Shelf Wear #1: A Seasoned Look at 7 Wonders

In Blink, Malcolm Gladwell relates an intriguing story. In the 1970s, as he tells it, Pepsi began the "Pepsi Challenge" taste test to determine whether people would choose Coke or Pepsi if they didn't know which brand was which. Pepsi won overwhelmingly in the test (which resulted in the failed and much maligned "New Coke"), even though most drinkers still professed to prefer Coke. Gladwell's point was that the method used to determine which was better was a "sip test," based on a very small sample of each cola, rather than the fuller view provided by an entire drink. Pepsi may be better after a sip, Gladwell says, but Coke is better after a glass. (Says him: I still prefer Pepsi.)

So what does that have to do with iSlaytheDragon? We are a blog that strives to be timely, and as such, our reviews are often a "sip test." We play games several times before reviewing them, but numerous pressures (timeliness, deadlines, variety) generally prevent us from "whole beverage" kinds of reviews, reviews of games that have stood the test of time for us. And that's okay. As I've said over and over again, we're reviewers, not critics. We strive to help our readers discover games and determine whether those games are worthy of their gaming dollars. The "whole beverage" test we leave up to our readers.

But the thought of going deep rather than simply broad with reviews is appealing. Hence this new series, which I'm calling Shelf Wear. Shelf Wear will focus on games that we've played a lot, quantified to 50+ plays. Chances are these will be games we've already reviewed or at least talked about, but our opinions may have changed with (or are at least better informed by) experience.

The first Shelf Wear retrospective review is of 7 Wonders.

Spinning Out of Control (a review of Gravwell)

This game, in case you couldn't tell, takes place in SPACE

Trapped in the 9th Dimension, engines down. This is your predicament; the only working device on your ship is your tractor beam, so the only way to move is to push or pull off of the nearest heavy object. But what happens if that object moves the other way?

This is the premise of Gravwell, and you'd better be on your toes, because only one of you can make it out of this dimension. Try not to spin out of control.

Swimming with the Sharks (a review of Get Bit!)

Jaws was a terrifying movie when I was younger. Terrifying. I didn't want to go near the ocean (not that I had much opportunity), and I was even suspicious of our landlocked Midwestern lakes.

But you know what is significantly less terrifying than a giant shark destroying boats and eating humans? A giant shark tearing unsuspecting swimming robots apart. See, that? That's not terrifying. That's just plain fun. That's also the premise behind Get Bit!, the game where you don't have to swim fast, just faster than your mechanical friends.

Are You Ready for Some Football? (A Review of 1st and Goal)

Are you a loyal fan of the home town team?  If so, no doubt you bleed the home colors and root for your boys (or girls) through think and thin, victory and defeat, glory and agony.  But yet, every so often (or more), watching your team on the TV, you just know that you could play better or make smarter decisions.  If only you were calling the shots and given the chance to slip that jersey on and get in the game.  Well, now is your chance!  R&R Games’ family-friendly design puts you in charge on the sidelines.  Make the call to roll, pass, and kick your way to victory!

Diamonds in the Dumpster (a review of Unexpected Treasures)

"One man's trash is another man's treasure," you've heard it said, and you take this saying to heart each night under cover of darkness at the junkyard.You never know when you'll find that piece that will complete someone's collection, and you never know when you'll have to leave empty-handed. If you know how your fellow Dumpster divers operate, you just might be able to score big in the junkyard. So grab your burglaring gloves, backpack, bike, motorcycle, car, or truck and see if you can discover some unexpected treasures.

Frantic, Fun Fleeing (a review of Escape: The Curse of the Temple)

You never really know another person until your relationship is tested--as, for example, when you are running for your lives to escape from a cursed Mayan temple as it is about to crash down around you. Will the other person return to offer a helping hand when your tools are accursed? Or will they strive to save their own skin? These are questions it would be good to know the answers to in advance.

Thank goodness for Escape: The Curse of the Temple, which will allow you to test the strength of your relationships before you face a real life-or-death crisis. But is this an adventure worth taking? Find out below!