Now when i said i would not personally choose to play it, that doesn't mean i won't play it others want to. It's definitely in my "I don't mind this, i just wouldn't pick it off the shelf unprompted" category. Which is fine, as its a perfectly pleasant game. What games do you have that you mostly keep around for other people?
HEY this is the first ever solo game that I ever bought from target. It set the bar for component quality and in box organization WAY too high for future games 😅
I think this is a fair review. The gameplay isn't the deepest and probably won't inspire multiple repeat plays by people who enjoy really crunchy gameplay. That said, it's relatively approachable by a wide variety of people--I wouldn't call it a gateway game but not far behind. The art is fantastic and the production is top notch--it efficiently crams a bunch of quality components into a relatively small package. As a fan of the national park system this was a must have for my collection and it still sees semi-regular play.
Yeah, I do really appreciate parks for what it is, despite it not being a game i find gripping. I mean, i've kept it in my collection for years and have no plans to get rid of it because its a game others enjoy a lot more than I do. That said, i never complain when people want to play it.
Great review as always. For my group of friends Parks is always a good time. Folks often lose interest if the game is too heavy, park is just right to retain the interest of even the most new of gamers.
I bought this game for two reasons: the gameplay is not overly intricate, and the artwork and gamepieces are beautiful. Playing it is relaxing and gives me a sense of calm, especially when i play the solo game. I dont think every game has to be complex, and i didnt feel this game was advertised as such. Simple card games like uno or poker or even solitaire arent complex, and i still have fun playing them when the mood strikes. I guess i say that because i see comments here kind of (just kind of) tearing the game down a bit for one of the same reasons i like it. I guess it just kinda has a special place for me.
Great review Jarrod! Parks was on my wish list for the longest time. But as an avid hiker who has visited many of the locations in Parks, I realized I wanted this game more for the art & theme than the gameplay, which means it would end up languishing on my shelf. Now when I want to reminisce about my past hikes, I spend a few minutes gazing at some old photos and I'm done. Thx!
My desire for this game is similarly motivated. I might still pick it up if I come across a good deal, but yeah, better ways to reminisce. Although could be useful for inspiring my kids to know more about/want to visit the parks
Beautiful exposition of the game, perfectly condensed, bit like the packing of the game into the box! Love this game, if you are going to do set collection, make it beautiful which this nails. Agree the art attracted me to this game. Fills a unique space. We have enjoyed as a family and it can be used as a foundation game as you said. Fantastic review. Whether cascadia has replaced it now not sure. thanks for great content.
As always, thanks for the review. We have the base game, along with the Nightfall expansion. I completely agree that it is a light beautiful game. I play it solo, after a tough day at the office, it really hits the spot when you need to unwind after a tough day. The expansion adds some additional decisions/options, but nothing that would cause analysis paralysis or you brain to burn; again a beautiful and light addition.\ Unsure if I need to add any more.
A little over a month ago on a board gaming weekend, we split into two tables, one playing parks + nightfall, and the other playing Ark Nova with four players. Ark Nova finished first. I have no idea what happened at that table! At the time we assumed they played more than one game. Turns out they didn't.
How would you compare this to Tokaido? I got that for next to nothing, and it's strongly in the "meh" category. Parks looks like a much more appealing theme for me, but not sure how much more I'd enjoy the game play
My friend just received this for Christmas. A room full of MIT Grads and Engineers resorted to watching TH-cam after an hour of trying to figure out how to play the game. After watching a few TH-cam Videos, we concluded it is more fun to just go outside. Good luck to whoever has enough time to sit and play this game.
Bullshit. This is a tiny level above your average children's game. If a room full of MIT Grads and Engineers cannot figure out this child friendly game, it says terrible things about MIT admission criteria. That, or you're just full of shit. I think i'm gonna leave this comment up as proof that Ric Ravier and MIT are not smarter than a 5th grader
@@3MBG Thanks for your reply. I am sure many 5th Graders are smarter than I am. However, this game made no sense to me. Even after watching the videos, it just seemed kind of Wonky. Not looking to be insulted or to insult you (or anyone else). Just my experience and opinion. There were a lot of parts and cards. Maybe we weren't paying the best attention when opening things, but it wasn't clear what was what. Seasons, campfires, elements, good years, etc. Let's face it, when you go to National Parks it is more about Petting Bison and getting between moose mamma's and their calves. Thanks for your video. I am sure the game will be revisited at some point.
