Love this game more than Azul. They should make an expansion to complete the mahjong tiles , so people can play traditional mahjong style games with this too.
Tom, you should give Mahjong a try. You'd like it. The game really gets fun when you find three of a kind, knowing you can only match two of them. So you absolutely burn your brain trying to figure out which one to leave behind. Most games end with you running out of available moves, likely because you chose the wrong pair of the three.
This was one of my most anticipated games of Essen after seeing a review of it by Dan King. Now it's going to be a must for our game collection. Love the way it looks too!
It's the same for me, which is really weird considering I only have one other game where the winner is decided by points. Do you know where to buy it please? :)
I was excited for this the way you guys were gushing after Essen, but it's just 10% more game than Shanghai Mahjong. It must take longer to set up than to play.
This game gets better the more you play it. I got this at the same time I got Azul and originally preferred Azul but after a while Azul lost it's appeal and Dragon Castle just got better and better.
It's a bug, not a feature. Okay, j/k, but it's a neccesity, Sam's reviews are often have many cuts because of his over explanation, it's stitched from a lot of pieces. But it's a nice solution to that problem. (Maybe someday the redundant "and so forth, and so on"-s will be disappear.)
Even if the relocation of the studio and the hurricane may have delayed some projects, DT videos quality keeps on improving. Not only the editing, the studio but also the contributors. There's obviously work and experience behind those enhancements.
Not gonna' lie, that gave me a good giggle, but you have to admit he's really been steadily improving and his latest reviews are some of his best work. :)
This is one that I will have to play to see how I like it. First glance, this isn't up my alley, but I'd certainly give it a shot. Sam liked it, and I normally agree with his tastes.
I'd say that by expanding the 0-2 thumbs span to decimal scale, 0 thumbs would fall into 0-3.32 points, 1 thumb into 3.33-6.65 points and 2 thumbs would fall into 6.66-10.
0.0 I did it. I *found* my "gateway" game! (Well if I can get ahold of a copy that is. To anyone who thinks Tom, Sam, and Zee *only* review games easily accessible on CoolStuff.....nope.) Sam, this has to be your best rules explanation - *ever.* Yes, I had to go back and watch several parts again and again but that's because I'm a bit slow. I'm calling it - This will be a *crossover* on everyone's next top 100. If this is a "points salad" then it's a big delicious one with lots of hickory smoked chicken and a generous helping of thousand island! This is *not* a Euro, the information is not perfect, There is risk and "chance" involved, it has deduction as well, it feels mathematically balanced, it employs spacial thinking, wow - *perfect.* Now begins the game within the game. *Finding* a copy. *Le Sigh.* Thanks!
Also the higher tier they are built on, the more points they are worth. Taking one is 1/2 of an action along with taking one tile, if you are using the spirit animal powers you must discard one to activate it's power. Hope that helps! :)
Fumi Downing definitely. As long as you are happy paying 50bucks for the experience you can get from a free app. This is a sarcastic comment by the way.
I know it is kinda late to be asking this as I have been watching these videos for years, but how does the Miami Dice series differ from normal reviews? Is it just because Tom, Sam and most the time Zee are doing a joint review? What determines what games get picked?
This does not have a complete Mahjong set - probably had to shave it down for size of board or maybe legal issues ? - This is a great family game and when you add dragons and spirit cards it bring this game up a notch - I recently found out that Mahjong is not only a solitaire game didn’t know it is a four player game - I have been learning the Cantonese and American versions - Dragon Castle a keeper at this house
This may last longer but I feel, especially with all the differing play modes and setups, that it will get more plays as well as be more of an "attention getter" at game nights. :)
Michał UK at my house I tend to purchase games that are family friendly strategy games and these two games are a favorite - watch different reviewer/play throughs to get a good feel for the game and if it is right for your collection
"No, it's not OCD..." - erm.. yes it is!! ;) The game seems like too much messing about. If I want to play this version of Mah Jong (nothing like the real, proper game of Mah Jong) then I'll just play it on a PC.
Sam here...no, it isn't OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over. (Yes...I copy/pasted that definition.) I am simply making the point, both in the video and now, that my liking things to be organized neatly and so on IS NOT the debilitating disorder that many people struggle through life with on a daily basis. To commonly refer to what I do to simply pass time during rules explanations, and what-not as OCD, imo, trivializes the struggles that real people have with this real disorder. So, no, it isn't OCD...I just like things to be neatly organized sometimes, and take enjoyment from it when they are.
I'm surprised by the ratings, when Sam was going through the explanation I was thinking it looked super boring and AP inducing.and I actually like Mah Jong
I agree looked very boring, I hope it was their honest review. Sometimes it seems they have decided to like a game no matter the facts. Have to check other reviewers that may be more objective.
