3-5 Players -- 10 to adult
play time: 30-40 minutes
publisher: Gamewright
list price: $6.88 - $14.95
A simple, nautical, lighthouse themed game. The tide is rising, you must keep your life preservers afloat by playing a better card than your opponents. The player with the highest tide at the end of each hand, loses a life preserver.
#####
This simple card game, which I picked up as a stocking-stuffer from the great folks over at Funagain, has quickly become a family favorite.
First: as a family of five, it is often difficult to find games that all five of us can play -- so many games out there are for four. It was, I admit, one of the main reasons for selecting this.
The play moves quickly and easily. The rules are quite easy to understand: There are two tide cards face up. Everyone selects a card to bid for these two cards and all plays reveal their bid at the same time. The high bidder gets the lowest tide showing. The SECOND HIGHEST bidder gets the highest tide showing. Players check all the tides showing on the table (you cover any existing tide with your most recently purchased tide) -- the player with the highest tide showing loses a life preserver from their stock.
There is enough strategy that the older members of the family can plan and play, and yet it's simple enough that the youngest member (10 years old) can play competitively as well.
There's also enough change in the play for each hand, and enough randomness to assortment of cards that play will change slightly with each hand and each round.
As the most experienced gamer in the family, I quickly caught on to a strategy that worked extremely well for me (assess what my opponents are likely to do and don't spend my high cards early when there's a greater chance that I won't win the bid). If others start to play as I do, I'll have to reassess my own play ... which will keep it interesting for me.
I give this four and half (of five) stars. Highly recommended for family play!
****½
No comments:
Post a Comment