C Paget
Canada
Toronto
ON
...
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I am reviewing “The Bullet” because I want to review the entire Bang! gaming system in one go. So this review covers Bang! and all of its expansions.
I actually don’t own The Bullet, instead I’ve collected most expansions (I missed High Noon), which also means my set is a little different than what comes in the Bullet.
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Value: Is it worth the Price?
10
The cards are great, and the game is inexpensive, a good combo.
Some editions/versions come with player mats and bullet tokens, which I think are unnecessary and bulky; but are appealing to some.
Variety: Is each play different?
7
There are a lot of ways to vary the game: using different characters, add different round decks (High Noon, Fistfull etc), include different playing cards etc etc etc. It means that each game has some subtle, but important differences.
It’s also very good for tailoring the game to suit the audience. With newbies, I remove the green cards and the character cards and then I introduce them back in as people get experience. And then with more experienced players, you can throw everything at them.
Replayability: Can you play again & again?
4
Personally, I can’t handle more than 2 games back to back. The game is great for what it is, but isn’t something I’d want to take with me on a desert island.
Steep Learning Curve: Experience to move beyond rules?
5
This is a major flaw with the game: it takes a while to learn all the cards so that you can actually strategize, rather than just playing cards quasi-randomly.
For other games this would be a strength, but Bang! is more of a filler and the learning curve is a bit too steep for this type of game.
Strategic Depth: Opportunity for decision-making?
4
There are definitely opportunities for decision-making, and the game is deeper if you’re working to only kill the people that you need to kill.
At the same time however, there are many strategies available, or ways to control the game play.
Player Interaction: Contact between players?
8
This is a shoot-em-up spaghetti western, so the interaction is mostly direct. It’s also mostly negative contact, with players directly causing each other’s misfortune, and usually only indirectly causing benefits.
Fun: An enjoyable experience?
6
Yes and No.
Bang! includes player elimination, so it’s a fun game as long as you’re still included.
But if you were eliminated fast, then it’s not all that much fun to watch.
Luck-Free: Is winning independent of luck?
3
Luck is important. You can play with great strategy and increase your odds of survival, but you really need to have the right cards and the right time in order to win.
Theme Fit: Does it match the theme?
10
The theme is perfect for this game The theme often piques people’s interest, and the game mechanics follow through on that promise.
Gateway: Is it good with non-gamers?
8
Most non-gamers will enjoy this game, as long as they’re willing to “just play” as they’re learning.
If they’re not so laid-back, and are more inclined to understand *everything,* then this isn’t the game for them. The problem is that it’s easy to end up with analysis paralysis, which doesn’t actually improve the game strategy and is detrimental to the experience.
Rules A-OK: Confirming it isn’t broken?
10
The rules are just fine as is.
Teachable : Is it easy to teach?
5
Teaching this game can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a planned explanation.
The game is a little bit too complicated for what it is.
I’ve had the best luck with explaining as little as possible, and telling everyone to just relax and play (randomly if they need to), then I explain each card as it is played. This gets into the game play quickly, and gives everyone a chance to really see what is going on.
I recommend doing a bit of prep time to identify the really key elements to the game, such as: shooting distance, 1 bang per turn, emergency beers, etc.
Text etc: Minimal Reading/Symbology?
3
Ick ick ick.
The symbology is the major flaw in Bang!
There is a symbolic language to explain the cards, and the language works... ...but many people have a lot of trouble with it (some brains handle it and others do not).
It’s easy to lose people as they try to interpret the symbols and the text – and the game is best once they have a bit of memorization under their belt.
Short Set-Up: Does it set-up quickly?
8
A little bit of card distribution and shuffling. Nothing big.
Components: Are the bits high quality?
8
It’s a card game. No complaints here.
Bottom Line
I recommend this game as a good filler, but only if you think it’ll fit with your intended audience.
Bang!’s features can also be seen as flaws, depending on the group:
* It’s strongly themed.
* It’s chaotic.
* There is an element of luck.
* It requires symbol interpretation or card memorization.
* It’s hilarious.
EDIT: the "Luck" scale was reversed to be "Luck-Free" and the subscription link was added.
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Mike Windsor
United States
Fort Worth
Texas
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I've no idea if the review is good, although it certainly seems well-considered (I have no experience with Bang!), but I love the graphic. The graphic is pretty clever. I can see applying it to all sorts of games. I could just look at the shape and get a whole lot of information in one glance. I like it.
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C Paget
Canada
Toronto
ON
...
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Thanks! I'm kinda excited about the graphic and I intend to do a bunch more reviews in this style.
And I agree that the shape could be a useful measure of the game.
I took my time developing the "scales" so that they can be applied to different games, and give a quick picture of a game's strengths. I really like to choose a game for the audience, and for that you have to go beyond a single numerical rating.
I've created a central geeklist to announce new ones: Radar Reviews
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D Rose
United States
Mesa
Arizona
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As a huge fan and advocate of bang I thought your review was one of the best I've read. I like how you point out the flaws in the game as well as the expansion to go along with the good points. I agree that bang is a game filler one that we play either in between other board games.
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Chad McCoy
United States
Cleveland
Ohio
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Hmmm... This seems like more of a "thumbs down" review of Bang! to me.
If I had to base my purchase of the game on this review alone, I don't think I would buy it.
However, for me and my family and friends, most of us consider this to be the best game ever made.
When we break this game out on the weekends, it's not uncommon for us to play 5 or 6 times in a row, and then play 3 or 4 more games the next day.
If I was stranded on a desert island (with 5 or 6 other people), this is the game I would definitely want to have with me.
As far as the learning curve, we've found that it's easier to just give a brief rundown of the basics and then start playing the game rather than try to explain what all the cards mean. Newbies will figure it out after a game or two. It helps if you start without the expansions, and add those as the players become comfortable with the game.
For us, Bang! is not a filler, it is the centerpiece of our game nights.
When we play, we like to sing, "I shot the sheriff..."
I agree 100% about the symbology, though.
The symbols on the cards weren't the clearest ones that could have been used, but they usually start to make sense to players after a few games.
I find that a custom player aid card - like the ones here on BGG - helps, in which each card is explained.
Of course, everyone is different in what they like/dislike, but Bang! is a hit with us. Everyone we have introduced it to has gone out and bought their own copy, and I would encourage everyone here to go out and do the same.
If you're not sure about it, then make sure you just purchase the basic Bang! card game without the expansions. Our local game store sells it for $10, while the Bullet costs $50. If you want the expansions, you can always buy them separately - they also run about $10 each in our local game store.
Have fun!
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C Paget
Canada
Toronto
ON
...
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Interesting, because I didn't mean for the review to be negative.
Bang! sees a lot of play in my gaming groups - and it's a favorite with one group of friends in particular.
But it's also a very flawed game (in my mind).
So if those flaws are "fatal" to you, then this isn't the game for you. But if they aren't a problem (and many of the flaws add to the fun of the game) then it's a great little game.
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To help with the "Fun" element of BANG!, where you claim it is lacking due to player elimination, I made an expansion to BANG! where eliminated players remain in the game and influence it as ghosts. You can now order a copy of Death Mesa online for $8.99. Check that link for explanations of the game as well.
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Posted Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:22 pm
