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Jim LeBaron (69 KP) rated Terraforming Mars in Tabletop Games
Mar 12, 2019 (Updated Mar 12, 2019)
Smooth Game-play (2 more)
Good Replay Value
Theme
Games go a little long for many groups (2 more)
Player boards need trays
Rule book isn't great
Making Their World a Better Place
What a great game. I've played this a few times now and still really like it. It does take a while to teach/learn but once you get going it is really cemented because you are repeating your actions each turn. The end game conditions are very clear so it is easy to see when you are approaching the end of the game. The biggest challenge for me in this game is making hard decisions about which tracks to pursue and which ones to leave alone. I want them all! There is some player conflict but I would say it is minimal, most of your effort will be on building your own corporation.
The games I have played have been 2-3 hours which is fine for me but tends to be a little long for more casual gamers. Each game has been different since you get a random corporation and you don't know which cards you are going to end up with. I'm looking forward to getting the expansions which have additional maps and more cards.
The player boards end up with a lot of cubes on them and if the table gets bumped it can be disastrous so I would recommend the overlay trays that keep the cubes in place. These can be 3d printed or purchased from several locations. It would be great if they fixed this by doing a raised board in a future printing.
The games I have played have been 2-3 hours which is fine for me but tends to be a little long for more casual gamers. Each game has been different since you get a random corporation and you don't know which cards you are going to end up with. I'm looking forward to getting the expansions which have additional maps and more cards.
The player boards end up with a lot of cubes on them and if the table gets bumped it can be disastrous so I would recommend the overlay trays that keep the cubes in place. These can be 3d printed or purchased from several locations. It would be great if they fixed this by doing a raised board in a future printing.
Mickeydubz (4 KP) rated Dark Souls: The card game in Tabletop Games
Apr 29, 2019
Really captures the atmosphere of Dark Souls (3 more)
Forces players to work together if they want to survive
The deck building allows you to customise your play style
A fun and replayable solo mode
The rulebook is confusing to say the least (3 more)
The setup and take down of the game is time consuming
This is not a game for those with short attention spans
Boss fights feel anticlimactic
Great idea, bad execution
The Dark Souls card game is a deep card game that has good replay value and a customisable deck building system that really feels like it exists in the Souls universe. If you enjoy the video game series and deck building games, then you're going to love the Dark Souls board game.
If you are planning on playing it though, you're going to need a few hours free to clear a full game. Most of the games I've played have been 3 hours from setup to takedown, though I have had games as short as 2 hours and as long as 4, it really depends on the skill and experience of your play group. Fortunately, DS is a mostly skill based game with elements of luck that you'd expect from any card game. Build your deck right and play as a team and you shouldn't have too many problems though.
In short, this is a great way to spend an evening, but it's definitely not a game you'll want to play every week. Pick it up and bring it out when you fancy a challenge, you won't regret having it in your collection.
If you are planning on playing it though, you're going to need a few hours free to clear a full game. Most of the games I've played have been 3 hours from setup to takedown, though I have had games as short as 2 hours and as long as 4, it really depends on the skill and experience of your play group. Fortunately, DS is a mostly skill based game with elements of luck that you'd expect from any card game. Build your deck right and play as a team and you shouldn't have too many problems though.
In short, this is a great way to spend an evening, but it's definitely not a game you'll want to play every week. Pick it up and bring it out when you fancy a challenge, you won't regret having it in your collection.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Staging is Murder in Books
May 1, 2019
Starting a New Business is Murder
Laura Bishop is just getting her home staging business off the ground, and she is thrilled to land Victoria Denton as her first client. Victoria can make her reputation in their small Pennsylvania town. Unfortunately, Victoria also has a reputation for being hard to work with, and Laura is finding that all too true. Working late one night, Laura is shocked to find Victoria’s dead body. When the police arrest Laura’s assistant, she decides she needs to look into the crime to find out what really happened. But can she do it?
Since this is the first in a new series, we get to meet quite a few new characters here. I enjoyed Laura and her friends, although they do have a little room to grow as the series progresses. The plot starts off strong, but bogs down a bit as Laura struggles to figure out how to start her investigation. Not that I can say much since I identify with her struggle. Once she gets moving, thanks in part to some blunt questions from her friends (again, too much like me), the story picks up and I was fully on board. The climax was creative and answered all our questions. Laura is a mystery fan herself, and I enjoyed her comparing herself to the main characters in the books she’s read. Each chapter starts with tips on staging your home, and they made me very thankful that I am not planning on selling my condo any time soon due to all the work involved. I’ll just enjoy reading about Laura’s efforts to stage houses and solve mysteries.