Absolutely agree with your opinion. I am totally fine with never playing this again - in fact I might prefer that - BUT there's nothing really wrong with the game. I just find it boring. I do like that the theme and simple mechanisms make it accessible to a wide audience (my family). ...thankfully I'm usually in charge of what games we play, so...=P
I quite like Parks, though I've only played a couple of times. Vastly prefer it to Tokaido which I find dull as dishwater. Cascadia will probably fill that niche for me though.
This game was pretty disappointing. I think just because the theme is right up my alley, I love hiking our national parks here in the US. Though my favorite, Glacier (in Montana) is not in the base game :( I thought the game was pretty meh, gameplay isn't very exciting. I still have it, but haven't played it in a year or two.
@@3MBG He might be referring to when you appeared to use the campfire to teleport backwards. I don't think there's anything in the rules that says you can do that. It simply allows you to use an occupied space when moving normally.
There were a few little things, not really important enough to comment on generally, I just like that two of them cancelled each other out: it was indeed weather starts on the second spot, which mean that when the first player went to the forest, they got a sun they shouldn't have gotten, except they should have gotten a sun, because you drew the season of growth season card :-) There was also: campfires used once per season, which isn't true. When a hiker reaches the trail end, you get the campfire back and can use it a second time that season.
Now when i said i would not personally choose to play it, that doesn't mean i won't play it others want to. It's definitely in my "I don't mind this, i just wouldn't pick it off the shelf unprompted" category. Which is fine, as its a perfectly pleasant game. What games do you have that you mostly keep around for other people?
I keep Cockroach Poker, Honey buzz and Nyet around for others.
Celestia. It's pretty fun, but it's never my first choice.
Used to love Ticket to Ride, and I still enjoy playing it but now mostly for others who are non or very casual gamers. Sushi go is another one
Catan is a game I keep around for others when they want to play
I can't stand poly games but my daughter loves cottage garden. So cottage garden hangs out in my collection.
HEY this is the first ever solo game that I ever bought from target. It set the bar for component quality and in box organization WAY too high for future games 😅
I think this is a fair review. The gameplay isn't the deepest and probably won't inspire multiple repeat plays by people who enjoy really crunchy gameplay. That said, it's relatively approachable by a wide variety of people--I wouldn't call it a gateway game but not far behind. The art is fantastic and the production is top notch--it efficiently crams a bunch of quality components into a relatively small package. As a fan of the national park system this was a must have for my collection and it still sees semi-regular play.
Yeah, I do really appreciate parks for what it is, despite it not being a game i find gripping. I mean, i've kept it in my collection for years and have no plans to get rid of it because its a game others enjoy a lot more than I do. That said, i never complain when people want to play it.
I just got Caper Europe and I am so impressed by the component quality that this distributor provides!
Great review as always. For my group of friends Parks is always a good time. Folks often lose interest if the game is too heavy, park is just right to retain the interest of even the most new of gamers.
Exactly, its why i keep it around even though its not really my jam
I bought this game for two reasons: the gameplay is not overly intricate, and the artwork and gamepieces are beautiful. Playing it is relaxing and gives me a sense of calm, especially when i play the solo game.
I dont think every game has to be complex, and i didnt feel this game was advertised as such. Simple card games like uno or poker or even solitaire arent complex, and i still have fun playing them when the mood strikes. I guess i say that because i see comments here kind of (just kind of) tearing the game down a bit for one of the same reasons i like it. I guess it just kinda has a special place for me.
I thought i was quite even handed about it. I think its a very pleasant and very pretty game
@@3MBG oh, yes you were. I’m talking about the comments section. I actually really liked your review.
I've only played it once or twice but it hits all the right notes for a very light game.
The art is fantastic.
Great review Jarrod! Parks was on my wish list for the longest time. But as an avid hiker who has visited many of the locations in Parks, I realized I wanted this game more for the art & theme than the gameplay, which means it would end up languishing on my shelf. Now when I want to reminisce about my past hikes, I spend a few minutes gazing at some old photos and I'm done. Thx!
My desire for this game is similarly motivated. I might still pick it up if I come across a good deal, but yeah, better ways to reminisce. Although could be useful for inspiring my kids to know more about/want to visit the parks
This caught my eye the other day, and I just found a really cheap lightly-used copy with the expansion today! What a great coincidence
Beautiful exposition of the game, perfectly condensed, bit like the packing of the game into the box! Love this game, if you are going to do set collection, make it beautiful which this nails. Agree the art attracted me to this game. Fills a unique space. We have enjoyed as a family and it can be used as a foundation game as you said. Fantastic review. Whether cascadia has replaced it now not sure. thanks for great content.
