. But does this game deserve the lavish praise it's been given? Is it truly a grail of gaming? Perhaps for some, but before you dive headlong into this sea of cards and cubes, there are several reasons why you just might have some reservations.
THE 800 LB. BASILLICA
Ok, so let's start with the obvious, the 800 lb. gorilla in the game room... This is a LONG game. Is it possible to play a complete game of Through the Ages in under three hours? Well, yes. Anything's possible. IF you and your opponent(s) have played several times and know exactly what you're doing. More likely, your first learn-and-play session will run in the four-hour range. 504
And if you try to play a four-player advanced game with one or more new players? Set aside a day.
Even once everyone knows what they are doing, this is going to be a game of length. There are no strategies or mechanics which let you take a shortcut the endgame. You *will* go through every card in the deck -- albeit at varying speeds depending on the play styles of the players, but even so it takes time. From a design standpoint this certainly has its positives, since you can fairly predict and rely on the pace of the game and plan accordingly. But it also means there will never be a "quick" game of Through the Ages, or anything even remotely close to it.
And it should be noted I'm referring to Full game. If your intention is to only ever play the the Starter or Advanced game, you probably shouldn't bother purchasing Through the Ages.
HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE.
Game play is extremely fiddly. Most of your turn is spent moving tiny little cubes and circles around, and even if you come up with a system for tracking your moves, it's fairly easy to make a mistake -- and even more likely that your opponents won't catch it. Did you adjust your science production? Did you remember to gain culture? Did you remember to clear the card row? Did you use your leftover military actions to draw cards? There's a long to-do list at the end of each turn, and every now and then I STILL realize on my opponent's turn that I forgot to do something. There's no question the mechanics work, but it comes with a price... a lot of book-keeping and maintenance, and if you forget just one small aspect of it, it can have a significant influence on the outcome of the game. Playing Through the Ages requires an intense level of concentration and attention, not just for the decisions you'll have to make, but to make sure you properly execute the mechanics.
AN IMBALANCED BREAKFAST
Through the Ages' greatest strength -- the diversity of cards -- is also one of its potential biggest weaknesses. Even veteran players will tell you there are some clear imbalances among the cards, enough such that the online community has developed its own set of expansion/replacement wonders and leaders. Normally I wouldn't have SUCH a big problem with disparity in card ability, since there is a mechanism that lets you pay more for the cards you really want (take them early in the card row). Although that can be problematic as well, particularly in a 4-player game where the luck of the draw might prevent you from ever even having a chance to get a certain card. But where the issue lies is the lack of transparency, particularly for newer players.
In most games with cards, the differences in power levels are obvious. In Ticket to Ride, a wild card is better than a colored card. In games like Magic, power levels are leveraged by the cost to put the card in play. 237