2015 English 1st Edition (*Review Copy)
Published by: Granna
# of Players: 2 to 5
Published by: Granna
# of Players: 2 to 5
CVlizations is a new entry into the CV line of games. CVlizations has players picking 2 action cards each turn and doing the action on the card depending on the number of people who picked the card. The theme of CVlizations is that you are writing the history of your tribe from birth to modern age. I am a huge fan of the original CV game and was curious if this was going to live up to the level CV has. In this review I will discuss what I thought of the components, how the game plays and what I think of the whole game. I invite you to read along as I dive into the world of CVlizations.
Components
CVlizations is a game of few components, but each component is executed nicely. There are 3 types of goods that represented by 3 wooden shapes. Food tokens look like Pac-man. I am not sure if that was done on purpose, but I had fun using the food tokens to eat the circular stone tokens and chase the white wooden wood tokens. The game comes with 2 player aid cards that are really helpful, but I wish they would have provided one for each person. Happiness points, which are this games victory points, are tracked by cardboard smiley face tokens. There is a viking helmet that is used to track who is the first player and a crown to indicate which age you are in. A big reason CV is popular is due to it's very well done and funny art. CVlizations has benefited from that same art and provides many laughs during game. This will also help get many new players to give this game a try. The rule book is very easy to understand and very detailed. For what is a simple game, they covered it very deeply in the rule book, even providing an appendix that details some of the idea cards.
CVlizations is a game of few components, but each component is executed nicely. There are 3 types of goods that represented by 3 wooden shapes. Food tokens look like Pac-man. I am not sure if that was done on purpose, but I had fun using the food tokens to eat the circular stone tokens and chase the white wooden wood tokens. The game comes with 2 player aid cards that are really helpful, but I wish they would have provided one for each person. Happiness points, which are this games victory points, are tracked by cardboard smiley face tokens. There is a viking helmet that is used to track who is the first player and a crown to indicate which age you are in. A big reason CV is popular is due to it's very well done and funny art. CVlizations has benefited from that same art and provides many laughs during game. This will also help get many new players to give this game a try. The rule book is very easy to understand and very detailed. For what is a simple game, they covered it very deeply in the rule book, even providing an appendix that details some of the idea cards.
Gameplay
The goal of CVlizations is to be the player with the most happiness points at the end of the game. The game takes place over 3 ages. An age consists of 3 rounds of players choosing action cards to play, performing those actions and then buying a idea card. Each player starts each age with 8 action cards. During each round players will take turns laying one action card face up and one face down. Once everyone has placed both cards, they are revealed and the actions are taken starting with the lowest card number. Everyone that played that same action card must perform the action describe based on the number of players who played it. For example: Logging has players gaining wood tokens. If only 1 player played this action they receive 2 wood. If 2 players played this action, they would both receive 3 wood, but if 3 or more played this action then each person who played the card will receive 1 wood. Once everyone's actions for that round have been played and idea cards have been purchased, players will start a new round with the remaining 6 actions cards and do the same as above. Players will perform one more round with the 4 remaining cards. After purchasing cards for that round, you will start a new age if you were previously in age 1 or 2, or end the game if you were in age 3.
The goal of CVlizations is to be the player with the most happiness points at the end of the game. The game takes place over 3 ages. An age consists of 3 rounds of players choosing action cards to play, performing those actions and then buying a idea card. Each player starts each age with 8 action cards. During each round players will take turns laying one action card face up and one face down. Once everyone has placed both cards, they are revealed and the actions are taken starting with the lowest card number. Everyone that played that same action card must perform the action describe based on the number of players who played it. For example: Logging has players gaining wood tokens. If only 1 player played this action they receive 2 wood. If 2 players played this action, they would both receive 3 wood, but if 3 or more played this action then each person who played the card will receive 1 wood. Once everyone's actions for that round have been played and idea cards have been purchased, players will start a new round with the remaining 6 actions cards and do the same as above. Players will perform one more round with the 4 remaining cards. After purchasing cards for that round, you will start a new age if you were previously in age 1 or 2, or end the game if you were in age 3.
