Posts by Benjamin

Overview

Growing up in Alberta, Canada, I knew what wolves were from a young age. Not that I’d ever seen one up close or in the wild, but they were common in some parts of the region. They were frighteningly beautiful creatures, full of mystery and majesty. To this day, they’re one of my favorite animals. When The Alpha came out from the good folks at Bicycle (you know, the playing card company), I was more than a little intrigued.

Getting down to it, The Alpha is a game about being the dominant pack. Hunting for food, fighting for a bigger share of food, and ultimately being the very best (like no one ever was). It’s a game that’s easy to learn for all ages, which is a strength, I think. There’s a fair amount of luck to it (i.e. rolling dice to see how much food comes out of the hunt), but it all works together to create a tasty game of dominance.

 

Initial Impressions

From first read of the rule book, I could tell it would be an interesting game. It is very thematic in terms of the life of a wolf. Hunt, chase, eat, fight, repeat. (How often do wolves fight? I don’t know.)

At first glance, it looks like a fun, lightweight strategy game. At second glance? Well, let’s just say there’s a bit more than meats meets the eye.

 

Gameplay

For a bit of background, players take turns placing a wolf on an animal (or berry patch) to hunt. This continues until all wolves have been played, including the two-headed alpha pairs (these count as two, and each player has one in their color). After this, it’s feeding time. The player with the most wolves on a creature rolls the die associated with the animal. The number that comes up is how much food that player gets. Of course, you could get an X, which is nothing. Or you could get killed, in the case of the livestock. But, with greater risk comes the greater reward. And I love a good risk.

But it gets better. If there’s a tie for most wolves, the players secretly decide whether to share the kill or fight for it. If both players share, then they split the food evenly. If only one shares and one fights, the fighter gets it all. If both fight…then each player loses a wolf for a few turns due to injury. And, uh, neither player gets food. (See kids? Sharing is good!)

There’s not a lot more to it than that. Sure, there are a few intricacies, but you get the idea. It’s all about placing wolves, trying to get more of yours on a critter than the other players, while at the same time trying to stop your opponents from getting too many on one beast. It’s a fine balancing act, and there’s usually one or two animals you’ll have to let fall to your opponents. Hopefully, the other players will take care of those. (Hopefully.)

I like how the game plays. Gameplay can (and should) go quickly. I think, perhaps, the most difficult decision you’re going to make is deciding if you should share the food or fight for it. Bluffing (or straight up lying) your way to more food is a key component of winning the game. Of course, many people I’ve played this with always choose to fight anyway, so sharing wasn’t really an option in those games.

I want to also mention that I taught my two kids this game. The youngest is three and the oldest is five. The youngest asked me, during the first round, “I’m done with this game. Did you win yet?” This was, of course, to be expected from one so young (even if he did end up winning). My oldest kid, though, absolutely loved it. It really is quite language independent, so I didn’t have to read things out for him and he could be left to make his own decisions. He caught on very quickly and I didn’t need to help him with his turns. He even recognized the danger of putting his wolf on the Livestock tile—a 1-in-2 chance of killing off that wolf for the rest of the game—but he put it there anyway (he rolled an X, so he survived, albeit without gaining any food).

The game is simple, but it is fun. Now, remember, it is a “light” strategy game, so you’re not going to be hurting your brain with these decisions. This might not be everyone’s go-to at game night, but if you and those you play with prefer lighter fare anyway, The Alpha is a good choice.

 

Theme

Wolves. Hunting. Being the very best (must…resist…temptation…). This is what you’re getting into with The Alpha. The theme comes across strong with art and the little wooden wolves. The dice also play into the theme, allowing for prey to become wounded (to be picked off the next round) or get away. Wolf packs fighting and getting injured, scavenging for leftovers, risking a blast from the farmer’s rifle in the livestock field … all of these aspects of the game contribute to a solid theme.

 

Art

I like animals, especially those types that stick close to forests and mountains. The art on the animal tiles are really well done. Perhaps that’s one reason I enjoy this game. I wouldn’t put it past me. But while they could have gone for a cheaper look, they went for more realism, and I appreciate that. It’s certainly a fun game to gaze at.