The game could be ruined by a player just discarding a tile and getting a point, and then just taking the 2 point tokens when available. It seems they could remove tiles that people need to slow down their progress and all the while be scoring. A dull way to play the game for sure, but does seem to be an oversight that can be easily abused. Aside from that, it is a nice game.
In abstract games you place or move pieces in on a board and the placement of the pieces relative to each other matters. I guess that do some of the same in Photosynthesis even if it has a theme.
According to BGG: "An abstract strategy game is a strategy game that minimizes luck and does not rely on a theme. Almost all abstract strategy games will conform to the strictest definition of: a gameboard, card, or tile game in which there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements (such as shuffled cards or dice rolls), and (usually) two players or teams taking a finite number of alternating turns." I don't know if all abstracts are "abstract strategy" too, or if the latter is a subset of the former, I haven't layed Photosynthesis unluckly so I don't know if it relies on theme or not.
Also in most other games you can answer the question "who am I in this game". I don't know if BBG's explanation is the best in world or you can say that it fit better to classic abstract games, but games are evolving all the time and it will probably only get harder to categorize games in the future - and there will not only be one way to go it.
Love this game more than Azul. They should make an expansion to complete the mahjong tiles , so people can play traditional mahjong style games with this too.
Tom, you should give Mahjong a try. You'd like it. The game really gets fun when you find three of a kind, knowing you can only match two of them. So you absolutely burn your brain trying to figure out which one to leave behind. Most games end with you running out of available moves, likely because you chose the wrong pair of the three.
Great review always guys..a another game I have add to my list
This was one of my most anticipated games of Essen after seeing a review of it by Dan King. Now it's going to be a must for our game collection. Love the way it looks too!
It's the same for me, which is really weird considering I only have one other game where the winner is decided by points. Do you know where to buy it please? :)
Great explanation, really excited for this one! Seems like a great game for my family who play dominoes endlessly. I’m hoping at least.
I was excited for this the way you guys were gushing after Essen, but it's just 10% more game than Shanghai Mahjong. It must take longer to set up than to play.
Aw man, don't hate on the GIPF series! They are fantastic! :)
This game gets better the more you play it. I got this at the same time I got Azul and originally preferred Azul but after a while Azul lost it's appeal and Dragon Castle just got better and better.
Please update the intro to include Zee in Erics introduction at the beginning. Isn't he also hosting it?
Wow I haven’t seen you do the rules this way. Seems way more professional, nice work DT
It's a bug, not a feature. Okay, j/k, but it's a neccesity, Sam's reviews are often have many cuts because of his over explanation, it's stitched from a lot of pieces. But it's a nice solution to that problem. (Maybe someday the redundant "and so forth, and so on"-s will be disappear.)
Even if the relocation of the studio and the hurricane may have delayed some projects, DT videos quality keeps on improving. Not only the editing, the studio but also the contributors. There's obviously work and experience behind those enhancements.
Not gonna' lie, that gave me a good giggle, but you have to admit he's really been steadily improving and his latest reviews are some of his best work. :)
This is one that I will have to play to see how I like it. First glance, this isn't up my alley, but I'd certainly give it a shot. Sam liked it, and I normally agree with his tastes.
How come 2 thumbs up is 7-7.5 for Sam. Isnt't that usually the max score for a "thumbs up" scoring system?
I'd say that by expanding the 0-2 thumbs span to decimal scale, 0 thumbs would fall into 0-3.32 points, 1 thumb into 3.33-6.65 points and 2 thumbs would fall into 6.66-10.
0.0 I did it. I *found* my "gateway" game! (Well if I can get ahold of a copy that is. To anyone who thinks Tom, Sam, and Zee *only* review games easily accessible on CoolStuff.....nope.) Sam, this has to be your best rules explanation - *ever.* Yes, I had to go back and watch several parts again and again but that's because I'm a bit slow. I'm calling it - This will be a *crossover* on everyone's next top 100. If this is a "points salad" then it's a big delicious one with lots of hickory smoked chicken and a generous helping of thousand island! This is *not* a Euro, the information is not perfect, There is risk and "chance" involved, it has deduction as well, it feels mathematically balanced, it employs spacial thinking, wow - *perfect.* Now begins the game within the game. *Finding* a copy. *Le Sigh.* Thanks!
What's the point of the shrines again? Don't have understand it
You can no longer build on top of the shrine, but all tiles covered with one score extra points at the end of the game.
Also the higher tier they are built on, the more points they are worth. Taking one is 1/2 of an action along with taking one tile, if you are using the spirit animal powers you must discard one to activate it's power. Hope that helps! :)
Thank you. It wasn’t 100% clear based on the video but it was explained well when I checked out the rule book on BGG :)
I don’t know if I’ll pick this up, but would love to try it. Hoping that - like potion explosion - this is made into an app.
this matching and pairing of mahjong tile concept is available in alot of apps... just some variety in scoring.
