arcs board game review

Alright, alright, let me tell ya ’bout this Arcs board game. Folks been yappin’ about it, so I figured, why not? Gotta see what all the fuss is about, ya know?

First off, this game, it ain’t like them checkers or that ol’ Parcheesi we used to play. No sirree. This here Arcs thing, it’s got…well, it’s got a lot goin’ on. Too much if ya ask me, but hey, I ain’t no spring chicken no more, my brain ain’t what it used to be.

So, ya start the game, and there’s all these bits and pieces. Little spaceships and dice and cards… Lord have mercy, enough to make yer head spin. Took me a good while just to sort through it all. My grandkid, that little whippersnapper, he figured it out faster than me, which ain’t sayin’ much, I reckon.

The idea, as far as I can tell, is you’re flyin’ around in space, doin’ stuff. You got planets to control, and battles to fight, and resources to gather. Seems like every turn you gotta make a hundred different decisions. Do I move this ship here? Do I attack that fella? Do I build this thingamajig? It’s enough to make ya wanna pull yer hair out!

And the rules? Don’t even get me started on the rules. That little booklet they give ya, it’s thicker than my Bible! And the words they use… “Initiative” this and “Sector” that… They coulda just said “who goes first” and “part of the board,” but I guess that ain’t fancy enough for these city folk who made this game.

Now, I ain’t sayin’ it’s a bad game, mind ya. It’s just… complicated. Too complicated for my taste, I think. I played it a few times with the grandkids, and they seemed to enjoy it, especially that little whippersnapper. He kept beatin’ me, too. Kids these days, they’re too smart for their own good, I tell ya.

One thing I did like, though, was the story. See, every time you play, it’s supposed to be different. Like, the things you do in one game affect the next game. That’s kinda neat, I guess. It’s like readin’ a book where you get to decide what happens. Though, I still prefer a good ol’ romance novel any day.

But honestly, half the time I didn’t know what I was doin’. Just rollin’ dice and movin’ ships around, hopin’ for the best. And sometimes, that worked! I even won a game or two, much to the surprise of everyone, including myself.

• It looks pretty, I guess. All them spaceships and planets, it’s somethin’ to look at.
• The story thing, like I said, that’s kinda neat. Keeps things interestin’, at least for a while.
• The grandkids liked it, so that’s gotta count for somethin’. Keeps ‘em outta trouble, mostly.

• Too many rules! My goodness, I thought my head was gonna explode tryin’ to remember it all.
• Too complicated. Takes too long to play, and too long to set up. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
• Too much thinkin’. I like games where you can just relax and have fun. This one makes your brain hurt.

So, would I recommend this Arcs board game? Well, it depends. If you like them complicated games, with lots of rules and strategy, then yeah, you might like it. But if you’re like me, and you just want somethin’ simple and fun, then maybe stick to checkers. Or better yet, just sit on the porch and watch the birds. That’s what I like to do.

Anyways, that’s my two cents on this Arcs thing. Take it or leave it. I’m gonna go make myself a cup of tea and find a good book. My brain needs a rest.

Tags: [Arcs Board Game, Board Game Review, Strategy Game, Sci-Fi Game, Space Game, Game Review, Tabletop Game]