There are 12 different symbols on the astral map, not 4 like you refer: the 12 signs of the zodiac. Also, it's a pity that you didn't played the advanced game with both modules that introduces asymmetry, special powers and make the Rest action impactful by the play and draft of objective cards that are visible to the other players. It clearly says on the rulebook that, if you are gamer, you should play with both modules turned on!
I liked the game when I tried it. Yes the simpler version for a gamer it is very simple and blend, but joining all the modules makes the game much better and takes care of most decision making and issues Tom shares here. I didn't though it was that easy to get the symbols in the middle of the board. The board is tight and if you like to have a LOT of options to go, you will not find here. I really enjoyed the game, multiplayer and the Solo mode also.
Endearing to see Fernando Pessoa and his heteronyms translated into a board game. Here in Portugal, in high school, you learn about his work and study his most known heteronyms. His writing (mostly poetry, but also prose) is amazing and his genius is a bit underrated, IMO. His heteronyms weren’t just different names he would put on a different title, they actually had a whole life, local and date of birth, jobs, personalities, drastically different writing styles and themes, etc. A brilliant person (which Pessoa actually translates to) who never really received credit for his genius until after he passed. The theme is on point here, I love and admire Pessoa. Unfortunately I do agree with Tom that the game, albeit interesting, great looking and well produced, doesn’t seem to do him true justice. Maybe it’s a me problem, but the gameplay doesn’t resonate with me particularly. I will give it credit, though, to the designer for the idea and the artist for the art. :)
Tip: If you wanna know how to pronounce it, go to google translate, change the language to the one you want, type in the word and then press the icon that looks like a speaker.
Don’t think he did even bother looking up how to pronounce the name. Finding the right way to say something is pretty easy and straightforward on the internet.
Depends a lot on who your audience is. In this case, making it simple and family friendly will get it a much better mass market appeal to toy shops, retail stores, and schools, especially in Portugal and Brazil. I don't have access to the sales numbers, so don't know how it did/is doing, but I think it's a perfectly valid choice. As a heavier gamer, I think there is a lot of potential for the theme and idea of the heteronyms to be used to build a heavier more asymmetric game, but I don't think it would sell as well.
This reminds me of your review of Dreamscape. I understand that games keep pouring in in The Dice Tower and you want to review as many games as possible, but why review a game you did not play. It is normal that reviewers have different opinions about a game, a movie, a TV-show, but it should always be very clear that the reviewer knows what she or he is talking about, and with this game I do not believe you know what you are talking about. Maybe the game did not appeal to you and you rushed through the rules and one or maybe half a play, but than you should not review it, that is not fair towards the designer.
Maybe there are so many games to review that you don't have time to prepare for the reviews. Ignorance is never a good thing and in some games it shows. I tink reviewers should be cautious when talking about a game. And even if they don't like it they should first play the game in the correct way.
Oh God, I really love Pessoa's poetry. Maybe I'll pick up this game just for the theme? It looks beautiful and I love all the thematic bits. Well, I'll think about it
Damn... that was a misfire, Tom. You can dislike the game but it felt like you haven't read the rules even. You played the starters version when, it clearly says you should play the full version if you are a gamer. Then, the four symbols? It's the Zodiac, mister. Twelve symbols, not four. The rulebook (the one and only true source of information about the gameplay) has side historical notes about the man Pessoa. By reading them you should be able to tie up all mechanics together and not get them wrong. I think it's disrespectful for a professional like you misleading your audience like that. Just saying. No, I haven't played the game yet. But, yes, I have read the rules.
Can't believe this can be taken as a review ... You may not like the game or the theme but you cannot make a review saying the game is "meh" when you played the rules wrong. This gives a very bad overview of the game itself. If you didn't want to play it, you shouldn't have reviewed it. I played the game and you played wrong on so many points that people shouldn't take count of this review. Pessoa is already on my Top Game of the year !
If you say APE - SO - UH, stressing the SO, but remove the initial A sound, you’ll be spot on with the pronunciation of the “Pe-” part of the word and pretty close with the whole word. To get it even closer to the correct pronunciation, you’ll have to pronounce the SO without the second part (the OO) of the diphthong. And I agree with the review: the game has some neat ideas but it it a bit boring.
This was a bad service to the community. Playing once, with a rule wrong, and not the full gamer version, and then do this? That's an ood attitude. It almost feels like you don't get paid to do this.. But if that's right, then you're very well paid to "review" other games...
A great theme does not always make a great game :(. Seems to me that this idea of "building poems" could have used some of Azul's mechanics or could also make a very interesting party game (like a "family friendly" version of "cards against humanity"). Meh.
"family friendly" cards againat humanity is called "apples to apples", which is ok for a group with ten and under people, even with that, with the occasional joke going over kids' heads. How might one mix Azul and Pessoa? Pit different phrases on the tiles (but using cards, of course)? Genji is a game by Zman games using poems. Themed off 'The Tale of Genji', famous, possibly world's first ever novel.
There are 12 different symbols on the astral map, not 4 like you refer: the 12 signs of the zodiac. Also, it's a pity that you didn't played the advanced game with both modules that introduces asymmetry, special powers and make the Rest action impactful by the play and draft of objective cards that are visible to the other players. It clearly says on the rulebook that, if you are gamer, you should play with both modules turned on!
I liked the game when I tried it.
Yes the simpler version for a gamer it is very simple and blend, but joining all the modules makes the game much better and takes care of most decision making and issues Tom shares here.
