- Joined
- Feb 8, 2018
(If this is the wrong subforum to post this, I apologize: I'm new to posting threads, so feel free to move it.)
As some people know, a while ago I did a review of Jake Alley's board game, 'The Massive Vs. The Masses' (spoiler alert: it's an unbalanced mess). Well, to my surprise, that post ended up surprisingly popular, at least by my standards, so I figured I'd try my hand at talking about other board games- not just lolcow or bad games (though those will come if people like this), but anything I come across. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to a game I picked up this week and am quickly becoming a fan of- Rival Restaurants!
Game: Rival Restaurants
Company: Gap Closer Games
Price: 60$
Year: 2019
I recently purchased this game off of Kickstarter, and it finally arrived- so I was excited to play it! The theme's nothing special- basically using the abilities of your chef to buy ingredients and make your dishes while screwing over the other players- but it's got a few unique mechanics to help make things more competitive and interesting.
The goal of the game is to earn 20 popularity points and make your restaurant the most successful. You do this by buying ingredients, cooking the recipes you have, and upgrading your eatery with things like recipe books, celebrity endorsements, and social media advertising. Each randomly-assigned chef and restaurant has their own special abilities and upgrade bonuses to help you get the job done. It's a fast-paced clash of cuisines, and only the most devious and talented chef can win.
However, you aren't going to have much time to strategize: everybody takes their turn at once during the game, just like the real world, the industry waits for no one. You all move at the same time (keeping your move hidden until everyone is ready), and have a minute to make your move and then buy your fill, going to your counter of choice and picking the pieces you need to make your dishes. You can go to the meat counter, the fruit/vegetable counters, carbs, and dairy to pick up what you're looking for. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, stop by the Mystery Mart to buy things like Alien Goo or (even worse) Tofu to add to your dishes for special effects. Bidding wars can erupt if two players want the same ingredient, and it's entirely possible to take ingredients just to spite other players and foil their culinary plans. Trading of recipes, foods, and money is also permitted, so long as you have the time to do so. It's a fast-paced game where people not only have to read their own cards, but keep an eye on the opponents ingredients and anticipate where they're going to move.
Of course, even cooking comes with a price: you need to clean up the trash after a successful meal, and failing to wipe your mess can have an impact on your future dishes. You can also buy and play Action cards, which can have effects like contaminating another player's food supply or staging an armed robbery (swiping half their money) to try and swing things in your favor. But you can't buy ingredients, actions, and upgrades at the same place, so it's important to plan your moves carefully.
There's a few things in the game that also make it possible to seriously screw over slower players-generally, you're allowed to buy as many ingredients as you want from a booth- but it's first come, first serve. If the counter (face-up cards) runs out for the day, you're forced to try your luck with a facedown ingredient- which may not be what you want, but it's better than nothing. The timer also seems like a dick move- but it's a good way to encourage fast play, in my opinion. There's nothing more annoying in a game than someone who takes forever to take their turn, and setting everyone on the same timer is a nice method to make sure everyone gets moving.
The game does seem complex at first, especially looking at the boards, but you can get into it surprisingly easy- I was able to understand the rules and how to play ten minutes in. It can get a little chaotic with four or more players, especially in the case of bidding wars, but thanks to a daily influx of in-game cash, you're never really out of the game, even if other players tend to gang up on you. I've always liked having a way to bounce back, especially in my play group where i'm often the target.
Overall, I give this game an 8/10. It's relatively fast, easy to learn, and can be a lot of fun, especially when bidding wars erupt and action cards go flying. It's one of those games where the more people you play with, the tricker things get, but also the more entertaining they become. I'd strongly recommend picking up a copy if you can. I had a lot of fun with my first few rounds, and I expect to have a lot more.
As some people know, a while ago I did a review of Jake Alley's board game, 'The Massive Vs. The Masses' (spoiler alert: it's an unbalanced mess). Well, to my surprise, that post ended up surprisingly popular, at least by my standards, so I figured I'd try my hand at talking about other board games- not just lolcow or bad games (though those will come if people like this), but anything I come across. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to a game I picked up this week and am quickly becoming a fan of- Rival Restaurants!
Game: Rival Restaurants
Company: Gap Closer Games
Price: 60$
Year: 2019
I recently purchased this game off of Kickstarter, and it finally arrived- so I was excited to play it! The theme's nothing special- basically using the abilities of your chef to buy ingredients and make your dishes while screwing over the other players- but it's got a few unique mechanics to help make things more competitive and interesting.
The goal of the game is to earn 20 popularity points and make your restaurant the most successful. You do this by buying ingredients, cooking the recipes you have, and upgrading your eatery with things like recipe books, celebrity endorsements, and social media advertising. Each randomly-assigned chef and restaurant has their own special abilities and upgrade bonuses to help you get the job done. It's a fast-paced clash of cuisines, and only the most devious and talented chef can win.
However, you aren't going to have much time to strategize: everybody takes their turn at once during the game, just like the real world, the industry waits for no one. You all move at the same time (keeping your move hidden until everyone is ready), and have a minute to make your move and then buy your fill, going to your counter of choice and picking the pieces you need to make your dishes. You can go to the meat counter, the fruit/vegetable counters, carbs, and dairy to pick up what you're looking for. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, stop by the Mystery Mart to buy things like Alien Goo or (even worse) Tofu to add to your dishes for special effects. Bidding wars can erupt if two players want the same ingredient, and it's entirely possible to take ingredients just to spite other players and foil their culinary plans. Trading of recipes, foods, and money is also permitted, so long as you have the time to do so. It's a fast-paced game where people not only have to read their own cards, but keep an eye on the opponents ingredients and anticipate where they're going to move.
Of course, even cooking comes with a price: you need to clean up the trash after a successful meal, and failing to wipe your mess can have an impact on your future dishes. You can also buy and play Action cards, which can have effects like contaminating another player's food supply or staging an armed robbery (swiping half their money) to try and swing things in your favor. But you can't buy ingredients, actions, and upgrades at the same place, so it's important to plan your moves carefully.
There's a few things in the game that also make it possible to seriously screw over slower players-generally, you're allowed to buy as many ingredients as you want from a booth- but it's first come, first serve. If the counter (face-up cards) runs out for the day, you're forced to try your luck with a facedown ingredient- which may not be what you want, but it's better than nothing. The timer also seems like a dick move- but it's a good way to encourage fast play, in my opinion. There's nothing more annoying in a game than someone who takes forever to take their turn, and setting everyone on the same timer is a nice method to make sure everyone gets moving.
The game does seem complex at first, especially looking at the boards, but you can get into it surprisingly easy- I was able to understand the rules and how to play ten minutes in. It can get a little chaotic with four or more players, especially in the case of bidding wars, but thanks to a daily influx of in-game cash, you're never really out of the game, even if other players tend to gang up on you. I've always liked having a way to bounce back, especially in my play group where i'm often the target.
Overall, I give this game an 8/10. It's relatively fast, easy to learn, and can be a lot of fun, especially when bidding wars erupt and action cards go flying. It's one of those games where the more people you play with, the tricker things get, but also the more entertaining they become. I'd strongly recommend picking up a copy if you can. I had a lot of fun with my first few rounds, and I expect to have a lot more.
