'The Completist'
United States
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1) What kind of games do I own and like?
I mostly like the gateway games because of the ease of learning and teaching. My collection (and reviews) include games like PitchCar, Dominion, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Cosmic Encounter, Lost Cities, Dixit, Ticket to Ride, Survive: Escape from Atlantis, No Thanks and For Sale.
2) Why was I interested in Apples to Apples?
I played it once and really enjoyed it. It wasn't long before I was searching the craft stores for a container to hold all my editions of Apples to Apples.
3) What is included with Apples to Apples?
Noun cards and adjective cards. Apples to Apples: Family comes with some worthless apple tokens too. All you need are the cards and some players with an open mind. With the expansions and variants I have nearly 3000 cards in my Apples to Apples collection.
4) How was the component quality?
The cards are of typical playing card quality.
5) Are the rules clear?
The rules are very simple and what makes it so accessible to newbies. Everyone tires to match the judge’s adjective with their best noun. Judge decides who wins.
6) What should you keep in mind when playing Apples?
It isn’t what you think the best match is but what you think the judge will think is. You may have one very analytical player who will go for the most straight-forward answer. Another player will always pick the funniest answer. Another will be the most personal. This make Apples a very social game and the better you are at recognizing social interactions and knowing what tickles your opponent’s fancy the more success you’ll have.
7) What ages is it appropriate for?
The core game says 12 and up while the Kids version says 7 and up. My seven year old, at the time, had tons of fun playing with the family using the core game. He didn’t understand all of the words or the events on the cards but I couldn’t think of a better way to teach him. He soaked it all up and had a great time. There are some cards/combinations that can be a bit PG-13 but nothing I wasn’t uncomfortable him being around.
8) How long do games last?
You can play a certain amount of rounds, you can have a goal for a certain number of green cards or you can even play without keeping score *GASP*. Probably sacrilege on the BGG but sometimes playing a game just to play without having a champion crowned should probably be more accepted. No matter how you play you’ll find that it is rewarding to be the judge and you’ll always a have a couple cards tucked back with someone specific in my mind so there always seems to be a reason to play another round.
9) How did I make this game better?
Expansion, expansion, expansion. More cards, more variety, more combinations. If you like this game don’t be scared about adding the Junior or Kids versions to the mix.
10) What expansions do I have for the Apples to Apples Party Box?
Apples to Apples Party Box Expansion One, Apples to Apples Party Box Expansion 2, Apples to Apples Junior, Apples to Apples Kids, Apples to Apples: Family.
11) Do I need all those expansions?
No, but you’ll probably want some additional cards at some point. As a completist I wanted the “generic” additions but have passed on the Disney, Bible , Yiddish and Jewish versions. Although I have to admit the Yiddish version somehow intrigues me.
12) Do the backs of the cards match when you mix the expansions?
No. I believe the only one that matches is the Party Box Expansion One. All the others have differences ranging from subtle to obvious. I have found that it doesn’t affect game play as long as everyone has a good mix of all the cards. We like the variety of noun cards that the younger versions offer (Play-Doh, Recess) that can still match up with adjectives from the original game. During play, if we find duplicate cards from different games we separate them out to thin the herd for future play.
13) Are all the expansions equally good?
The Party Expansion 1 is probably the weakest. It has many adjectives like “Armed and Dangerous”, “Dazed and Confused’ and “Fast and Furious”. These doubling up of adjectives is a bit lazy and can really handcuff a player’s answers. Luckily by the time they got to Party Expansion 2 they got back to basics with a single adjective per card. Unfortunately, Expansion 2 is harder to find on store shelves.
14) What makes the game better?
Knowing the group you’re playing with makes for more laughs and improves your chances of winning. When I am dealt my hand of cards they are usually sorted as; “this is her card”, “this is definitely his card”, “have to save this card for him” and then you just hope opportunity comes up to play them. More times than not , with patience, you’ll have a chance to play that perfect card and be rewarded for it.
15) What is there not to like?
Some won’t like that there aren’t right and wrong answers. The entire outcome of the game is based on what others think and feel. I believe this is Apples biggest strength of course but many still have issues with it.
16) How is Apples to Apples unlike most games?
Life has taught us many cruel lessons. He who has the most toys doesn’t always win and money doesn’t usually buy happiness. Most games we play give us victories for having the most money or the largest armies which are a poor reflection of what we find in life. Life is about how well you know and interact with others. Ultimately in Apples, like life, others will decide if you are a winner or not. If you embrace this unconventional game mechanic then Apples to Apples should be a positive experience for you.
17) What could have improved the game for me?
Consistent backs on all the Apples to Apples game versions. Eliminate the double adjectives from Expansion 1. Neither of these are big problems but noticeable.
18) I like Dixit. Will I like Apples to Apples?
Most likely one will have played Apples long before he has played Dixit since Apples can be found on every store shelf in town and Dixit is still virtually unknown. The two are similar and have very similar flavors. Dixit is a classier game but Apples is probably a fairer game. I hit on this in my 20 Questions About Dixit! review.
19) Do I recommend Apples to Apples?
I have to recommend Apples to Apples. I know it gets knocked around by its haters but I have always found success with it. It is light, easy and fun. Those that don’t like a game where victory is decided by others will probably hate it. Apples is a light but subtle game that always brings smiles to our table.
20) What more could I possibly want?
I just might have to pick up that Yiddish version. Dang.
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Randy Cox
United States
Clemson
South Carolina
1024x768 works just fine - Don't Wide the Site!
The Back Alley gets no respect.
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Re: 20 Questions About Apples to Apples!
Quote: 15) What is there not to like?
Some won’t like that there aren’t right and wrong answers. The entire outcome of the game is based on what others think and feel. I believe this is Apples biggest strength of course but many still have issues with it. Well, you're right about the difference of opinion. I have played this so many times with people who randomly pick the best submissions (or at least seemingly random). I see people try to game the game by saying "Only Bill would have submitted Hitler for this one, and he has two (score) cards already, so I won't pick Hitler..."
Finally, I know oh so many people who will only play if you dismiss with the last-one-to-throw-in-a-card-is-eliminated rule and I know just as many who require it.
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'The Completist'
United States
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Re: 20 Questions About Apples to Apples!
I have never played with anyone who tried to game the game like you described (thankfully). But I will admit I forgot abou the last-one-to-throw-in-a-card-is-eliminated rule because we have never used it.  Maybe without the rule a littl more care is taken and the game seems less random.
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Posted Sat Jul 9, 2011 9:33 pm
