I feel that the fact that this game is less popular than, say, Dominion is that there is a much tougher learning curve to get started. Despite the lack of information in some areas of the instructions (and the fact that they say to use the pre-numbered cards for your first game but don't give you an idea of how to play out your first game with the numbered cards), there are some very good online tutorials.
There are over 100 cards. There are also several expansions available, but this review applies to the base game only. The cards have interesting, though not always high quality, science fiction art. I especially enjoy Plague World. But the art and titles of the cards are nice and keep the player engaged.
Game play is fluid, which is nice. Some folks say this is a version of 2 - 4 player solitaire, but I disagree. I think part of the key to winning is in guessing what phases your opponents will take and also in trying to speed up or slow down the time when the game ends. I'll give a brief overview:
Each player randomly selects one of five start worlds. Each of these worlds have a different bonus or attribute. Each player then 'explores' or by selecting six cards and keeping four. Each player then selects one of seven action cards and places them face down. When all players have done so they then flip the cards over and the round begins with the actions proceeding in numerical order. The actions are 'explore' which allows players to draw more cards, 'develop' which allows players to place a development card, 'settle' which allows players to place a planet card, 'consume' which allows players to use goods in exchange for cards or victory points, and 'produce' which allows players to produce goods on planets that can produce.
If a player places an action card, all players perform the action with only those that placed that action card acquiring the bonuses associated with the card. So if two players placed develop and one placed produce, all three would be allowed to place a development card, but only the two who used the action can get the -1 development cost bonus. Then all players would produce (each action can only go once per round), and only the player that played the produce action would be allowed the bonus of placing a good on a windfall world.
I won't get into too much detail, but the game ends when a player places 12 cards into his tableau (the cards in front of him/her on the table) or if all victory points are used (you start with a pot of 12 per player). The winner is determined by adding victory point chips to the victory point values of the cards in their tableau, and any bonuses that may be applicable. Play continues through the final action of that round (so even if a player places his 12th card in the settle phase, you would still continue play through the last action someone played of that round).
Sounds a bit complicated? Well it is at first. Understanding the basic nature of the game isn't too tough, but it's the bonuses on the cards that get complicated. Luckily the rules have 3 or 4 pages dedicated to the explanations of the bonus symbols. And the bonuses on the cards are listed under the phases they apply to. So if somebody uses a settle action, you would look at your cards in your tableau and see if you get any bonuses for III (settle) and use them if applicable.
One of the fun things to do is to use actions which will not benefit other players, but benefit yourself. If other players have only a couple of cards in their hand, but you have a lot, then you might settle or develop (since you pay the cost by discarding the number of cards from your hand associated with the cost). Other players may be unable to pay the cost to deploy these cards, thereby rendering the action useless for them. Then you might still get to use actions that they select (such as explore or produce). Another trick is to use produce when others have goods already out and you don't. Though they might use a consume action which would use some or all of their goods (which is the action that always occurs before produce!). Or you could look and see that another player is likely to use produce, so you can use consume as your action, knowing that you would get the bonus, then you would basically be able to produce goods the next action without any cost to you.
Part of the strategy involves planning your method of attack early. Sometimes you will have a card that is amazing, but it takes awhile to get it into play. Other times you can start with a good level of military and then spend your time acquiring stronger military by using military development cards and then settling (conquering) military worlds for victory points instead of producing and consuming goods. Other times you might score an amazing production bonus development card (such as the card that allows you to acquire 3 VPs in exchange for consuming a good of each of three different colors (can be doubled with the consume 2x VP action) - my favorite card in other words). The variety is endless.
The game is also great for 2 players. There is an additional and optional style of play for two people that is worth trying once players are familiar and it involves two extra action cards (9 total) and each player placing two actions per round.
I haven't tried the expansions yet, but I will surely be picking them up soon. This game skyrocketed ahead of some others in my collection. Still, Carcassonne: 10 Year Special Edition is a great game for those not really into Euro games with a steep learning curve; Samurai is a favorite of many friends who aren't avid game players (and an easy game to set up and play quickly); Stone Age is a personal favorite with the fun of putting caveman meeple into 'love huts' and using dice as an additional level of chance for acquiring material; and of course Dominion, the popularity contest winner.
If you like quirky games that have a lot of individual strategy, not too much head to head action, have an interesting theme, and are fun - then this is a game well worth picking up. It's not going to appeal to everyone. If you want to get right into the game without spending a lot of time practicing or learning the rules, then check out Dominion which is honestly easier to get into right away (but has many layers of complexity). If you don't mind playing a few practice rounds with friends or watching a couple of online tutorials, then this might be worth the effort for you.
Until then, enjoy!
-C
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Ordered on 10/2/18 and received the second edition
I'm not going to write a review of the game itself as many people before me have already done a great job. Just peruse any of the 5-star reviews here and add my name to the list. My main goal is to let people know that the version of the game that I received is the new second edition. With the game back in stock it seems that Amazon has just continued the same product page. This is good for people wanting to read reviews of the product. Less good for people wanting to order the second edition as neither the photos or the description has been updated. The second edition is identical to the first - with the addition of 6 new starting worlds and some revision on ~5 cards. In fact, the rules book seems to be exactly the same as the first edition with no mention of the new cards. There is a second booklet that looks like a tutorial which does mention the new cards. I hope this helps until the page can be updated!
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2013
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