This review continues my series of detailed reviews that attempt to be part review, part resource for anyone not totally familiar with the game. For this reason I expect readers to skip to the sections that are of most interest.
Image Courtesy of edbolme
Summary
Game Type - Card Game
Play Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of Players: 2-4
Mechanics - Deduction, Bluffing
Difficulty - Pick-up & Play (Can be learned in under 10 minutes)
Components - Good
Release - 2012
Designer - <PERSON> - (Cheaty Mages, Chronicle, Mai Star)
Overview and Theme
Love Letter was originally released by Kenai Factory in Japan and has subsequently been licensed by AEG complete with a re-theme, but the game's mechanics and implementation remain largely the same.
AEG's Love Letter uses the backdrop of the world created by AEG, which centers around the City-State of Tempest (this being the 4th game set in that world). Tempest is a city that makes use of a Rennaissance seating, complete with flowing gowns and suitors looking to woo ladies of repute. The big draw of this setting is that each game to be set there features a series of key characters that will evolve as key events occur in each of the games. How well AEG has managed to implement this and how much of a draw card it is for gamers I have no idea as this is the only game I've played in the Tempest series. All I can say is that not knowing anything about Tempest has no real bearing on the playing of the game or the ability to enjoy it.
For those interested in the story, the Queen has been arrested for high treason (I assume this takes place in an earlier release). Her daughter, Princess <PERSON> is highly upset at this turn of events and has locked herself up in the palace. The city, so sad to see the Princess unhappy is swarming with worthy suitors that all want to make the Princess happy again and attempt to get their love letter to the Princess in the hope of winning her heart.
Each player in Love Letter represents a suitor and they must try to use the various members of the court to help them get their letter into the hands of Princess <PERSON>.
That about wraps up the story, which is quaint and as good as any. 299
But Love Letter has built its popularity on one thing really, it's simple nature and easy to learn rules. Some have even questioned if this is a game in the truest sense.
I think it is and here is why...
The Components
There really isn't too much to Love Letter from a components viewpoint. In fact the game packages up so concisely that it is easy to misplace it if one is not careful. In fact I did that earlier this year and found it after 3 months.
The Cards – Love Letter makes use of nothing more than 16 cards to drive its play and of that, only 8 are unique. This has amazed many a player on their first plays.
Each card represents a member of the Royal Palace from the lowly Guards to the Princess herself. Each card is very simple in its design, featuring; a name, number, artwork and quick description.
The artwork is good without being amazing, although I do appreciate how the higher ranked royals are portrayed as more stunning than say the Priest and the Baron.
The text that outlines the power of each character is helpful but this is also listed on the summary cards of which there is 4, one for each player.
My biggest and only complaint about the cards is that they are quite thin and given the number of shuffles this game requires I think that is inexcusable. Given the game is wonderfully cheap, I think it would have been worth another 2-3 dollars per pack to improve the quality...especially given the rest of the production (velvet bag etc.)
Image Courtesy of <PERSON>
Original Edition – Many people have commented that they find the artwork of the original design more charming so I thought I would show these for the historical record. I am happy to go against the flow on this on and declare my preference for the AEG version as I find the Japanese edition artwork to come across as rather bland.
Such is the popularity of Love Letter many gamers all around the world have mocked up their own decks of cards using themes such as Doctor Who, Star Trek and Nintendo Characters, just to name a few.
Image Courtesy of <PERSON>
Cubes – In all there are 13 small red cubes. These are won each round and represent a rose that is sent by the Princess to thank the suitor who managed to get their Love Letter to her.
Image Courtesy of <PERSON>
Rules - Due to the small packaging the rulebook is presented as a small flip book, which is just over 20 pages in length. 872