Party Like It's 1492 (A Review of Old World New World)

There's a lot of debate about who, exactly, "discovered" the Americas - Christopher Columbus, the Vikings, the Chinese, a lost tribe of Israel, or even aliens.  Now, with one of Victory Point's latest titles, you can make sure the history books get it right - it was YOU!  It may not be the vast American continents, but a New World beckons nonetheless with all its riches, honor, renown...and dangers.  Can you survive hostile Natives, an unwelcoming environment, and competition from your Old World neighbors to claim both land and glory?

That Sinking Feeling (A Review of Forbidden Island)

They call the island, Forbidden.  A little dramatic, perhaps.  You don’t believe in any of that superstitious, mumbo-jumbo.  But maybe there is a reason for the dour adjective?  I mean, every time they want to keep people out, they slap on some ominous-sounding name to discourage snooping, right?  Rumor is there are untold treasures hidden away on the island.  And they can all be yours!  Straight out of a pulp fiction yarn, you and your team ignore the warnings and fly in searching for fortune!  Only to find out the island is aptly named, after all!  Can the stories of great riches be true, as well?  Can you find out before the entire island sinks into the depths – claiming you with it?!

Wizards Gone Wild (A Preview of Keep the Crown)

The king, in his noble wisdom and generosity, has opened the royal treasury for all to partake in the abundance!  But like most things that sound too good to be true, there is a catch.  You may only take treasure in certain amounts and in a particular order.  Are you smart enough to sort through the jumbled cache before the other commoners beat you to the best riches?  Eh, if not, you can always resort to a little magic and even some old-fashioned sneakiness!

[Ed. note: This is a preview of a non-final, non-production prototype of the game. Our opinions reflect that of the game at the time we played it; the final product may feature some slight variation in game play, art, and components.]

Feel the Burn (A Review of Cavemen: The Quest for Fire)

In the land before time – because early man hadn't yet invented swatch watches – our knuckle-dragging ancestors lacked many things like bows, baskets, and trapper-keepers.  Indeed, you may wonder how the species survived without Tupperware, pedometers and koozies, but times were even darker than that - literally.  Until, that is, one momentous, undocumented moment.  Now, Rio Grande sends you back in time – way back – to be a part of arguably the greatest achievement in human history: the discovery of fire!  Can you lead your small tribe of cavemen to grow and prosper, being the first to patent the roaring flame?  Can you do better than our distant cousins?  Well, let’s hope so, considering that their IQ was smaller than the number of fingers you have on one hand.  And s'mores-eaters and Kumbaya-singers throughout history will memorialize you forever more!

Convention Round-Up: Let's Play Green Bay

I had the opportunity to attend the second annual Let’s Play Green Bay this past weekend (April 12-14).  Last year I only attended one day, but was able to finagle both Friday and Saturday this time around.  Conventions can be great fun and the large ones are mini-vacations, in and of themselves.  But they can be expensive and intimidating.  Smaller, regional, low-key events will provide much of the same flavor, if not all of the same thrills, in a more accessible and casual atmosphere.  You can also save on travel expenses by attending closer conventions – or as in my case, staying with family!

Run, Salmon, Run! (A review of Salmon Run)

When you hear of a game called Salmon Run, you might think it's about the treacherous and long journey that Salmon make every year, upriver, to return to their spawning pond and have more Salmon babies.  Congratulations, you'd be exactly right.  Salmon Run is a race for 2-4 (or sometimes 5) players up the river, over waterfalls, around rocks, and all of this while avoiding bears, eagles, and the occasionally rough current.

Fun Times on the Road: An Interview with Philip duBarry

That's a nice looking prototype! (Taken from Board Game Geek.)

Philip duBarry, known to many gamers in the hobby market for his fantastic Revolution! and Kingdom of Solomon (and most recently for Courtier in AEG's Tempest line), currently has a game on Kickstarter that seems like a departure from his normal designs: Family Vacation. We asked him a few questions about it, and he was gracious enough to answer them. (If you'd like to take a look at the Kickstarter page, click here.)

