** For me, one of the best parts of gaming is trying out new games. It's awesome to think that your next favorite game might be sitting in the corner of a warehouse somewhere, dying to break out and bop you on the head. I like being introduced to unique mechanics and more ways to have fun. So while I can't promise this review series will be letter-perfect as to the rules explanations and such, I can promise you a candid recollection of the first game experience and whether it's worth trying or not. If you like what you've read, please check out my other "First Impressions" reviews!**
FORBIDDEN ISLAND
My wife and I got to meet <PERSON> at Orccon 2010, along with the added bonus of being taught his new game, Forbidden Island. Being relatively new to the board game scene, this was a real treat. And I am happy to say that Mr. <PERSON> was a wonderful guy, very kind-hearted, and not shy about chuckling once and a while as we tried to beat his game! And let's talk about that experience.
Forbidden Island comes in a tin box, and is published by Gamewright. We have several Gamewright games that we play with our kids -- Moose in the House, Castle Keep, Tiki Topple, Frog Juice -- and I've been very pleased with both the games and the production value. Well, Forbidden Island is no exception, in fact -- I think the production level is up there with Tiki Topple. The four treasures that come with the game are fantastic molds, sturdy, and colorful to look at. Since acquiring them are the keys to the game, this is a nice bonus (although we didn't get to grab many, more on that later). The game comes with several tiles and cards (those ugly Gamewright card backs are still present, unfortunately) and you'll lay those tiles out to start the game and form your island. You and your fellow explorers are put out in the form of pawns.
The idea of Forbidden Island is that you and some friends have finally found this island, rich with untold treasures. The problem is that the island is sinking, so you need to get back to the helicopter with the treasures quick, before the helicopter (or you) sink into the abyss. It's a fun theme! And the way that it played was very thematic. It also was quite similar to one particular game in many ways -- Pandemic. 504
In fact, if you've played Pandemic before, I contend you probably don't even need to read the rulebook for Forbidden Island. The basics are all eerily the same: you have three actions on your turn, in which you can use to move or turn over half-sunken island tiles. There's cards you draw in the deck that you keep and use later to obtain treasures, and there's also cards that make the waters rise. There's a "waters rise" chart, in which you track the level of flooding. Getting the picture? Themes aside, mechanics are almost a direct port. That's probably something that's going to bother a lot of people, and make them wonder if this one is worth getting. So what do I think about that?
Learning the game with the Leacocks.
Well, I added "Pandemic for all Ages" in the title here, and it really is. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the playtime on Forbidden Island is somewhere between 20-30 minutes. Seriously, after a learning game I don't see how it can even go past a half-hour. The mechanics in this are such that it just doesn't take very long to find all the treasures (less likely) or plunge into the abyss (most likely). This is a good thing if you're looking for a light-strategy family game, or one to introduce to non-gamers just for a "taste" of future strategy games to come. There is definitely a niche for this game, and it is well-defined, especially if you look at the publisher's other games. For <PERSON>, designing this game had to be a no-brainer -- it's an excellent way to get a new game out on the market to capitalize on Pandemic's success and to hit different markets at the same time. But really, I haven't touched on the biggest difference about this game yet:
Retailers are pre-selling it for around $12.
Now, I haven't even said if I liked the game yet, and I don't think I've even attempted to really justify whether it's worth having both this and Pandemic on your game shelf. But for $12, what you are getting in this tin is FULLY worth it. To me, it's a no-brainer. And I'll reveal the secret: Yes, I like this game! 884