The 8 actions cards each have their own focus on what they do. 3 of the cards (Logging, Hunting, and Quarrying) provide a certain good. Thieving lets you steal goods from another player. Cunning provides you with goods of your choice. Slacking provides you with happiness points and trading allows you to trade goods for other goods. The last card is not resolved individually, but rather will double your other action card selected if you or only 1 other player have played this doubling card this round. After everyone has received their goods you will move to buying idea cards. Idea cards will provide various benefits such as happiness points and passive abilities. Building, tool, invention, and ideology are the 4 types of idea cards that you can purchase. The passive abilities range from getting an extra good when performing a certain action, to reducing the cost for a cards based on how many of a type of idea card you have. There is even a card that allows you to purchase a second card each round. I thought this card was the only one in the whole game that was out of balance. Once a player gets this card, the other players have to focus on preventing him from getting too many goods. Once age 3 is over players will tally up all the happiness points from their tokens and cards. Player with the most wins. CVlizations is very easy to teach and has a quick game time of under an hour.
Final Thoughts
CVlizations is a great addition to the CV line of games. Game designer Jan Zalewski did a great job of making a quick civilization engine building game. The action selection is reminiscent of Race for the Galaxy, but offers players a flavor of deduction and bluffing. Trying to guess what your opponents played as their hidden second card can be very interesting. Sometimes seeing one action face up and wondering how many choose it as their hidden second action can make the difference from getting a lot, to getting nothing. Generally having 2 players choose an action is best, but there are some instances were that is not the case. The game is very balanced minus the one card that lets you purchase two cards during a turn, but that player still needs the goods to buy each round. I was able to teach to this people ranging in ages from 13 to 60 with variable game knowledge, and each was able to understand the game very quickly. I really enjoyed how the game plays in under an hour, even with a 5 player count. The art of on the cards is excellent and provides that same humor that was in the original CV. I would recommend CVlizations to anyone who enjoys lighter games that can be played fairly quickly. I enjoy this one a lot and it will be in my collection right next to the original. Recent good news is that Passport Game Studios is bringing CVlizations to the US, so it should be very easy to pick up online or at your favorite local game store.
CVlizations is a great addition to the CV line of games. Game designer Jan Zalewski did a great job of making a quick civilization engine building game. The action selection is reminiscent of Race for the Galaxy, but offers players a flavor of deduction and bluffing. Trying to guess what your opponents played as their hidden second card can be very interesting. Sometimes seeing one action face up and wondering how many choose it as their hidden second action can make the difference from getting a lot, to getting nothing. Generally having 2 players choose an action is best, but there are some instances were that is not the case. The game is very balanced minus the one card that lets you purchase two cards during a turn, but that player still needs the goods to buy each round. I was able to teach to this people ranging in ages from 13 to 60 with variable game knowledge, and each was able to understand the game very quickly. I really enjoyed how the game plays in under an hour, even with a 5 player count. The art of on the cards is excellent and provides that same humor that was in the original CV. I would recommend CVlizations to anyone who enjoys lighter games that can be played fairly quickly. I enjoy this one a lot and it will be in my collection right next to the original. Recent good news is that Passport Game Studios is bringing CVlizations to the US, so it should be very easy to pick up online or at your favorite local game store.
Taco gives CVlizations a rating of
8.25 out of 10
Pros:
+ Quick and easy to teach
+ Funny art
+ Excellent gateway game into civilization and engine building games
+ Pac-man Food tokens
Cons:
- 1 card seemed a little over powered
- Big box for a small game
- Some may be turned off by the goofy art (not me)
Pros:
+ Quick and easy to teach
+ Funny art
+ Excellent gateway game into civilization and engine building games
+ Pac-man Food tokens
Cons:
- 1 card seemed a little over powered
- Big box for a small game
- Some may be turned off by the goofy art (not me)
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