Bitoku Review - with Tom Vasel

Рет қаралды 60,842

Күн бұрын

Tom Vasel takes a look at a worker placement game of becoming a great forest spirit!
Intro 0:00
Overview 1:20
Final Thoughts 13:41
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BGG Link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...

Пікірлер: 70

@markberardi6190 2 жыл бұрын

I cannot get enough of this game! I skipped the later days of Essen just to play it more. I 100% agree that it does not do anything new but it provides a smooth experience for what it offers.

@TaeEmpty 2 жыл бұрын

I just played it today and it’s such a great heavy-to-mid game. It looks busy af at first, but after a few rounds the actions and the iconography make sense. Cant wait to get my own copy

@daihideo 2 жыл бұрын

So it's like Hadrian's Wall. So many options but closer to the end, everything clicks.

@RadishTheFool 2 жыл бұрын

To me, this is one of those games that are hard to understand how they would play from just a video overview. But I do love the visuals and production value, so I'm very willing to give it a try.

@theshogunstein6475 2 жыл бұрын

Seems like a game that has lots of ways to play and win, which goes against the whole let me buy a new shiny game, play it once or twice and bring another game to the table. I wish more people would play games like this and bring them multiple times to game day so we can learn all the different ways to score, play, and win.

@kirapeavley 2 жыл бұрын

I can’t stop thinking about this game. It’s just so good. You’re exactly right. I’m thinking about what I’m going to do the next time I play. Thanks, Tom!

@joaquimdorca3512 2 жыл бұрын

Same here! Incredible... but true

@poberejskii 2 жыл бұрын

thanks tom, always good!

@Xhawk33 2 жыл бұрын

Its def been awhile since I was this excited for a game...hopefully it hits the usual US stores soon. Im sure this is going to make many top 10 of 2021 lists.

@gelui13 2 жыл бұрын

You really did a great job explaining the overview! Can´t wait for this game, after Red cathedral spanish games are starting to get hot!

@bradleak1465 2 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to playing this and it hitting the game store

@williamburgos9993 2 жыл бұрын

The cover art is beautiful! I was curious about it but now I feel this game is not for my typical gaming group. Thanks for the review!

@ertai222 2 жыл бұрын

I feel you. Nice box art but after watching this i don't think I'd enjoy it either.

@jessicaw2137 2 жыл бұрын

The game is so good! I can´t stop playing it and thinking about it!

@tetsucat13 6 ай бұрын

Looking at this game. Looks beautiful. Well done for trying to explain this game. Have heard set up is a bit messy. When I look for a game review and it says it's you I shout "Hi Tom " your my fav reviewer. Cheers.

@CV-lm7pv 2 жыл бұрын

At first I was like, hey the board looks a little messy, but it's somewhat manageable. And then I realized that wasn't even the board 🤣🤣 I already have issues explaining my friends how to play Horrified, so... I'll pass

@kennyv.2189 2 жыл бұрын

Reminds me a lot of Marco polo 2, mixed with some Waterdeep, with some light deck building and other stuff. Not sure I'll be picking this up because I have other games that do similar things already, but it looks neat!

@culo9999 2 жыл бұрын

I'll wait for a digital release

@JeFreeze 2 жыл бұрын

I'm planning to pick this up when I can get it at full release, and that is in large part due to the visuals and theme. Gameplay and mechanics being good is the most important thing to me about the game, but I love that we're in an era where there's enough good euro games these days that I can afford to be picky about the art and theme while still getting good games that aren't "beige traders".

@inezkestens5561 2 жыл бұрын

I'm fond of Devir and this look is up my alley ... but then the game exploded and I was too late picking up a game in Essen ... and now I'm wondering if I should pick it up. I think the look is so different from other eurogames it grabbed everybody's attention. Even in the realm of Japanese boardgames this is a look we don't see often. It's either more anime-style of darker. But I'm a bit worried about play, especially at different player counts. So this review gave some insights and I will check out others too, but in the end I think I will probably buy it because it's from Devir and there is something I love in all their games, even if not all are up my alley, they do manage to make me go "hmm, this is interesting" a lot and mostly over smaller details.

@nathankey5246 Жыл бұрын

I have largely avoided big euro games because they usually look so....dry. I hear great things about teotihuacan but the huge white spaces on the board and busy board turned me off. I think I've worked my gamer muscles enough to take on a euro and this is the one that grabs me. Looking forward to getting Bitoku. Luckily I enjoy solo games as I know this would be hard to hit a table with others.

@boardgameknight2791 2 жыл бұрын

Great review! Thanks, Tom! Would you say you enjoy this one over other heavy euros released this year? I picked up pretty much every Capstone title in the last couple years and I haven't had much love for them... Cooper Island, for example, feels like I'm playing a 2 hour game in a straight jacket.

@Viragomp 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review. Different strokes I guess but this game looks overwrought and waaay too busy/fiddly for me.

@marklorant1906 2 жыл бұрын

How does it work with 2 players and with the dummy player included? Is it good, or the dummy kinda ruins it, like every other dummy 2 player game?

@jessicaw2137 2 жыл бұрын

it works awesome with two players! But where did you get the idea that there is a dummy player? There is none. The only thing is that you compete with a "dummy player" for 1st and 2nd place on the Kodama tracks. And that is only a token that starts at a specific position and doesn´t move on it´s own. Which makes the game better, because you can´t just move one space and get 1st place on the track without much competition.

