go to Gold Games
go to All Games
by Bernd Brunhoffer
Rating: 7/10 after 5+ plays - A Gold Game!
by Bernd Brunnhofer (aka Michael Tummelhofer)
art Doris Matthaus
publish Hans im Gluck/Rio Grande
players: 2-4
duration: 45-60 mins.
type: medium card game
PACE: QUICK. Choose whether or not to buy/take a card, and which one to take. Even for beginners, this shouldn't bog down. Nice brisk pace.
COMPLEXITY: MEDIUM. To learn the game won't take long at all since income and points are fairly self-explanitory. What makes it click is how to effectively acquire the different kinds of cards in order to maxmize income and victory points when appropriate. Timing for acquisitions is more tha half the game.
LUCK: MEDIUM. Card draw means some luck but players see the whole row of available cards at once, and will pick in player order, so it is mitigated quite a bit. The luck is not bothersome, and most of the game is planning by the individual players based on the cards they see.
TENSION: MEDIUM. Trying to get cards down to get just enough income to get you the cards that will get you tons of points is a delicate balancing act, and the game keeps you on your toes.
VICIOUS: LOW. The game is somewhat solitaire except for card selection, where you usually get cards you need, but can sometimes also deny your opponent cards he may want.
SOCIAL: MEDIUM. Easy to talk around.
VISUALS: GOOD. Interesting look, and I like how the buildings and persons are drawn. Very unique style, even for Doris Matthaus. Icon-esque you could say. I think the game looks good -- and quite "Russian" to boot.
THEME: MEDIUM. Well chosen setting, and though the abilities are fairly abstract, they are well represented and tied together.
GAMER APPEAL: YES. It goes quick, but has a good appeal to it, since there is lots of different cards to consider. Luck may put some off, but quite popular.
NON-GAMER APPEAL: YES. This occupies that happy medium of a middleweight game with interesting decisions that should get players of all types around the table.
2 PLAYERS: unknown to me
REPLAY: GOOD. I don't think this game is infinitely replayable -- it just seems that the solitaire nature and the limited amounts of cards will only keep you engaged for so long, especially for gamers. But it is a very pleasant game to play, and should keep its appeal for a long time for casual gamers due to the random availability of cards, etc.
RATING: 7/10 after 5+ plays.
Good with 2-4 players.
Best with 3-4 players.
Players are vying for prestige in the city of St. Petersburg. By building buildings, acquiring the help of craftsmen and artisans, and winning over advisors, they will be able to earn income enough to acquire more of the same, heaping up victory points for the end of the game. Buildings, craftsmen, and advisors are all represented by cards displaying an income and/or victory point value, as well as a cost, and sometimes a special ability. Through the various phases, players may purchase the cards for their abilities. The game benfits from a middleweight feel and interesting ways to combo different cards leading to multiple paths to victory points. One might descibe it as something like Puerto Rico light, and this game does a good job of it. This game is proving quite popular and has spent several months in the Top 25.