 

Standouts

These are the things that stood out to me (in a good way):

-   Art

-   My five-year-old can play it!

-   Wolves

-   Risk and reward

 

Things to Consider

While the following aren’t bad, they may be things you might want to consider.

Complexity: The complexity of The Alpha is a little too simple for my tastes. But, that’s just me. It’s still a good game, but you should know your audience when bringing this one out.

Runaway Leader: One issue I’ve found more than a few times is the problem of a runaway leader. Or, if you prefer, an inability for those who have fallen behind to catch up. I’ve lapped other players on the score track (and nearly been lapped myself). It’s not always fun to know you’re destined to lose, even before the last round comes upon you. Of course, some games can be close—perhaps too close for comfort—but having players roll poorly can really hurt their chances of even coming close to winning.

 

Final Thoughts

I like The Alpha. It’s a good, solid game. It may have an issue or two, but those can be overlooked—just know they exist and play accordingly. It’s perfect for younger kids wanting to play games with their parents. In fact, during the first round, my eldest son said, “This game is hard.” But not too hard. He still caught on quickly enough. Plus, he enjoyed looking at the pictures (as do I).

You know your preferences of games. If you like some lighter complexity mixed with luck, The Alpha is a great choice. There’s a lot to like about this game, and I’m looking forward to playing it as a family again soon.

 

About the Author

Benjamin hails from Canada but now lives in Kentucky with his wife and kids. He’s a certified copyeditor through UC San Diego’s Copyediting Extension program. He’s a freelance writer and editor, covering everything from board game rule books to novels. An avid writer of science fiction and fantasy, it comes as no surprise that his favorite board games are those with rich, engaging themes. When he’s not writing or playing games, Benjamin loves to play ultimate Frisbee, watch and play rugby, and read the most epic fantasy books available. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminKocher and Instagram @Benjamin_Kocher. You can also read his board game inspired fiction at BoardGameImmersion.com. 

Overview

I grew up a few hours away from the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park in Alberta. We’d visit in the summer and go skiing there in the winter. That’s where I fell in love with the mountains, coniferous forests, and the beauty of nature. Now I live in the Eastern United States, and while we may not have those same types of parks and forests, what we do have is not to be found out west. There is a varied beauty in this country that is hard to find elsewhere. Deserts, snow-capped mountains, a super volcano surrounded by gurgling earth, mammoth cave systems that still aren’t completely mapped out, and everything in between. I wish I could visit all the national parks this country has to offer. Perhaps I will.

While I wait for that to happen, however, I can console myself with the board game: Trekking the National Parks.

Trekking the National Parks is a beautiful game of, well, visiting the national parks in the United States. It’s straightforward and easy to learn, and is just as good with two players as it is with five. Its main mechanic is set collection, and you collect trek cards which you trade in for park cards, and you collect rocks (you know you’ve pilfered a rock or something from somewhere special before).

Moving from park to park, you compete with other players to get the most points from parks and rocks. It is simple in concept as well as execution, but it provides both an educational and entertaining look at the various national parks this country has to offer. The game is quite fun, and is also great for teaching kids (and yourself) about this country’s natural beauty.

 

Initial Impressions

The first thing I did was look through the park cards. I wanted to look at all of them and reminisce about the places I’ve already visited. Given, that’s not a lot (not yet), but the pictures were so good! From the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone to Mammoth Cave, my wanderlust set in nearly instantly.

The parks cards have fun facts on them about the park, which were fun to read. My boy, who is five, loved looking at the cards as well. We talked about the different places and it was fun to see him get excited about it. (Although, he’s still a little worried Yellowstone might blow up at any moment.)

My first game went exceptionally well. I enjoyed it, and I was eager to play again. It’s nothing earth shattering, but you don’t always need a “unique new mechanic!” to have a good game or a good time. I found the theme and mechanics to work together very well.

 

Gameplay

Throughout the game, players take turns doing two actions. Once their two actions are complete, play proceeds to the next player. This goes on until either one player has five Park cards, or all of the rocks are gone from the board.

