The kids always get at least one new game each at Christmas, which means for the first several weeks after Christmas we’re playing new games over the weekend. And, because I’ve mentioned two in passing, in other places, I am thinking some game reviews are in order.
First, “Last Word“, the perfect game for me to WIN because I always have the last word. Or else! And sure enough, I won. But that’s not really the point of a game review is it? The players were the three little kids, me and TW. RJ, she’s 12, did not enjoy the game. At all. But then, she often doesn’t enjoy games that she’s not immediately good at or games where many other players are better (or luckier) than she is. Liz did enjoy the game but I did not enjoy playing it with her. She’s an enthusiastic, cheerful game player, which I like, but I prefer enthusiastic, cheerful game playing that is actually errr game playing, not playing around.
The way Last Word works is each player has a “topic card” – something like “animals you might see in a zoo” or “things you see in a craft store”. A “letter” card is turned over and your job is to decide if you can think if things that start with that letter and fit into your topic. If you think you can, you turn over your topic card, shout out a word that fits, start a timer and then everyone is able to shout out words that start with that letter and fit the topic. The person who had the “last word” moves a space. Sounds easy, doesn’t it. It isn’t all that easy. And it really isn’t all that easy when the letter “N” is turned over and the enthusiastic, cheerful player turns over her “Words that describe Australia” topic card, yells out “NOTHING!” and starts the timer. I’m sorry. No, I do not accept that.
Anyway, it was amusing for four of us but not anyone’s favorite game, as far as I could tell.
The next game from the new stash was “Don’t Quote Me“. Guess who won? (blushing, why yes, I did!) Guess who did not enjoy the game. At all. (Yes, that would be the 12 year old.) Guess who was the most enthusiastic, cheerful player. (Yes, that would be the 9 year old.) I think most of us liked this one better, maybe. It has the potential to be a darn good game, if you lose the sour puss who doesn’t like it when her sister gets the EASIST questions and she gets the HARDEST questions every single time.
The object of the game is to move around the board by figuring out the person or character who said the quote. If you can guess correctly without any hints, you move three spaces. If you can guess after two tiny hints, you move two spaces. If you guess correctly after hearing three choices, you move one space. Yes I’m proud of my wrestling knowledge and also proud that I know diddley squat about race car drivers. I was sorely disappointed in some people’s knowledge of Star War’s quotes and equally disappointed, though not surprised, by some people’s knowledge of Star Trek quotes.
If someone asked me to play this game again, I’d be game.