Since this is the first in a new series, we get to meet quite a few new characters here. I enjoyed Laura and her friends, although they do have a little room to grow as the series progresses. The plot starts off strong, but bogs down a bit as Laura struggles to figure out how to start her investigation. Not that I can say much since I identify with her struggle. Once she gets moving, thanks in part to some blunt questions from her friends (again, too much like me), the story picks up and I was fully on board. The climax was creative and answered all our questions. Laura is a mystery fan herself, and I enjoyed her comparing herself to the main characters in the books she’s read. Each chapter starts with tips on staging your home, and they made me very thankful that I am not planning on selling my condo any time soon due to all the work involved. I’ll just enjoy reading about Laura’s efforts to stage houses and solve mysteries.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Girl With All the Gifts (2017) in Movies
Mar 22, 2018
Wanted it to be Better
In the midst of a zombie outbreak, a special military agency is studying a select group of kids who can manage to control when they "turn". When their base falls to zombies, a small group escapes, including a little girl zombie by the name of Melanie (Sennia Nanua). The group must rely on each other to survive the threats waiting for them at every turn.
The Girl With All the Gifts grabs you with intrigue right from the start as you ask yourself why the kids are guarded so heavily. You quickly come to find out the reason. The film is action-packed, loaded with excellent thrilling scenes that keep you engaged. The scenes can be extremely tense in moments like one scene where the group has to walk quietly through a herd of zombies without being detected. It's definitely an original spin on a zombie film as it centers around the little girl Melanie who's innocent, but also a monster of sorts.
So with all these positive things to say, why didn't I ultimately like the film? The ending absolutely killed it for me. Not only did I not see the value in the resolution, I thought it didn't really match Melanie's character. Based on everything we knew about her up to that point, why make that move? Wasn't on board, not by a long shot.
I thought The Girl With All the Gifts had great potential and achieved it in some spots, but feel just short of being what it should have been. I give it a 65.
The Girl With All the Gifts grabs you with intrigue right from the start as you ask yourself why the kids are guarded so heavily. You quickly come to find out the reason. The film is action-packed, loaded with excellent thrilling scenes that keep you engaged. The scenes can be extremely tense in moments like one scene where the group has to walk quietly through a herd of zombies without being detected. It's definitely an original spin on a zombie film as it centers around the little girl Melanie who's innocent, but also a monster of sorts.
So with all these positive things to say, why didn't I ultimately like the film? The ending absolutely killed it for me. Not only did I not see the value in the resolution, I thought it didn't really match Melanie's character. Based on everything we knew about her up to that point, why make that move? Wasn't on board, not by a long shot.
I thought The Girl With All the Gifts had great potential and achieved it in some spots, but feel just short of being what it should have been. I give it a 65.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated I'm Your Venus in Books
Oct 19, 2018
Sylvia’s Back on the Space Case
Sylvia Stryker has landed a job on the new Moon 6. Again, she's in charge of the uniform department, but this time she's legitimately on the ship. Neptune is also on board this cruise, with the destination being Venus. Everyone is determined to make things go smoothly for the passengers. However, the ship has barely set out when Sylvia finds a dead body outside the uniform department's door. Then Neptune comes to her with a surprising plea for help. Can she figure out what is going on?
Yes, this book has a science fiction setting, but it is still mostly a mystery. In fact, the setting is developed just enough for us to feel at home, but the story doesn't stop to explain every little detail to us. Still, there are some fun nod to pop culture science fiction and some of the tech they do have in this book would be very cool. There are a trio of characters we spent a lot of time with, and they are the best developed. The rest of the cast is still strong enough for the parts they play in what happens. The plot is quite a ride, with plenty of keep us engaged and the pages flying. I read the book in just two days, in fact. I do feel like some of the character's actions over the course of the book weren't completely explained at the end, but that is my only complaint. I'm looking forward to getting to book three as soon as my schedule allows to see how some of the threads introduced here play out.