There are four actions, and you can do two different ones or two of the same: draw a Trek card, move, claim a Park card, and occupy a major park.

Now, there are three major parks (out of six) used in a game. When you occupy one of these parks, you get a special bonus, which could be a one-time bonus or ongoing. There are three other parks always visible throughout the game. When one of these gets claimed, another one is revealed. You claim a Park card by trading in the required Trek cards, as indicated by the symbols on the Park card.

The Trek cards also have numbers on them, indicating the amount of spaces you can move. So, when you take a move action, you play a Trek card and move exactly that number of spaces. But what I like about moving is that you’re not limited to only one card. You can play as many Trek cards as you want and go from one end of the country to the other (by adding the numbers together). I like it because it makes you very aware of your Trek cards. You need them to move, and you need them to occupy or claim a park. But getting from A to B as quickly as possible can be hugely beneficial. What to do, what to do….

Hand management is essential in Trekking the National Parks. You need cards for movement and trading. But there’s set collection as well, so while you’re managing your hand, you also have to keep in mind what you need. And, you should probably also pay attention to the types of cards the other players are going for, otherwise you might be storing up for a specific park and have it snatched from under your nose. I like how the gameplay encourages you to try and out-plan your opponents.

Moving is also an interesting experience. You can’t pass over the same route in the same move (no going in circles, sorry), and if someone is on a park you want to pass through, you can’t get by (this park ain’t big enough for the two of us!). This makes for some strategic—or unintentional—blocking. However, you can end your move in the same park as another player. If you do, that player gets Sorry!’d and is bumped back to the Start space. That can be good or bad for the displaced trekker, depending on where you were aiming to go.

When you end your move on a park with a rock on it, you take the rock. Having a majority of rocks in their specific colors gives you points. As you may have deduced, this can lead to some angsty tactics (which I am totally fine with), and it will help dictate where you will want to move, as well as when. There’s a little meta game that’s all about picking up rocks that is quite fun in its own right. Sure, you get lots of points for claiming parks, but the stones are just as much about denying players points as they are about getting them yourself. And if you’re not paying attention, you might end up hitting rock bottom (thank you, thank you, I’m here all week).

With the abilities granted from major parks, the meta game of stones, and the back-and-forth of hand management and set collection, Trekking the National Parks is an engaging game with more going on than it may appear at first glance. It’s fast and easy to teach (and understand), and the turns can go by quickly…assuming people aren’t daydreaming, of course.

 

Theme

If I had to pull a theme out of thin air (which I’m about to do), I’d go with nature. Or, more specifically, the national parks themselves. (But I like the overall theme of “nature,” personally.) There’s also a theme of traveling. It’s not a theme I’m always drawn to (love me some sci-fi and fantasy!), but I do find it quite refreshing. Even just the pictures on the cards draw me into the game.

And the mechanics play well with the theme, which is always a plus. Sure, in real life there will be room for more than one person in a national park (except when COVID spikes, maybe) and you don’t end up somewhere out East if someone happens to visit the same park you do (*poof!* Magic.), but hey, it’s a game. These decisions have to be made in favor of gameplay. And the gameplay has gained my favor.

 

Art

The thing that stands out about the art isn’t so much the art, but the pictures. Many (most?) of the pictures were taken by the game’s designer, Charlie Bink, which is pretty rad if you stop and think about it. What a great way to use your own photos! The pictures help you get a feel for what the park might be like, and, honestly, I could go through those cards even without playing the game (and I have). But, like I said, growing up close to a national park (albeit in Canada), I learned to appreciate nature and the outdoors from a young age.

 

Standouts

These are the things that stand out to me about the game:

• Quality park pictures
• The rock meta game
• Easy to learn and teach
• A great educational tool

 

Things to Consider

The following isn’t “bad,” but it may be something to consider.

• Complexity: As mentioned, the game is fairly simple and straightforward, which may be a turnoff for some. Personally, I like how simple it is (this coming from someone who likes a super heavy game more often than not). Just know that you should expect lighter fare when getting into this. And that’s okay.

