Spirit Island

Original and in proper condition.

A (longish) TL;DR: This game is very good. People who are experienced with board games can pick this game up and play fluidly in just a few turns, but it can initially be overwhelming for casual players. The game is quite difficult, especially at first, but everything is tied together very well thematically and is very much less luck based than most cooperative board games; therefore, the (base) game is easier to play and win the more you play, but there are several ways to increase the difficulty once it feels too easy. Everyone playing feels important and all choices matter. Replay value is very high, and nobody I've played it with has had anything negative to say about it. Pros: + Thematically Consistent + Truly 1-4 players (even single player is fun and challenging) + Various difficulty levels and options for gameplay variation offer high replay value + High-Quality pieces with great art + Very hard to take control of other players - everyone feels important and their choices matter POSSIBLE Cons: - Overwhelming at first (many different pieces and gameplay elements) - Can be difficult to teach because of the above point - Seemingly few 'scenarios' and 'adversaries' (but ultimately enough once you understand how they work) - Generally very challenging for new players even with the most simple set-up Neutral Points: ~ Long play time for casual players (30-40 minutes for single player, 60+ minutes with 2 players, and easily 90-120+ minutes with 3 or 4 players, especially if playing with new players) ~ In-box dividers/piece holders are flimsy and bulky, but box includes many resealable plastic bags for pieces ~ Random elements are a small part of the game, but are very predictable, fit with the theme, and don't feel 'luck-based' ~ NOT kid friendly. Don't be fooled by the colourful art - This game is challenging and complex for many adults, and I wouldn't even want to try playing it with anyone younger than a board game savvy 13 year old (I'm thinking of my younger siblings and cousins around that age as examples: some are definitely able to play and some I wouldn't let touch the box) Things to keep in mind when first playing the game: * If you can, learn the game with 2 players first, with the rule book and online FAQ open - learning with a single player will likely result in a quick and brutal loss that won't teach you enough, and learning with more than 2 players will likely result in a jumbled mess which will take far too long. Playing with several people is much easier when at least one person already knows how to play. * USE THE 'EASY' CHARACTERS - Seriously, their rules and powers are much easier to manage, and you can eliminate the deck building portion of the game as you learn the more integral elements * Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of the game. This game is hard to beat at first. Once you learn some strategy through trial and error, victory is much easier (which is why scenarios, adversaries, and blighted island cards are in the game, all of which increase the difficulty and/or complexity)

Jogo veio em perfeito estado. É um jogo muito complexo, com uma dificuldade bem alta. Ele é coop, o que pode ser frustrante quando é tão difícil de ganhar.

It has a bit of a learning curve because of the complexity, but the complexity is what I enjoy most about it so I'm fine with the learning curve. It's well-balanced, with some luck involved because of card draws but not often unwinnable. The games where you have bad luck, you just have to have better strategy (sometimes just try to stay alive until the luck balances out). I love the systems they have for scaling the difficulty - various spirits are harder or easier to win with, especially playing solo. So I started with the easiest and worked my way up. I haven't even tried the scenarios or special invaders. The different spirits with their special abilities give the game variety and good replayability. I like that the multi-player games can still be played very independently. You don't HAVE to have a team strategy to win - if each player does well on their own board, the team wins. But if a player has bad luck and needs help, the others often can help, so multi-player games make it easier to offset bad luck. Great system for scaling up the size of the island based on the number of players. This is NOT a game for beginners or those who love simple board games. I like complex games and I'm good at remembering rules, but I still sometimes make mistakes in this one if I'm not careful. It is rather complex. If you don't want complex, don't buy this game. Otherwise it's perfect, especially for people who enjoy a solo game sometimes and other times want to play with others.

Se lo he regalado a mi novio que es un fanático de los juegos de mesa. Lo único malo (aunque eso no es problema del producto) es que está en inglés. Pero el juego es genial