When I first saw a description of the game Calico, I knew it would be the perfect addition to our closet. We like cats and quilts, and we love pattern-making games like Azul in all its variations, Sagrada (yet to be reviewed), and Latice Hawaii. I added it to my Christmas list in hopes that someone else would catch the vision too.
This year my wish was finally granted. But as soon as I unwrapped the gift, my two-year-old granddaughter claimed it as her own. The cat on the cover was too cute to resist, but the box wasn't as soft and cuddly as she hoped.
The box is gorgeous, isn't it? But trust me when I say that what's inside is even better. We're talking high-quality components that are brightly colored and sturdy enough that even our busy two-year-old would have a hard time making a dent in them.
But is Calico fun to play? That's the important question, and it took only one game for us to answer it with a resounding yes. It's not laugh-out-loud entertainment, though. It's a quiet game, one you have to concentrate on because there's a lot to think about.
Here's how it works:
As you take turns placing quilt patches, your goals are to create groups of patterns that attract cats to come sit on your quilt and to form groups of colors in order to gain buttons. Both cats and buttons are worth points at the end of the game.
There are also end-game goals that you're working toward, so yes, lots to ponder while you play.
The quilts and cats make for a cozy theme, but if you've ever read a mystery of that kind, you know that cozy can also equal intense.
Come to think of it, I love cozy mysteries too, so yes, Calico is the perfect game for our closet, one that is sure to appear on our game table again and again.
A by-the-numbers Game Review of Calico
# Players . . . 1 to 4
Ages 10 and up
Game time . . . . . . . . 30-45 minutes
Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 minute
Luck . . . . . . . . . .8 . . Strategy
*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5
Component Quality . .. . . . . 9.5
*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9
*See "How we Rate" for a definition
Comments
Post a Comment