 

Final Thoughts

I enjoy Trekking the National Parks. In general, my personal preferences are games with a bit more depth, but don’t take that to mean this game isn’t good. This is a good game. It’s fun, it’s engaging, and there is most definitely a place for it on my shelf and on my table. I am, in the end, quite happy with this game.

It is well done with smooth and fun gameplay. The prime candidates for this game are those whose favorite games lean on the lighter side of the complexity scale. Still, I find the game to be quite engaging with some good strategic thought mixed into it. And I can’t help but fight for my favorite parks as they show up.

Trekking the National Parks will be a great game for my kids as well. They may be a little young at the moment (oldest is five), but in a year or two I think they’ll be able to enjoy it with a little coaching (at first). And, there’s always the cards to take out and look at when I feel trapped and need a getaway. There’s something to be said about pictures that capture the essence of a location, and that’s one of the things I love about Trekking the National Parks.

 

What is your favorite national park?

 

About the Author

Benjamin hails from Canada but now lives in Kentucky with his wife and kids. He’s a certified copyeditor through UC San Diego’s Copyediting Extension program. He’s a freelance writer and editor, covering everything from board game rule books to novels. An avid writer of science fiction and fantasy, it comes as no surprise that his favorite board games are those with rich, engaging themes. When he’s not writing or playing games, Benjamin loves to play ultimate Frisbee, watch and play rugby, and read the most epic fantasy books available. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminKocher and Instagram @Benjamin_Kocher. You can also read his board game inspired fiction at BenjaminKocher.com.

Overview

What do you know about the scythe? For one thing, it’s a tool for harvesting crops. It’s also a handy weapon. But in the board game Scythe (by Stonemaier Games), does it reference a harvesting tool or a weapon? I submit that it’s both (as does the rule book, so confident I’m right about this).

Looking at the box art, one might think that Scythe is a war game. And it is. Sort of. But war doesn’t happen as often as it might seem, because winning the game doesn’t necessarily mean destroying the other players. Rather, there are many objectives players try to complete, and once a player has completed six of them, the game ends. Winning battles is only one of the many ways to get ahead in the post-Great War era of Eastern Europe.

But before we talk about anything else, it might be helpful to know a bit more about the game itself. Scythe is an area majority, resource management engine-building game for 1-5 players. Each player has a unique faction (with unique abilities) and a unique player mat (all with the same actions, but the costs of actions differ). Players harvest resources, build buildings (for bonuses), recruit mechs, and engage in thematic encounters.

 

Initial Impressions

I gotta say, the game is beautiful right out of the box. It may look like a lot at first glance, but worry not! Everything has its place, and it’s all streamlined in such a way that it’s not too difficult to learn. The actions are intuitive and, since there are only four main actions, you’ll get the hang of things quickly. The rule book is a huge asset to the game; it is well-written and easy to follow and understand. For a big-box game like Scythe, that’s important.

 

Gameplay

Perhaps the most important part of this review is that of gameplay. Is it fun? Is it tough to learn? Is it worth investing in all of the expansions? (I’ll leave that last one for you to figure out on your own.)

Well, I am happy to say that Scythe is a remarkably smooth game in terms of gameplay. As mentioned above, there are four main/top actions (called “top” because they’re at the top of your player mat), which helps keep your brain from exploding while learning. Those four “top” actions can move into other actions; for example, if you move into a space with another player’s mech or character, you start a battle.

There are also secondary, or “bottom,” actions (because—you guessed it—they’re at the bottom of your player mat). You can carry out a bottom action while the next player begins their turn, which helps cut out some of the downtime that would otherwise be there. I really like that aspect of the game, especially if the game is going to take a couple of hours to play through.

Another aspect of the gameplay I really like are the multiple paths to victory and, by association, the end-game condition. I mentioned that once a player places all six of their stars on achievements, the game ends. This makes it interesting for a few reasons. The first is that it gives you options. If you’re trying to accomplish one achievement but you somehow end up closer to another, go for that one instead. Each achievement can only be done once, with the exception of winning battles, which can be done two times. While this does encourage combat, it also encourages players to leave others alone, since they won’t be getting any stars out of it after their initial two.