I didn't though it was that easy to get the symbols in the middle of the board.
The board is tight and if you like to have a LOT of options to go, you will not find here.
I really enjoyed the game, multiplayer and the Solo mode also.
Endearing to see Fernando Pessoa and his heteronyms translated into a board game. Here in Portugal, in high school, you learn about his work and study his most known heteronyms. His writing (mostly poetry, but also prose) is amazing and his genius is a bit underrated, IMO. His heteronyms weren’t just different names he would put on a different title, they actually had a whole life, local and date of birth, jobs, personalities, drastically different writing styles and themes, etc. A brilliant person (which Pessoa actually translates to) who never really received credit for his genius until after he passed.
The theme is on point here, I love and admire Pessoa. Unfortunately I do agree with Tom that the game, albeit interesting, great looking and well produced, doesn’t seem to do him true justice. Maybe it’s a me problem, but the gameplay doesn’t resonate with me particularly. I will give it credit, though, to the designer for the idea and the artist for the art. :)
Tip: If you wanna know how to pronounce it, go to google translate, change the language to the one you want, type in the word and then press the icon that looks like a speaker.
Don’t think he did even bother looking up how to pronounce the name. Finding the right way to say something is pretty easy and straightforward on the internet.
Pessoa made my top ten anticipated list, love the theme and all the concept ideas. Bummer you find it boring, hopefully I enjoy it more!
Tip for publishers and designers: Make the "gamer" version the standard and the "easy" version the "Variant". Thank me later
"Thank me later" makes you sound arrogant but yeah, seems like reasonable advice.
Yeah, like Agricola, the family variant is just a variant, not the real game.
Depends a lot on who your audience is. In this case, making it simple and family friendly will get it a much better mass market appeal to toy shops, retail stores, and schools, especially in Portugal and Brazil. I don't have access to the sales numbers, so don't know how it did/is doing, but I think it's a perfectly valid choice. As a heavier gamer, I think there is a lot of potential for the theme and idea of the heteronyms to be used to build a heavier more asymmetric game, but I don't think it would sell as well.
This reminds me of your review of Dreamscape. I understand that games keep pouring in in The Dice Tower and you want to review as many games as possible, but why review a game you did not play. It is normal that reviewers have different opinions about a game, a movie, a TV-show, but it should always be very clear that the reviewer knows what she or he is talking about, and with this game I do not believe you know what you are talking about. Maybe the game did not appeal to you and you rushed through the rules and one or maybe half a play, but than you should not review it, that is not fair towards the designer.
Maybe there are so many games to review that you don't have time to prepare for the reviews. Ignorance is never a good thing and in some games it shows. I tink reviewers should be cautious when talking about a game. And even if they don't like it they should first play the game in the correct way.
Oh God, I really love Pessoa's poetry. Maybe I'll pick up this game just for the theme? It looks beautiful and I love all the thematic bits. Well, I'll think about it
Damn... that was a misfire, Tom. You can dislike the game but it felt like you haven't read the rules even. You played the starters version when, it clearly says you should play the full version if you are a gamer. Then, the four symbols? It's the Zodiac, mister. Twelve symbols, not four. The rulebook (the one and only true source of information about the gameplay) has side historical notes about the man Pessoa. By reading them you should be able to tie up all mechanics together and not get them wrong.
I think it's disrespectful for a professional like you misleading your audience like that. Just saying.
No, I haven't played the game yet. But, yes, I have read the rules.
You must play the game again! Maybe then you can see the potential of the game.
The game is in portuguese and is pronounced "Pe-so-uh", with a very strong "So"
Also, Pessoa means Person
Can't believe this can be taken as a review ...
You may not like the game or the theme but you cannot make a review saying the game is "meh" when you played the rules wrong. This gives a very bad overview of the game itself.
If you didn't want to play it, you shouldn't have reviewed it.
I played the game and you played wrong on so many points that people shouldn't take count of this review.
Pessoa is already on my Top Game of the year !
Fernando Pessoa... Pronounced "pe-so-uh" with emphasis on 2nd sylab. It is his last name but it means "person" in portuguese.
Yeah I guess the E is a weird sound in English. It's like the E in EW. Game seems boring, thx for the review Tom.
If you say APE - SO - UH, stressing the SO, but remove the initial A sound, you’ll be spot on with the pronunciation of the “Pe-” part of the word and pretty close with the whole word. To get it even closer to the correct pronunciation, you’ll have to pronounce the SO without the second part (the OO) of the diphthong.
And I agree with the review: the game has some neat ideas but it it a bit boring.
This was a bad service to the community. Playing once, with a rule wrong, and not the full gamer version, and then do this?
That's an ood attitude.
It almost feels like you don't get paid to do this.. But if that's right, then you're very well paid to "review" other games...
A great theme does not always make a great game :(.
Seems to me that this idea of "building poems" could have used some of Azul's mechanics or could also make a very interesting party game (like a "family friendly" version of "cards against humanity"). Meh.
A "family-friendly" version of "cards against humanity" does not sound like a very interesting party game, IMHO.
"family friendly" cards againat humanity is called "apples to apples", which is ok for a group with ten and under people, even with that, with the occasional joke going over kids' heads.
How might one mix Azul and Pessoa? Pit different phrases on the tiles (but using cards, of course)?
Genji is a game by Zman games using poems. Themed off 'The Tale of Genji', famous, possibly world's first ever novel.
Pass... oa.
Pizoa :)))