Game Review: iOS Agricola

| Introduction |

Twenty-one days ago Playdek's iOS Agricola was released to the world!  This universal app made its debut at the low price of $6.99 (compared to the +$40 price of the actual board game). 

As I stated with my previous post about the Uwe Rosenberg games, Agricola was not my favorite game (http://bit.ly/1cVAteX). Now that I have had twenty-one days of practice, I can now officially say I don't complete hate Agricola!  I even beat my BF once in an Online game! Woot!

| Graphics |

iOS Agricola's graphics are amazing. There are a lot of moving parts going on in the background. Examples include: The Start Player rooster moves; wood chopping on the Build a Room Square; when you pick up an animal, its legs move about, etc. All of these little touches really enhance the game play. 

| Sound & Music |

I use to not play with sound or music only because I sometimes play in public. When I got my iPad that all changed. I have played with the music and sound many times, and neither is too overpowering. 

| Tutorials |

iOS Agricola features 7 tutorials: Intro: New Players; Animals; Cooking; Renovation; Scoring; Basic Game; and, Intro: Advanced Players. Being a poor Agricola player, I complete all of these tutorials twice (once on my iPhone and once on my iPad).  While all of these tutorials were helpful, an additional strategy one would have also been useful, especially for people like me. 

| Game Play |

True to the original game. I have yet to notice any cheating on the part of the game and/or AIs. 

| AIs |

There are 3 AIs levels: Apprentice; Journeyman; and, Master. When I first started playing (mostly to not suck so badly) I would play 2 player games against the Apprentice AI, which I easily beat. I have since moved on to playing against the Journeyman regularly, and against the Master occasionally. I am still not confidante enough to play more than two player games at this point. 

| Play Options | 

iOS Agricola features several options. Offline play can be against AIs and/or Pass-N-Play. Online play though a Playdek system is also available, as oppose to Game Center.  Both Offline and Online play features a choice of a Family Game or the Basic Game (E-Deck). Solo Series play is also an game option. 

One major compliant is that the original game comes with the E-Deck, I-Deck, and K-Deck, yet the iOS game only comes with the E-Deck. I understand making the other decks in-app purchases will make money, but it does seem really greedy, given what decks were originally included in the board games.  

| Bottom Line |

Agricola lovers and board game enthusiasts both love and rave about the Playdek's iOS Agricola. If you have never played the board game, you should still check out the iOS version since it's a great game. Plus it might even convert you too into a board game enthusiast! 

| Stats | 

36-7 Offline; 1-0 Online.*

* I didn't release online profile could transfer to offline play at first, so I had to do some math. 

First Ever International TableTop Day

Saturday March 30th, 2013 was the first ever International TableTop Day. Brain child of the one, the only, Wil Wheaton of Geek and Sundry's Table Top, this day was to celebrate board gaming.

This new gaming holiday is needed. Actually playing board games in person, rather than than video games, computer games, or iOS games is important. Gaming the slow way promotes critical thinking and problem solving. No machine to assist in calculating strategies or the most points. 100% human brain power at work!

TableTop Day also spreads board gaming awareness. I have been gaming since I was born... Ok 5, but still. My first games were not the traditional Monopoly (barf!) I love sharing my gaming hobby in the hopes that new players will love it as much as I do!

Hope you had a great TableTop Day! Perhaps we should invent some lore to go along with this day, like Santa Claus or the Easter bunny?! I'm thinking the dice fairy or game gnome or something. Any thoughts?!

Game Review: Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries

This afternoon I played Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries (TTR: NC). Full disclosure, both my BF and I have played Ticket to Ride (TTR) many times as a board and iOS game, as well as TTR Europe (TTR: E). We are also experienced gamers.

Much like the Switzerland (TTR: S) map I have played just in the iOS game, this version of TTR accommodates 2-3 players. This is what attracted me to purchase the game since I just have one gaming partner. The rules for Tunnels and Ferries are the same as TTR: E & TTR: S. Locomotive cards can be used for routes with Tunnels or Ferries, but not regular ones. The Ticket drawing is the same as TTR:S whereby returned ticket cards from your initial selection and any previous drawing actions are removed from the game.

If you know how to play any other TTR version, this will be an easy game to learn. You may have an initial minor issue with the Nordic geography , unless you know the cities in their native languages. Much like Europe, this does not detract from the game. Plus the ticket cards have little maps on them, do worse case is you find the destination cities that way.

The art and production value is of the same calibre as the other Days of Wonder and TTR games.

There is a fair amount of replayability to TTR: NC given there are 46 Destination (Ticket) Cards, but in my game we barely saw half of them.

The best part about this version of TTR verses the Original one and Europe is that the map is scaled to be more contentious with 2-3 players. (Again much like Switzerland).

Overall I would definitely play Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries again ... Especially since I ended up winning! Bonus!

iOS Games

As some of you may know some great Euro Games are available to play on your iPhone...and Android too, though I don't have one so I'll stick to iOS games. I am also going to only a few of my favorite iOS Euro Games since I currently have 18 (!) Apps in this category.

The first, and one of the best designed iOS games is Carcassonne. The App offered online play before Game Center, though now it uses it. The AIs are challenging and allow for solo play. There are also In-App Expansions available for purchase. The Solitaire game offers another dimension of replayablility. I would appreciate offering more expansions and even more AIs, but maybe that's because I play Carcassonne a lot. The Carcassonne is also a universal App, which is a big plus!

Another one of my favorites are the Ticket to Ride Pocket App (Original & Europe). Although it will be annoying I'll have to by a separate app if, and when, I get an iPad. Both Pocket Apps offer In-App Expansion purchases available. It's Game Center supported which means you can challenge your friends to an online game.

I recently started playing Le Havre on my phone. For a more complicated game the designers did a good job of making everything easy to find and use. I recently discovered that you can enlarge the goods you're currently holding. It also has Game Center support.

My final favorite iOS Euro game I'll mention is Ascension. Even on the iPhone it is easy to use. Game Center support and Expansions add other dimensions to playability.

In general all iOS Euro Games (and all iOS games for that matter) should have the following features:

1. Game Center Support. No other system will do since Game Center is now default on the iPhone.

2. Excellent sophisticated multi-level AIs. I don't want too easy, or too hard AIs. I want them to have multiple strategies. I also don't want to beat up on just the human players.

3. Replayablility. This can be achieved from special solitaire games, multiple variants and/ or expansions. This is key if you want me to spent more than 99 cents on your app!

4. Universal App. As someone who is considering at some point (hopefully) purchasing an iPad I don't want to have to buy another app just for the iPad.

5. True to Original Euro Game. I don't want a "dumbed-down" version of an awesome game.

iOS gaming will not replace my board gaming, but it does solve my problem of lack enough people for a regular gaming group. This is especially true for Small World... That is whenever I buy an iPad since there is only an iPad only App. Sad. I think it could be on the iPhone. They manage to do it with Tikal. So I would think Small World wouldn't be that much harder.

What's your favorite iOS Euro Game App? Looking for a gaming buddy- leave a comment with your Game Center Screen Name and I'll connect with you.