Smile and Wave, Boys (A Review of North Pole)

Imagine you’re a penguin. First of all, you’re a bird that can’t fly. That’s got to be embarrassing enough. Then, on top of that, you live somewhere way down at the bottom of the globe, not too far north of the South Pole, on some desolate island or coastline with a bunch of other flightless yokels staring at ice all day. Pretty boring stuff. That is, unless you’re frantically running (again, not flying) for your life to keep from being some sea lion’s next frozen dinner. I’d say you definitely deserve a vacation. So check out these wonderful travel brochures I have on…um…the North Pole?

Raising Hellenism (A Review of Plato 3000)

In humanity’s darkest hours, as technology regresses and knowledge of mechanics fades, your task is to restore hope. Not based on your own measly, arrogant ideas. No, the world has re-discovered Plato’s Republic and you will forge a new Utopia based upon his philosophical musings with the aid of physics and engines and such. Never mind that the Athenian thinker had no such mechanical inclinations. He was decidedly headier in nature. Not to fear, though, the game has philosophers to help. And farmers. So maybe you should also scour old libraries for copies of Principia, Poor Richard’s Almanac, and perhaps even an old Microsoft manual. Alas, then the game would have to be called Plato-Newton-Franklin-Gates 3000 and, man, that’s a long title. Especially for just a little tuck box.

Against the Current (a Kickstarter preview of Salmon Run)

I interviewed Jesse Catron last Friday about his game currently up on Kickstarter, Salmon Run. Jesse was gracious enough to send me a prototype of the game (originally called "Pond Farr") to preview. So what did I think of the game? Check out my comments below!

(Please note: Since I was sent a pre-art copy of the prototype, the pictures won't be that helpful. Check out the game's Kickstarter page for up-to-date pictures of the art. The rules and gameplay are the same.)

No Prey, No Pay (A Review of Loot)

Avast, me hearties, and steel ye nerves for this game of high stakes on the high seas.  Be ye a Pirate King?  Find out as ye gather yer band of cutthroat, scurvy scallywags and sail forth under the brave, black flag in search of plump, defenseless lubbers with hoards of booty.  'Cause it’s ne'er too early to teach yer wee ones how to pillage and plunder the buccaneer-way, eh?  Argh!

The Mercenary of Venice (A Review of Condottiere)

[editor's note: Please welcome our new friend and reviewer, whom we will cryptically refer to only as "Jason."  You may know him from his own board-gaming blog, Kinderspiel.  He has permanently joined the iSlaytheDragon team which means more reviews for everyone!  We're excited to have him.  If you want to learn more about him, check out his bio on our About page, or follow him on twitter @SpielemitKinder)

In Condottiere, you assume the titular role of a 13^th Century warlord-for-hire marching across Renaissance Italy.  Florence, Venice, Genoa, Rome; they can all be yours by employing equal parts intrigue, guile, and luck.  Command your mercenaries in battle.  Summon a legendary heroine to inspire your men.  Call upon the Church to intervene on your behalf.  Force your enemy to surrender with a daring maneuver.  And prepare to stretch your imagination for this thinly themed card game, because glory awaits!

Corner on Wheat! (a review of Pit)

One of my fondest memories of college is family game night. I didn't have any actual family at college, but that didn't stop a group of us from gathering every Saturday night to play games. There were many family game night staples (including Kill Doctor Lucky and Bang!), but one that I was introduced to there and that remains one of my favorite party games is Pit.

Feed That Panda (A Review of Takenoko)

[Editors note: The following is a Nemesis Review, featuring opinions from our in-house thematic-loving @futurewolfie and his ferocious opponent, the stodgy euro-loving @Farmerlenny.  Make sure to read both opinions to get a better overall picture of the game!]

When is the last time you played a board game about a panda?

What? Never? That's probably because there haven't really been any.  Sure some zoo or animal-themed games contain pandas, but nothing has centered around the victual-pursuing antics of a giant fat panda.

Fortunately, Takenoko is here to fill that gap.

Takenoko recently took home the French As D'Or 2012 top pick award. That's basically France's game of the year award, so good job Takenoko.  I actually haven't heard a huge amount of buzz about this game, so I wont ask if it lives up to the hype.  But is it worth a look?