A game that uses lasers as part of the gameplay sounds really cool! Thankfully, it turns out that there is more to this game than just the novelty value. I have registered and played it against several opponents on network and the computer, and the game plays very well. There is enough variety in the different setups you can choose, and the game can take truely surprising turns unless you are very alert. The game is of course in the Abstract category, since no amount of luck is involved. It is perfectly symmetrical, there are no dice, and there is no hidden information: winning is not a matter of luck, but purely one of skill. Having said that, I think it is clear that the starting player has an advantage in this game. Unlike a game like DVONN, where the game is deliberately slightly asymmetric in an attempt to offset this advantage, it is possible to take the initiative from the beginning in this game - keeping it is then of course not always easy. Happily, both of my kids enjoy the game as well, although of course at a different level. They love the laser aspect, which engages them in the game and encourages them to stick with the game for longer than they would with other abstracts such as GIPF - one of my favourite games ever. The challenge of figuring out what path the light beam will follow once the laser is activates keeps them interested for a long time. All in all, I can recommend this game for anyone that wants an abstract game with an interesting twist - whether it's for adults or for (large) kids. |
