As is obvious, reviewing this game was sheer pleasure. It evokes the 1930's pulp genre and may be the best drinking game ever. It also reminds me quite a bit of the flashback sequences in Warren Ellis' Planetary (but that may just be because both capture pulp so well).
REVIEWER NAME: Ian Burton-Oakes
1) CREATIVE AND EFFECTIVE INCORPORATION OF RULES (1-10): 10
Feedback: The introduction rocks—I immediately had an idea of how the ingredients were going to be used. That description only made me more interested in seeing the final execution. The thorough use of the time theme blows my mind. From the cliffhangers (to break up sessions) and hourglasses (to keep conflicts fast-paced), the designer found mechanics elegantly suited to the premise of the game and the requirements of the competition.
2) CLARITY (1-10): 10
Feedback: The designer says he owes his wife a debt of gratitude for her editorial prowess—if she is responsible for a tenth of the game’s clarity, I hope he worships the ground she walks on. Seriously, the designer makes it look easy and has some of the best examples of game play I have seen.
3) COMPLETENESS (1-10): 9
Feedback: Slap some cool pulpy art in this baby and send it to press. To whom do I address the check because, dude, I want a copy with cool pictures.
4) ESTIMATED EFFECTIVENESS IN PLAY (1-10): 9
Feedback: Wow! After reading through the rules, playing this game seems like a breeze. Better yet, it sounds like a blast. Those descriptions of game play make me want to get in on the action. I love the way in which player enjoyment feeds into character acclaim. Let me just go get some brewskies…
Only potential problem: the alcohol-player mix could cause some bumps, especially with good storytellers! (I know—this is a problem how?) And let’s not talk about the carbs!
5) SWING VOTE (1-10): 10
Final Feedback: Rock on! To say this game is well conceived and executed does not do its coolness justice. The design choices grab me and keep hold of me—from the elegant title script to the careful yet easily understood descriptions of play. The use of the ingredients is just wonderful and I adore the way in which props are used to evoke the setting. The adoption of jargon like ‘research,’ ‘harrowing indeed, but…,’ and so on just makes me giddy (admittedly, I’m an academic, so the research talk grabs me more than an ‘average’ person).
This is a paragon of cool indie game goodness. I have a copy of the rules in my hand and I still want to send this guy my money.
TOTAL SCORE (add items 1 through 5, above): 48