Game Review - Koi-koi Hanafuda

 In news that will not surprise anyone I am once again reviewing a relatively obscure game from Japan. However, it is not based on anime, does not have an obtuse and impenetrable theme and so is probably quite good and recommendable to people who aren't weird cartoon people. The game is Hanafuda, a traditional card game from the 1800s designed to be intentionally obscure and unusual to get around restrictions on gambling. If you are interested in learning how this game works, there is a cheap and readily-available computer version on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/364930/) which costs a mere £6.99 at the time of this article's publication.

Android Netrunner: The Review

As a fan of cyberpunk science-fiction, the theme and the implementation of it in mechanical terms of Android Netrunner appealed greatly to me. A game using asymmetrical mechanics to represent a series of attacks on a company's computer servers, challenging unknown defensive protocols and avoiding traps has the potential to explore a wide design space and add a vast library of mechanics. This combines with the faction mechanic, and the limitations placed on cross-faction decks, to create a game where multiple win conditions and game states are supported both across standard card game archetypes and within them. That this is all managed in a game which currently only has two viable game-winning conditions (scoring 7 points or dealing sufficient damage to “kill” the Runner player) shows the potential within the system.

Love Letter Review

Pictured: cards, bag, little glass hearts. Not Pictured: Love.

A card game of romantic rivals for 2-4 players.

Alderac Entertainment Group made a name for themselves in the CCG boom years with my former addiction, Legend of the Five Rings, and a spate of so-so games. In the last few years they have made some really interesting hits, including their most recent release; Love Letter.

Set in their Tempest series of courtly intrigue games, Love Letter sees you setting out to win the hand of Princess Annette. It’s not going to be easy as not only are you just some Johnny-Come-Lately who has no contacts at court, but there are other rivals for the lovely Annette’s hand. You and each suitor all have to use your contacts to try and get a love letter all the way from the lowly streets of Tempest and into the princess’ dainty hand.

That’s the premise, so how’s it play?

Inside the lush cloth bag is a deck of sixteen cards and thirteen wooden blocks, replaced in my picture with little hearts because, well, it seemed more fitting.