Craig Somerton
Australia
North Ryde
NSW
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As a Aussie, I subscribe to many of the local Australian Groups, Guilds and game developers.
Several weeks ago a new game from Phil Harding of Adventureland Games popped-onto my radar. A new game called Flicochet, a disc flicking, dexterity game for 2-6 players.
Being a lover of PitchCar, I do like dexterity games (even though I'm notoriously inconsistent at them), and I often try to support small, independent, local developers. So, I immediately purchased a copy of the game.
Components:
Flicochet comes in a clean, compact cardboard box with a printed woodgrain finish. Even though the game is from a small developer/publisher, the game does look and feel quite polished and professional.
Inside the cardboard box is a clear Perspex box containing 6x red and 6x white wooden discs. Also included are 2x larger black wooden discs (the Jacks), a small set of instructions and a tiny measuring ruler, approx 8-9cm long. The Perspex box is neat and the lid fits snugly, without being too tight. The box itself means your discs and rules will be well protected should you choose to drop the box in a backpack or travelling case.
The rules are easy to follow, although, for those of us whose eyesight is degrading rapidly, you will need glasses or contacts to read them. That said, the game is self-explanatory.
The discs themselves are clean and smooth and well painted in a high gloss finish. I particularly like the choice of colours, (red, white and black), and it makes the game easily accessible for the colour-blind.
The playing discs themselves have a real solidity to them, not too heavy and not too light.
The black discs (jacks) are noticeably larger than the player discs and provide a great target for you to aim at. Again, solid and good colour choices.
Gameplay:
The aim of the game is to flick your own coloured discs toward the jack. The person closest to the jack at the end of the game is the winner. Throughout the course of the game you may hit other discs, including your own and the jack, to place your discs in a better position.
Flicochet offers parallels with Crokinole,Sorry! Sliders, Bocce, etc. but for me it felt a lot like Lawn Bowls, which is quite a popular sport in Australia.
Gameplay is generally very fast, with games finishing in around 2-3 minutes, including clean-up. This means it is possible to play 10-15 games in around 30 minutes. The speed of the game makes it perfect for small groups. And because the components are quite robust, the game does lend itself to social (drinking) during play. In our first session, we played around 30 games in 45 mins of laughter, shouting and enjoyment.
For our first series of games we used a large wooden trestle table, around 2 metres long and 600cm wide. Starting at one end, Player 1 started by flicking the jack to any point of the table. Each player then takes a turn to try to flick one of his coloured discs closest to the jack. As more discs surround the jack, shots become limited and you are often forced to ricochet shots off each other in an attempt to gain advantage. But be careful, if you knock the jack off the table, you lose, kinda like pocketing the black in snooker or pool.
Flicochet is a game where skill will generally beat luck. Find someone with excellent flicking skills and they are likely to win 8 out of 10 games. That said, this doesn't detract from the fun of game. With each player allowed 6 shots at the jack, there is generally enough opportunity for a lucky shot to knock another disc, or even the jack into a completely different location, which can change the whole complexion of the game. And if you play on a table that isn't perfectly smooth, you can also introduce an element of randomness, which just adds to the fun.
Several variations are included in the rules, including using both jacks, although we stuck to the basic game and still had a ball.
Conclusion:
Flicochet is a light, fun, fast-playing party game that works exceedingly well in a social gathering. You will need a smooth, flat surface on which to play. Personally, I would recommend using a long narrow table, rather than a round table, as your shot-making will become more limited, requiring greater emphasis on tactical placement and blocking.
The game works wonderfully with 2 players and 4 players (acting as a team). We did play quite a few rounds of 3-player "challenge the king", where the previous winner held the table against challengers.
The game is simple, accessible, language independent and is so portable it can be slipped into a plastic baggie for your holiday or even a rowdy afternoon at the pub with some friends. And trust me, once people see you playing, they all want to have a go.
Overall, a fantastic cheap/light/party/dexterity game from a small Australian designer publisher. If you like dexterity games, this is one worth adding to your collection.
Personal Score: 7.5
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