Yes, this book has a science fiction setting, but it is still mostly a mystery. In fact, the setting is developed just enough for us to feel at home, but the story doesn't stop to explain every little detail to us. Still, there are some fun nod to pop culture science fiction and some of the tech they do have in this book would be very cool. There are a trio of characters we spent a lot of time with, and they are the best developed. The rest of the cast is still strong enough for the parts they play in what happens. The plot is quite a ride, with plenty of keep us engaged and the pages flying. I read the book in just two days, in fact. I do feel like some of the character's actions over the course of the book weren't completely explained at the end, but that is my only complaint. I'm looking forward to getting to book three as soon as my schedule allows to see how some of the threads introduced here play out.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Killing Eve in TV
Oct 22, 2018 (Updated Oct 22, 2018)
Good script (1 more)
Great cast
A Solid Spy Thriller With Laughs
Killing Eve is a BBC series based on the novel, 'Codename: Villianelle.' It stars Sandra Oh as Eve and Jodie Comer as Villianelle. Both are brilliant in their respective roles and are the main players in driving the show forward. They are supported by a very strong supporting cast as well, with everyone selling their character convincingly.
There are a few twists and turns that keep you guessing, but there are also a lot of spy story clichés present in the series. These aren't too offensive though, as I don't think that the show's main focus is to break the mould when it comes to spy thrillers, but instead to take its audience in an exciting espionage story while giving us some laughs along the way.
Speaking of which, the humour in this show doesn't take away from the gripping narrative, but instead adds to the show's charm. I will admit that it took me a while to get fully on-board with the show's off-kilter tone and quirky humour, but thankfully more of it lands than misses.
I am not familiar with the source material, so I am not sure how accurately it has been adapted. I don't even know if the novel contains the same odd tone or humour. It has intrigued me enough to go and read the book though, which is always a good sign.
Overall, this is a fun spy thriller. It is not going to break the rules of the genre, but it will keep you engaged throughout and give you a couple of laughs for good measure.
There are a few twists and turns that keep you guessing, but there are also a lot of spy story clichés present in the series. These aren't too offensive though, as I don't think that the show's main focus is to break the mould when it comes to spy thrillers, but instead to take its audience in an exciting espionage story while giving us some laughs along the way.
Speaking of which, the humour in this show doesn't take away from the gripping narrative, but instead adds to the show's charm. I will admit that it took me a while to get fully on-board with the show's off-kilter tone and quirky humour, but thankfully more of it lands than misses.
I am not familiar with the source material, so I am not sure how accurately it has been adapted. I don't even know if the novel contains the same odd tone or humour. It has intrigued me enough to go and read the book though, which is always a good sign.
Overall, this is a fun spy thriller. It is not going to break the rules of the genre, but it will keep you engaged throughout and give you a couple of laughs for good measure.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I remember when I read this at first, just before the Ioan Gruffudd led TV series, as part of a collection entitled 'The Young Hornblower', thinking that this would make a good TV series (although, when it cam e out, I also remember thinking that he was to old for the role as written here - he's meant to be all of about 14!).
I was also completely unaware at the time, and only found out within the last couple of weeks, that this is also (technically) a prequel - i.e. written later, but set earlier - to more than a few of Forester's other Hornblower works.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, these are your typical 'boys own' adventures of naval derring-do, that quite obviously set the template for other authors to follow (think [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg] 'Sharpe' Series, or [a:Patrick O'Brian|5600|Patrick O'Brian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1212630063p2/5600.jpg] 'Master and Commander' series).
Based on real life events, these novels (according to Wikipedia!) were also written in such a way that Hornblower was always off elsewhere when great naval battles occured during those wars, hence the reason he is never caught up in Trafalgar!
This particular entry, however, follows Hornblower's early career from when he first came on board (as a sea-sick Midshipman at Spithead), up until he receives his promotion to Lieutenant whilst a prisoner of the Spanish authorities, taking in night-time raids, 'cutting-out' expeditions, a (failed) attempt to start a revolt in France and his first examination for Lietunancy.
I was also completely unaware at the time, and only found out within the last couple of weeks, that this is also (technically) a prequel - i.e. written later, but set earlier - to more than a few of Forester's other Hornblower works.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, these are your typical 'boys own' adventures of naval derring-do, that quite obviously set the template for other authors to follow (think [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg] 'Sharpe' Series, or [a:Patrick O'Brian|5600|Patrick O'Brian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1212630063p2/5600.jpg] 'Master and Commander' series).
Based on real life events, these novels (according to Wikipedia!) were also written in such a way that Hornblower was always off elsewhere when great naval battles occured during those wars, hence the reason he is never caught up in Trafalgar!
This particular entry, however, follows Hornblower's early career from when he first came on board (as a sea-sick Midshipman at Spithead), up until he receives his promotion to Lieutenant whilst a prisoner of the Spanish authorities, taking in night-time raids, 'cutting-out' expeditions, a (failed) attempt to start a revolt in France and his first examination for Lietunancy.
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