Game Review Archives

Strategy Guides

The following was originally published as a multi-part article in Abstract Games Magazine . You’ll find the original in issues  6-9. At the time, the standard game required 3 white / 4 grey / 5 black / 2 of each to win. In later editions of the game, the standard became 4/5/6/3 respectively.  Nonetheless, most of the basic principles discussed remain relevant.

Zertz Strategy Guide

Reviews

The following first appeared in the pages of Games, Games, Games magazine back in the 1990s, where I was the official abstract game reviewer for a while. These are the original files I submitted, so haven’t been proof read. Any   grammar, spelling, and other errors are preserved for posterity.

Computer Games

… or should I say Computer Game? Even after years of neglect, Zillions is still an amazing piece of software. You may also want to look at my own AI here

Zillions of Games review

Project GIPF

Since I wrote these, Project GIPF has expanded to include DVONN, YINSH, PUNCT, TZAAR, and LYNGK; TAMSK, amazing as it is, is no longer part of the series; boo!

GIPF
Zertz
Tamsk

Tavener’s Treasure Trove

Tavener’s Treasure Trove #1 (Amoeba, Take the Brain, Trippples, Quirks)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #2 (Vector, 5ive Straight)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #3 (Thunder Road, Snit’s Revenge,  Man-eater!, Kersplatt!)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #4 (Runes, Code 777, Mastermind, Black Box, Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #5 (Tales of the Arabian Nights, Castle of Magic, Chill: Black Morn Manor, Talisman, Spellmaker)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #6 (Acquire, Bazaar, Can’t Stop, Focus, Kohle, Kies & Knete
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #7 (Situation 4, Lemming, Deep Space Navigator, Dark Cults)
Tavener’s Treasure Trove #8 (City of Chaos, Der Schlacht Der Dinosaurier, Full Metal Planete, Verzauberte Eulen/The Enchanted Owl Game)

Miscellaneous Reviews

Amazons
Avalam Bitaka
Batik
Elchfest
Fibonacci
Fluxx
Gyges
Icehouse
Lemma
Octi
Octiles
Plateau
The Power of Two
Proteus
Quads
Quantum (The Quantum Game)
Quorridor
The High Kings of Tara
Y (The Game of Y)