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Author: Stefan Dorra Publisher: Hans im Glück Awards: none |
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G@mebox author Doug Adams writes about the game: Yucata is a simple game for 2 to 4 players. Each player takes the role
of a Mayan priest approaching the temple. They are trying to reach the
temple in such a way to avoid nasty spirits while encountering the good
ones - one of the more obscure gaming themes.
The components are simple and attractive. There is a deck of 28 playing
cards, a set of seven for each player. A medium sized game board is folded
out to reveal a simple path of spaces, spiralling inwards to a central point.
There are about 40 spaces from the start to finish. A set of stones, in
white and blue colours, are placed on the spaces - one per space. The
first four spaces are left blank, while a special red stone is put on the
final space in the center of the board. Four more coloured stones
representing the priests are placed on the first space.
The game is very straightforward - each player on his turn simply plays a
card and moves his priest forward. Any stones passed or landed on are
collected and kept in front of that player. The number on the card (1 to 5)
indicates the number of spaces to be moved. There are two special cards,
which are described below.
It all sounds easy so far. Here is the catch - each light stone you collect
is worth one point, however each blue stone you collect is worth a variable
number of negative points. The first blue stone is worth -1, the second -2,
then -3 and so on. If you have four blue stones, they are collectively worth
-10 points. Luckily there are several more white stones than blue!
The two special movement cards are the dagger, and the '?'. The
dagger allows you to take your piece and move it one space past the leader.
Great for catch up moves. The '?' allows a player to break a basic
rule of the game. The rule is a card played must not be the same type of
card as the previous card played. So if Fred plays a '3', Wilma playing next
cannot play a '3' unless it is the only card she is holding. The '?' card
does allow the previously played card to be copied.
As the players play their cards, their hands will dwindle down to nothing.
When this happens they get their seven cards back again. The game will end
when a player lands on, and claims, the red stone in the center.
Players tally up their points, adding white stones and substracting blue.
The highest total wins. Whoever claims the red stone may cancel a blue stone,
which is very nice.
All in all this is a fun game that will provide 15 minutes of intriguing
play. It's not a game you will play all night, it's the sort of game you
would wind down an evening with - and by that criteria it's one of the better
games of it's type. My only gripe is the game is just a little overproduced.
It looks great, but it would have been better as a smaller game at a lower
cost.
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Looking for this game? Visit Funagain Games! |
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Kulkmann@aol.com
Copyright © 2006 Frank Schulte-Kulkmann, Essen, Germany |