@jjcc8379 2 жыл бұрын

The author is good and even known here . Which itself is woth noting, as everybody can name 3 italian designers and 4 german ones but 0 spaniards. Add a graphic designer that's good , and of course an artist with a very catchy art style ... and you got this home-run :) This year Devir went with several in-house games and it shows they can go big and good with just national talent. Hope they keep it this way :) Unfortunately the availability is gonna be ... scarce, even in it's own country. Due to global transportation issues they could only air freight a small-ish ammount to essen, and the rest of spaniards will have to wait several weeks to catch it. Rest of the world? Patience.

@Haniel_wrc 2 жыл бұрын

Soooo. A beautiful euro with a lot of mechnics? Sounds like The Great Wall :d Thanks for the rewiew, have to try it!

@Max-pj9km 2 жыл бұрын

This game definitevely has a similar feeling to Praga Caput. Big board. Lots of ways to score. If you like Praga, you will like this game. If you don't, you won't like it.

@johngentry2794 2 жыл бұрын

When can I buy?

@JarradShaw 2 жыл бұрын

Add just a couple of notches to magenta when color grading. The skin is a lil translucent and green. Probably because of the green background or color of the lights. Just lil warm will help other vids

@eelexa 2 жыл бұрын

Anyone know when this is meant to come to stores? Canada in particular? I can't find it anywhere online!

@deuzdeuz8115 2 жыл бұрын

I hope they'll change the name for french market 😁

@lexodius 2 жыл бұрын

damn you, now i can't unsee

@Patronux 2 жыл бұрын

care to explain?

@DegrassiEllieNash 2 жыл бұрын

@@Patronux It sounds a lot like "di*k in the a*s" in french...

@spitfire4209 2 жыл бұрын

It has Kappa of course but a Yokai game with no Kasa-Obake? The Umbrella Monster. Also the long neck lady Rokurokubi. Then again the game is pretty big and they could be in there without me seeing them yet.

@inoutsoccer11 2 жыл бұрын

I want to like this game so bad, it’s absolutely gorgeous and seems like I’d enjoy the mechanics. It’s just too busy and I can imagine getting frustrated during the set up. It likely wouldn’t find its way to the table often. It’s almost trying to do too much. I hope they make games in the same universe (art style), just not as busy.

@joaquimdorca3512 2 жыл бұрын

I don't like Euros. I've played it three times. And I look forward to our game this next thursday. Obsessed. Hahaha

@MrPeter13th 2 жыл бұрын

The wargamer has spoken!!

@pluvia33 2 жыл бұрын

Quote for the reprint... "They put a bunch of mechanisms in a box, shook it up, and lo and behold: here's this game." -Tom Vasel

@drbasseri 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder how the solo game is

@xshadowscreamx 2 жыл бұрын

Now that’s a board.

@presidentshaZam2012 2 жыл бұрын

5 minutes in - me/ ohhh..shiny.. dice placement and ewwwwww looks nice lol

@armandolizarraga8981 2 жыл бұрын

This looks like Ghibli the board game. I want it.

@meddlesque1870 2 жыл бұрын

Well let's see how well this does on the French market (Google translate ¨Bite au cul¨ if you're curious)

@tempestfury8324 2 жыл бұрын

This has nothing to do with this particular game....but I do have a question; Why is it that modern board games focus around Japan more than any other country? Just curious.

@pokefrosch617 2 жыл бұрын

I think besides being percieved as PC (no colonialism that a european or american knows about) it´s that animes and mangas are very influential. So you might cross over to the computer game crowd easier.

@dold_ 2 жыл бұрын

I think 'vaguely european cities' is a much more prolific theme, and from what I have seen, most games aren't about Japan but more about Japanese folk lore and art that serves as set dressing and maybe some mechanical inspiration. Lots of color and cool artistry, but then the rest of the game (not just Bitoku) has very little to do with Japan. For example, in my time playing games, I've been made aware that Cherry Blossom trees are very pretty and make for good graphic design, but I don't know anything about their cultural significance (besides being worth victory points, apparently).

@john-qz3fu 2 жыл бұрын

I don't think they do.

@tempestfury8324 2 жыл бұрын

@@john-qz3fu :Well name another country that gets more attention in board games (not wargames) than Japan.

@john-qz3fu 2 жыл бұрын

@@tempestfury8324 haha "not war games" what kind of game are you playing here. Well war games are included in modern boardgames but even with out that I know that Spain, France, Germany and Italy get more attention. I do think that japan is perhaps the most popular Asian country theme in the board game hobby.

@olanmills64 2 жыл бұрын

I stopped watching the video when the he showed the board. My eyes were already starting to glaze over before then, but that sealed the deal. What is this game about? What is it's hook? I couldn't tell you.

@waterwixxxer 2 жыл бұрын

Medium amount of interest medium low on the looks/art of it. Sure if it's easy and it is time to buy yet another board game. Not paying premium or searching hard for it though. Rajas of the Ganges was so good.

@user-gq7eq3vr6j 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks fo Russian sub.

@ertai222 2 жыл бұрын

This game looks like a lot. Way too much going on. I like meaty games but this is just wow. I don't think I'd enjoy this. Now i know from watching the video. I was intrigued by the box art but wasn't expecting this much depth. The box art makes me think it's an easier more cute game. Guess not.

@ddolgov 2 жыл бұрын

Art does not look like Ghibli Studios to me, and not sure I like it's "fake Japanese" artstyle. I doubt the game will have any longevity because, just like Tom said, it is essentially theme-less and mechanisms are generic

@neptuune 9 ай бұрын

And yet, more than 2 years later, I still play it 😉