The second reason I like the end-game condition is because the game ends as soon as someone has placed their last star. This brings the other players together—at least for a little while in the end—to keep one player from winning. The player interactions throughout the game are fun, but it’s the end-game that really ratchets things up.

All in all, I am very happy with how Scythe plays. There is a lot to like, and it’s not too tough that beginners to the hobby couldn’t pick it up after a few rounds. It’s a fantastic game for those looking for some combat but would also like to, you know, farm and build and stuff.

 

Theme

The theme of an alternate history 1920s Europa wouldn’t have been my first pick—or top 10 for that matter. And yet, I like it. A lot. The design really helps you get into the feel of the world, through art, actions, and encounters.

Speaking of encounters, this is probably one of my favorite aspects of the game. When your character (the human/animal duo) moves to a spot with an encounter token, you take the top encounter card from the deck. The card gives you three options, and you pick one of them. Some options include helping you gain free workers or mechs, and others give resources…at a price.

And then there’s the art. Actually, let’s make an entirely new section for that, shall we?

 

Art

I can’t talk about Scythe without mentioning the artwork. It’s so good! The encounter cards show such a vivid snapshot in time that I find it difficult to choose an option because I’m too busy looking at what’s going on in the picture. They are top notch, and I highly recommend taking a moment to look at the images before choosing an encounter option.

But it’s more than just the encounter cards. The board itself looks wonderful, the faction boards are detailed, and everything is done with such quality that I’d be happy framing the cards and box for their art alone. It’s this attention to detail that helps the game stand out as it does.

 

Solo Play

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to talk about Scythe’s solo variant. The first solo game from Stonemaier Games I played was Wingspan, and I thought it was amazing. The same people that created Wingspan’s solo variant also created Scythe’s, so I had high hopes.

Well…

My hopes were met. The Automa rules are really, really good. It does take some time to get used to the Automa’s actions, but it starts to make sense relatively quickly. Toward the end of my first solo game, I wasn’t flipping through the rule book nearly as much. So that’s promising.

The Automa doesn’t act like a regular human player, but that’s to be expected. Instead, the Automa kind of teleports from A to B, as per the directions on the current Automa card. What it does do to near perfection is that it simulates what another player might have or do throughout a game. Scoring was also super close, which is a sign of good balance.

While I love playing with others, I do love a good solo game, and Scythe didn’t disappoint.

 

Standouts

These are the things that make the game so awesome (for me, anyway):

-   Solo variant

-   Smooth gameplay (solo and multiplayer)

-   Encounters

-   Option to battle or not as you choose

-   End-game trigger

-   Balanced at all player counts, including two players

 

Things to Consider

While the following point may not be inherently “bad,” it is something you may want to consider.

-   Automa can feel a bit glitchy at times, but just for a moment or two (trying to keep track of everything it does and where it can and cannot go).

Honestly, that’s really the only thing that I could see being an obstacle, and that’s just for solo play.

 

Final Thoughts

For me, I love a game with a strong theme and tight mechanics; it helps me experience the game while I play it. I love how the game plays, and I love practically everything about it. I’m not always aboard the hype train (after all, there are some “highly popular” games that I’d rather not ever play again), but I can definitely see why Scythe climbed as high as it did on Board Game Geek.

And while good, smooth gameplay is essential, Stonemaier Games didn’t scrimp on the aesthetics, either. The art is stunning, and the components are all thick and high quality. This combination drives home a strong thematic experience. I’m a big fan.

What about you? What do you agree or disagree with me on from this review? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

About the Author

Benjamin hails from Canada but now lives in Kentucky with his wife and kids. He’s a certified copyeditor through UC San Diego’s Copyediting Extension program. He’s a freelance writer and editor, covering everything from board game rule books to novels. An avid writer of science fiction and fantasy, it comes as no surprise that his favorite board games are those with rich, engaging themes. When he’s not writing or playing games, Benjamin loves to play ultimate Frisbee, watch and play rugby, and read the most epic fantasy books available. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminKocher and Instagram @Benjamin_Kocher. You can also read his board game inspired fiction at BenjaminKocher.com.