Theme: Dragon, connect 4 type game Players: 2-5 Playtime: 10-30min Suggested Player Age: 6 and up
Serious Face: 5/10 This game is not serious, but it is also not super silly. There is not uproarious laughter in the game, but there can be conversation throughout and it will not ruin the game. It is a light family game. Player Interaction: 3/10 Not as much as other card games. You are trying to connect 7 of your color dragons to win the game. Most of what you play is either going to be to make your dragon string longer, block another players string, or bluff by playing on another players color. There are some special cards that allow for more interaction, but not every turn. Strateejery: 7/10 There is much more strategy in this game than you would initially think by looking at the game or playing it once. As you begin to play it more, it becomes apparent that bluffing, playing cards at the right time, and being patient are all keys to the game. You will most likely not win if you don't employ them all. Feeling Lucky: 5/10 There is some luck in this game, although not much. The only luck is really the special cards. If a players switches goals or hands with you it can really mess up your entire plan. But the beauty of luck is that if you played strategically, you will be semi-prepared for whatever the other players have to throw at you. Teachability: 8/10 So easy to learn. I taught this game to my mom in less than 15 minutes. Besides the theme, which can throw some people off, it is just like any other connect the dots/lines/colors game you have ever played. It is simple and easy to teach. You will not look in the rulebook again after the game starts, easy. Replay Value: 7/10 Very high replay value. No two games will be the same. This is one of those games where you could play with the same group of people every week and still enjoy the game. Looking Pretty: 4/10 The cards are good quality, the game is well-made, and I'm glad it comes in a small box. The artwork is ok, althogh I'm really not sure why they used the type of pictures they did. One of them has a lady in small bikini-armor and another is a skeleton. They could have used more family-friendly art and the game would probably have done much better in the market it is intended for, families.
In the Grand Scheme of Things: I would recommend this game to anyone who likes quick card games that have infinite replayability. If you like sitting down every week with your family and playing a quick card game that interests you but allows you to talk throughout, this is the game for you.
Star Munchkin
Theme: Space Battles Players: 3-6 (but can play with more) Playtime: 45-90min Suggested Player Age: 12 and up
Serious Face: 1/10 This game is about as un-serious as any game can be. The entire game is making fun of other serious science fiction stories, books, or movies. Everything in this game is a joke or a pun, it's hilarious. Player Interaction: 9/10 There is almost the most player interaction of any game I have played. Almost every play in the game is to harm or help another player, lots of interaction, lots of craziness. Strateejery: 3/10 This is a tough section to judge for this game. There is strategic thought regarding when to play a card, which cards are better to achieve a certain goal, but when it comes down to it, it isn't as strategic as I would hope for it to be. Feeling Lucky: 7/10 There is a lot of luck involved. There are cards that allow you to gain levels without killing any monsters, or cards that can save you from dying, if you draw all the good cards, you have a much greater chance of winning. Teachability: 6/10 This game is not super complicated, although it does take awhile to wrap your head around the concepts. Pick up cards, fight monsters, defeat monsters to gain treasure and levels, be the first to level 10. Easy enough. You will almost never look things up in the rulebook after the game has started, which means that it isn't that complicated. Replay Value: 5/10 Every game is going to be different, but for me the game doesn't have as much replay value as other games I have played. There is somewhat of a pattern that the game will tend to follow once you have played with the same people after awhile. That is to be expected with any game. Looking Pretty: 8/10 The components are average. Good quality cards and die. I think the thing that frustrates me is that they don't include anything to score levels with in the game, you have to provide your own scoring (we use paper clips). But I just think that's lazy. The card artwork is amazing and I love it, the artwork is easily the best part of the components.
In the Grand Scheme of Things: I would recommend this game to anyone who likes random card games where the winds of fate can change the situation almost anytime. Almost never does the initial leader end up winning the game because the rest of the players gang up on them and they are crushed into the ground, never to be heard from again. If you like "gang up on the leader" games than you will love this game! If you like fast paced games that have some strategy, but mostly are just fun and silly, you will love this game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Side Note: I also own Star Munchkin 2: the Clown Wars and Star Munchkin: Spaceships. These are great expansions, they add a lot of fun to the game, although they do make the game longer, if that is a problem. But they add lots of fun to the game, especially because they add blank cards to the game so you can create your own treasure and monsters, which is awesome! Buy them all, you will love them.