The Board Life

Game review number 2 is finally here. I picked this game up a few weeks ago at the Boardwalk Hobby Shop in Cincinnati. Its for two players and it follows in the Rio Grande Games series of "Games for Two" (which includes another great game called Lost Cities - review to come later). The game is based on Bram Stoker's classic. The players assume the role of either Dracula or Dr. Van Helsing. The board is simply laid out with a 4x3 grid of homes in London. Each player has a set of cards which contains either coffins and vampires or victims and vampire slayers. As you might guess the goal is to collect the opponents coffins or victims (Dracula collects victims and Van Helsing collects coffins). The game requires a sharp memory of where you have seen specific cards and where your opponent has been. It is a very unique game of memory and strategy. Gameplay lasts 20-30 minutes. This is not a game to play with the television on it requires your full attention. It is a little cumbersome to learn and the directions are not always clear. After a few games anyone can catch on. I recommend this game to anyone looking for a relatively short 2 person evening of focused fun!

The game I chose first to review is my favorite (for now). It is called Killer Bunnies. My wife and I stumbled upon this game when we were shopping in Puzzles Plus one afternoon trying to spend a gift certificate. The cost was ~$25. It was well worth it. I have to admit that I was skeptical at first. I bought it on a whim because well I like bunnies! Here is an excerpt from the game web site:

Killer Bunnies :: The Game: "Killer Bunnies is a fast paced, action filled card game, in which you must try to keep as many Bunnies alive as possible, while eliminating your opponents' Bunnies. The problem: Your opponents are armed with weapons and will stop at nothing to keep you from winning the game, which can get dreadfully vengeful, horribly nasty, hilariously messy, and just plain fun!"

Killer bunnies is a game of silly strategy and ultimately random fun. For 2-8 players. Gameplay lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours. The game is completely unique. Unfortunately, due to its singularity, it is difficult to teach. Once everyone understands the mechanics of the game then it is a blast. The object of the game is obtaining the magic carrot (1 of 12 -20 carrots randomly and secretly determined at the game onset). To do this a player must place a bunny in play and then let the silliness ensue. From attacking other bunnies to gambling your own to calling on an alien abduction their are hundreds of ways to gain carrots or prevent others from doing so. Once the basic game is understood and enjoyed there are many expansion decks that add further layers of complexity and fun. This game is completely novel and every person I have taught to play has loved it. For more info, visit the website, it is well worth the trip:
http://www.killerbunnies.com/game/index.html