As always, thanks for the review. We have the base game, along with the Nightfall expansion. I completely agree that it is a light beautiful game.
I play it solo, after a tough day at the office, it really hits the spot when you need to unwind after a tough day.
The expansion adds some additional decisions/options, but nothing that would cause analysis paralysis or you brain to burn; again a beautiful and light addition.\
Unsure if I need to add any more.
I love this game solo too. It's very relaxing.
A little over a month ago on a board gaming weekend, we split into two tables, one playing parks + nightfall, and the other playing Ark Nova with four players. Ark Nova finished first. I have no idea what happened at that table! At the time we assumed they played more than one game. Turns out they didn't.
How the heck?
Thanks!
My parents and brother have played this game daily for an entire year.
Wow, thats commitment
I like the solo mode. I have the Nightfall expansion but haven't had time to play it. There's BGG user solo modes to use the expansion.
The weather tokkens beggin from the second trail side =)
Yeah, i noticed that after i took the photos
How would you compare this to Tokaido? I got that for next to nothing, and it's strongly in the "meh" category. Parks looks like a much more appealing theme for me, but not sure how much more I'd enjoy the game play
Its a step up from tokaido for sure, but if Tokaido wasn't for you at all, not sure its a big enough step up
That summary would no doubt apply to me, if it rose that high. See also Wingspan, 7 Wonders et al.
I heard bucket list as f--ing list @ 0:26 , made the review seem so bitter lol
Ha, well, a bucket list is basically that anyway :)
My friend just received this for Christmas. A room full of MIT Grads and Engineers resorted to watching TH-cam after an hour of trying to figure out how to play the game. After watching a few TH-cam Videos, we concluded it is more fun to just go outside. Good luck to whoever has enough time to sit and play this game.
Bullshit. This is a tiny level above your average children's game. If a room full of MIT Grads and Engineers cannot figure out this child friendly game, it says terrible things about MIT admission criteria. That, or you're just full of shit. I think i'm gonna leave this comment up as proof that Ric Ravier and MIT are not smarter than a 5th grader
@@3MBG Thanks for your reply. I am sure many 5th Graders are smarter than I am. However, this game made no sense to me. Even after watching the videos, it just seemed kind of Wonky. Not looking to be insulted or to insult you (or anyone else). Just my experience and opinion. There were a lot of parts and cards. Maybe we weren't paying the best attention when opening things, but it wasn't clear what was what. Seasons, campfires, elements, good years, etc. Let's face it, when you go to National Parks it is more about Petting Bison and getting between moose mamma's and their calves. Thanks for your video. I am sure the game will be revisited at some point.
Absolutely agree with your opinion. I am totally fine with never playing this again - in fact I might prefer that - BUT there's nothing really wrong with the game. I just find it boring. I do like that the theme and simple mechanisms make it accessible to a wide audience (my family).
...thankfully I'm usually in charge of what games we play, so...=P
Not thinking too hard? Sounds like a positive.
I quite like Parks, though I've only played a couple of times. Vastly prefer it to Tokaido which I find dull as dishwater. Cascadia will probably fill that niche for me though.
This game was pretty disappointing. I think just because the theme is right up my alley, I love hiking our national parks here in the US. Though my favorite, Glacier (in Montana) is not in the base game :( I thought the game was pretty meh, gameplay isn't very exciting. I still have it, but haven't played it in a year or two.
Funnily, one of the rules mistakes you make was in fact fixed by another rules mistake you made :-)
Details please
I know i forgot to put the weather on the 2nd spot onwards, but thats pretty small
@@3MBG He might be referring to when you appeared to use the campfire to teleport backwards. I don't think there's anything in the rules that says you can do that. It simply allows you to use an occupied space when moving normally.
There were a few little things, not really important enough to comment on generally, I just like that two of them cancelled each other out: it was indeed weather starts on the second spot, which mean that when the first player went to the forest, they got a sun they shouldn't have gotten, except they should have gotten a sun, because you drew the season of growth season card :-)
There was also: campfires used once per season, which isn't true. When a hiker reaches the trail end, you get the campfire back and can use it a second time that season.
Ah, good catch. I forgot that bit. One per hiker.
I enjoyed the game, beautiful components, but I got rid of it after 4 plays because it's good but not amazing game.
This game was such a letdown for me..it is ok game but nothing more.. but looks great...