The whole point is that it is a tactile, competitive board game. We don't want or need an app.
Fumi Downing definitely. As long as you are happy paying 50bucks for the experience you can get from a free app. This is a sarcastic comment by the way.
You should emphasize that when consolidating tiles on your board they must be matching colors, and that symbols have no bearing on consolidation.
I know it is kinda late to be asking this as I have been watching these videos for years, but how does the Miami Dice series differ from normal reviews? Is it just because Tom, Sam and most the time Zee are doing a joint review? What determines what games get picked?
David Pellegrini I think it’s just when it’s a high profile game or one that they all want to review.
What is Sam saying at 20:32?
Wow, looking forward to this, I'm not a huge abstract fan but I do like mahjong.
This does not have a complete Mahjong set - probably had to shave it down for size of board or maybe legal issues ? - This is a great family game and when you add dragons and spirit cards it bring this game up a notch - I recently found out that Mahjong is not only a solitaire game didn’t know it is a four player game - I have been learning the Cantonese and American versions - Dragon Castle a keeper at this house
I can see why the game is fun. Its like playing rummy. Solitaire etc. Fun family game tbh ahah.
Possible SdJ contender
It won't beat his other game Photosynthesis though.
Hmm, this or Azul as a 2-3 players abstract game that will last around 30 minutes?
This may last longer but I feel, especially with all the differing play modes and setups, that it will get more plays as well as be more of an "attention getter" at game nights. :)
Azul, less preparation time needed
Azul is just *so* 2-D. It feels like I'm decorating my grandma's kitchen.
Azul is enjoyable to but I do wonder for how long that puzzle will stay interesting
Michał UK at my house I tend to purchase games that are family friendly strategy games and these two games are a favorite - watch different reviewer/play throughs to get a good feel for the game and if it is right for your collection
tell me why i can't make this game with existing mahjong tiles?
Good luck with that!
That was sarcastic by the way. You won't be able to play this with some generic mah-jong tiles alone.
It's possible, more or less. The game doesn't use a full mahjong set, but it DOES use 16 season tiles, which is not a thing in any normal set.
Hope they make this game an app - so would purchase - it would get rid of the fiddle-ly lol
This game reminds me of queendomino and Santorini, in different respects. Can't quite put my finger on why.
"No, it's not OCD..." - erm.. yes it is!! ;)
The game seems like too much messing about. If I want to play this version of Mah Jong (nothing like the real, proper game of Mah Jong) then I'll just play it on a PC.
Sam here...no, it isn't OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over. (Yes...I copy/pasted that definition.)
I am simply making the point, both in the video and now, that my liking things to be organized neatly and so on IS NOT the debilitating disorder that many people struggle through life with on a daily basis. To commonly refer to what I do to simply pass time during rules explanations, and what-not as OCD, imo, trivializes the struggles that real people have with this real disorder.
So, no, it isn't OCD...I just like things to be neatly organized sometimes, and take enjoyment from it when they are.
Sorry Sam, I was just teasing you! ;)
I'm actually exactly the same as you!
I'm surprised by the ratings, when Sam was going through the explanation I was thinking it looked super boring and AP inducing.and I actually like Mah Jong
I agree looked very boring, I hope it was their honest review. Sometimes it seems they have decided to like a game no matter the facts. Have to check other reviewers that may be more objective.
The game could be ruined by a player just discarding a tile and getting a point, and then just taking the 2 point tokens when available. It seems they could remove tiles that people need to slow down their progress and all the while be scoring. A dull way to play the game for sure, but does seem to be an oversight that can be easily abused.
Aside from that, it is a nice game.
You scoring system is becoming very strange when all three of you give thumbs up, Sam and Zee also give a numerical rating but Tom don't.
Now this is abstract, unlike Photosynthesis which I still don't understand why you call abstract.
In abstract games you place or move pieces in on a board and the placement of the pieces relative to each other matters. I guess that do some of the same in Photosynthesis even if it has a theme.
There's got to be something more than that, if not Descent would be abstract as the location of my piece relative to that of the other pieces matters
... but it's not the "main thing" in the game. You can say that many games have has abstract elements without being a abstract game.
According to BGG: "An abstract strategy game is a strategy game that minimizes luck and does not rely on a theme. Almost all abstract strategy games will conform to the strictest definition of: a gameboard, card, or tile game in which there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements (such as shuffled cards or dice rolls), and (usually) two players or teams taking a finite number of alternating turns."
I don't know if all abstracts are "abstract strategy" too, or if the latter is a subset of the former, I haven't layed Photosynthesis unluckly so I don't know if it relies on theme or not.
Also in most other games you can answer the question "who am I in this game". I don't know if BBG's explanation is the best in world or you can say that it fit better to classic abstract games, but games are evolving all the time and it will probably only get harder to categorize games in the future - and there will not only be one way to go it.