I was at a promotional event two days ago and Zee was there; I asked for his suggestion for a game with a small footprint and he suggested this one. Excited to give it a go! Looks like good fun, and I agree about the beauty of the game!
Thanks for the introduction to Kanagawa! Here’s a helpful and quick overview of the game in 100 words! :-) 1) Pass or pickup card(s) in column progressively dealt to rows 1, 2 and 3 in draw pile - each with painting (landscape, animals, people, houses, trees, seasons) and skills (specific landscape skill, add brush, move a brush to different landscape skill, pick-first privilege). 2) Play cards to acquire skills or use skills to sequentially add painting to mural to reach 11+ paintings. 3) Earn points on number of paintings + length of longest sequence of paintings with same season + harmony points displayed on cards + points for each diploma you claim first for specific painting and skill combinations (some come with tools & season wildcard).
I also thought about Tokaido, but, there are also similar bonuses for panoramas, although you can still take every bonus, but you won't get the last bonus if you are not the first one. The art style and panoramas for sure reminds of Tokaido :)
This is almost exactly the same as koi-koi, just with a different skin and some extra resource management thrown in. It uses all the same mechanics: Drafting, set building, press your luck, and bonus points. They added a bit more resource management and made things a bit more explicit for Western audiences, but this is koi-koi with a different face. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi-Koi
Just got this for Xmas 2018. Great little game, 2 turns and you have all the rules down and its got a nice bit of strategic depth. Great with 2 & 3 players and I'd imagine 4 would be great also. Pick it up if you're looking for a fast easy to learn strategic card game.
Zee, way to dig into it, fantastic review. Great allusions to other games, frankly yeah the turn the card over mechanic is one of my favorite observations of this game. As much as I want to really like this game, it just doesn't give me goose bumps. I'm going with Dice Stars from Bruno.
I want this game. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I love the easy flow of the game and think it's great, especially for introducing new gamers.
At first glance this game looks good and the way you use cards seem to be fascinating where you can either use it for the painting or "resources". However when thinking about it further, the mechanics of the game is just very basic drafting games concepts and bonus etc are not something that is very unique into this game. I will give it a pass as there are too many games on radar already...
Sadly it's a gorgeous, but very boring game with minimal decisions. And why would someone pass and leave with one, even two cards, if they know that the opponents will leave with three? (The main mechanism is like Zooloretto or Coloretto.)
It's not that straightforward...sometimes you want a specific card that you know would also be useful to someone else. Keep in mind you are trying to paint a straight of cards possibly with the same season.
Another card in your tableau (1 point), another card in your season run (another point) and earning you a diploma (3 points or more, sometimes with an ability). I can see myself picking early, specially because just adding a random card to your painting will ruin your run, so the extra card will usually be for schooling (most of those don't really give you points). Maybe you can't win by always picking two, but you'll definitely do it along the way.
This is one of the cases where the person explaining the game (at Essen) made such a terrible job, that it made us really dislike the game. Therefore I most likely wont ever play it again even though I see that it might be actually fun to people.
citmod : the exact same thing happened to us. The guy at the iello booth ( at Essen) did such a terrible job that we just didn't want to play this game ever again. I might give it a shot now though. Looks good.
I was at a promotional event two days ago and Zee was there; I asked for his suggestion for a game with a small footprint and he suggested this one. Excited to give it a go! Looks like good fun, and I agree about the beauty of the game!
Thanks for the introduction to Kanagawa! Here’s a helpful and quick overview of the game in 100 words! :-)
1) Pass or pickup card(s) in column progressively dealt to rows 1, 2 and 3 in draw pile - each with painting (landscape, animals, people, houses, trees, seasons) and skills (specific landscape skill, add brush, move a brush to different landscape skill, pick-first privilege).
2) Play cards to acquire skills or use skills to sequentially add painting to mural to reach 11+ paintings.
3) Earn points on number of paintings + length of longest sequence of paintings with same season + harmony points displayed on cards + points for each diploma you claim first for specific painting and skill combinations (some come with tools & season wildcard).
Pre-ordered this one and am just waiting for it to arrive. Thanks for the review. Now I am even more excited.
it's from the same duo who did abyss! :) hope that turns some more heads towards this BEAUTIFUL game :)
Makes me think Tokaido, even if everything mechanical is different.
Probably because of the panoramas? The "school of living and learning" feel?
I also thought about Tokaido, but, there are also similar bonuses for panoramas, although you can still take every bonus, but you won't get the last bonus if you are not the first one. The art style and panoramas for sure reminds of Tokaido :)
Thanks for the nice explanation of the game. I had trouble finding a good clear and concise how to play. That's why the dice tower is at the top.
This is almost exactly the same as koi-koi, just with a different skin and some extra resource management thrown in. It uses all the same mechanics: Drafting, set building, press your luck, and bonus points. They added a bit more resource management and made things a bit more explicit for Western audiences, but this is koi-koi with a different face.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi-Koi
I want this game so much! Beautiful and I love the theme and the way they keep it super thematic!
Just got this for Xmas 2018. Great little game, 2 turns and you have all the rules down and its got a nice bit of strategic depth. Great with 2 & 3 players and I'd imagine 4 would be great also. Pick it up if you're looking for a fast easy to learn strategic card game.
Great video. The tutorial portion was very informative. Thanks!
Zee, way to dig into it, fantastic review. Great allusions to other games, frankly yeah the turn the card over mechanic is one of my favorite observations of this game. As much as I want to really like this game, it just doesn't give me goose bumps. I'm going with Dice Stars from Bruno.
I want this game. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I love the easy flow of the game and think it's great, especially for introducing new gamers.
Played it today. It's a lot of fun if this type of game fits your style.
Ty for the explanation
Very clear explanation, thx!
I want this! Great review!
Gorgeous and hopefully more available worldwide than Hanamikoji (different game, but also beautiful style)
How does this compare to Oceanos? They seem similar.
Hm, yummy, this one for sure looks great. I love the Asian flavouring.
Definitely a keeper.
At first glance this game looks good and the way you use cards seem to be fascinating where you can either use it for the painting or "resources".
However when thinking about it further, the mechanics of the game is just very basic drafting games concepts and bonus etc are not something that is very unique into this game. I will give it a pass as there are too many games on radar already...
Sadly it's a gorgeous, but very boring game with minimal decisions. And why would someone pass and leave with one, even two cards, if they know that the opponents will leave with three? (The main mechanism is like Zooloretto or Coloretto.)
It's not that straightforward...sometimes you want a specific card that you know would also be useful to someone else. Keep in mind you are trying to paint a straight of cards possibly with the same season.
Another card in your tableau (1 point), another card in your season run (another point) and earning you a diploma (3 points or more, sometimes with an ability).
I can see myself picking early, specially because just adding a random card to your painting will ruin your run, so the extra card will usually be for schooling (most of those don't really give you points).
Maybe you can't win by always picking two, but you'll definitely do it along the way.
iello makes some really gorgeous and very boring games.
This is one of the cases where the person explaining the game (at Essen) made such a terrible job, that it made us really dislike the game. Therefore I most likely wont ever play it again even though I see that it might be actually fun to people.
citmod : the exact same thing happened to us. The guy at the iello booth ( at Essen) did such a terrible job that we just didn't want to play this game ever again. I might give it a shot now though. Looks good.