Boonlake Review - Mechanical Deja Vu

Рет қаралды 8,550

Күн бұрын

Pfister has brought us Boonlake and it's time to give it a review!
With a group of pioneers, you have left civilization behind to settle along the shores of Boonlake, a long-forgotten region inhabited by humans long ago. This unexplored area beckons you! Become part of a new community and commit yourself to the common good. Explore the landscapes, build houses and settlements, raise cattle, produce raw materials, and develop an infrastructure. Do your best to automate these processes. Seize the opportunity to make the best of your new life in Boonlake.
Boonlake is an expert game in which you are finding yourself improving your life - and your group's life - in this new territory...but how you accomplish this is completely up to you! Due to a novel action mechanism, each game progresses differently. Each action needs to be considered carefully since the other players also benefit from the action you choose. Besides this, the action determines how far you may move your ship - the further and faster, the better!
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Who Am I?
One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.
The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).
I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:03 - Overview
03:46 - Duration
05:55 - Ease of Play
08:03 - Tactics
15:58 - Aesthetics
18:02 - Immersion
19:57 - Longevity
22:50 - Summary
#brokenmeeple #boonlake #capstonegames #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #boardgamegeek #game #tabletop #tabletopgames #bgg #boardgamer #boardgamereview
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Пікірлер: 77

@cablesalad3168 2 жыл бұрын

The split boards help with warping issues due to humidity differences etc. Trust me, you do not want warped dual layer boards (or any boards) especially with low cardboard quality. Honestly I wish more publishers would provide the option to let us assemble our boards ourselves.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Fair enough I can see that - though does this effectively eliminate warping?

@rcbrice 2 жыл бұрын

Came to say the same. They very much help with warping and the DIY-assemble player board is also seen in the Maracaibo Uprising expansion. They do help with warping. A lot of pre-assembled dual layered boards I have (TFM, GWT 2e, Gentes Deluxifed) shoe some significant warping with time.

@efthymiosliakos4390 2 жыл бұрын

Luke you are obviously one of my favorite reviewers. Who is your favorite?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Dice tower

@donbooger 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate your reviews. Especially a lot of the early reviews of Essen games.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! ❤️

@vangelisevangelou 2 жыл бұрын

It sounds interesting. Good point about throwing everything in.

@clvrswine 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful review. At the mid-point, I knew I wanted this game. A simple word like "fun" has a lot of impact. I play games for fun (and vases).

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you and glad it helped!

@SamCaton92 2 жыл бұрын

I like the fact that the board are folded dual layered, dual layered sucks because of how much they bend.

@Santanilla 11 ай бұрын

I saw the how to play and really liked it. It looks fun ! Good to notice that score tiles are not as important , definitely going to mention that to my group before playing.

@TheBrokenMeeple 11 ай бұрын

Have fun!

@sirmonsoon337 2 жыл бұрын

Good review! I hadn't played any of Pfister's games when I got to play this, so it was interesting hearing about the comparisons in addition to the standalone critique. The vases truly are strange. It's never hard to get one (since you get them on harbor tiles, and those can never be blocked by other ships), so if you do end up needing one, you probably have one lying around or can just pick one up next chance. The cards were okay (I'm a sucker for cards in games), but they are less exciting than big card effects you might find in a CCG, but more complex than other multi use cards like in games like Root. Having the same card with the same effects but different resource costs makes things not only less thematic but also harder to learn / memorize. I fully agree on the four scoring "missions" being kinda superfluous. As you said, the points are pretty miniscule, and it kinda dictates the game. When we played, the winner won by a lot, mostly on the back of repeated big cattle scoring, which you can't counter once it's in place (can't move any pieces or take them off the board). I'm curious to try kinda ignoring the 2nd / 3rd scoring tiles in favor of optimizing cow placement if I play it again, while making sure to get my own objective fulfilled on 4th scoring. All in all, lots of unhappy mediums. Imo the scoring tiles shouldn't have been in the game, OR way more impactful points wise. And the cards should be simpler OR more unique and powerful. But somehow still had a pretty good time playing.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

I still enjoy it and have kept it "for now" - but I don't know how long for - the lack of a unique bone hurts it greatly from feeling like a Euro pushed out the door.

@AFatalPapercut 2 жыл бұрын

The title Boon Lake gives me the idea of a horror movie at a summer camp.

@cwb95k 2 жыл бұрын

I like the comparison to Maracaibo 1.5. I like Maracaibo and wonder if this is just one to hold out on. If it's at BGG Con and I get a chance I'll test it out.

@seth7447 2 жыл бұрын

We played 4 or 5 games and liked it the more we played it and got the engine going. First couple of games I was like … what’s with the levers… now it is always a focal point. I do agree with the vases… they seemed misplaced. The scoring tiles are huge and fun once you think about which ones to do first, second…ect.

@seth7447 2 жыл бұрын

Thank for the great review. I always like how you are honest, even when there is a bunch of hype. We played Boonlake and very much liked it. However, it is one of those games that I look at and think, should I play this other game instead? I need to play this more and see if filling the levers is better for an engine. The game feels clunky and disconnected at times. I love Maracaibo and enjoyed the campaign in the base game.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

@squeekmyster 2 жыл бұрын

Ref the Vase: There's intermittent scoring that cares about them, and generally, the cards that need a vase either need less standard resources or offer a bigger bonus. I honestly feel the intermittent scoring alternative card action can churn a lot of points you'd of never been able to achieve via a single card, plus netting a meeple is a definite perk.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

The alt card action I'm fine with, you can do them or avoid them fine. But the fath over the four criteria objectives is what I'd remove

@jaroslawchmiel7193 2 жыл бұрын

Will you try out and review the Maracaibo with expansion?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Doubtful, it's a pricey expansion and I don't think it will help the issues I have with it.

@GrAlutka 2 жыл бұрын

Played it last night and our biggest issue was the aesthetics. Like steampunk buildings, computer chip-like font on the cover, that lotus looking like something straight from middle east, south american coin design... very confusing 🤔

@javiervareacalvo8911 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!!! Thanks a lot for it. I feel interested in this one, mainly for solo. Did you try Maracaibo or Great wester trail solo? Which one you prefer? Any other euro you like solo? Thanks again!!

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Maracaibo solo but certianly not GWT ! :P - Fields of Arle is a fantastic farming solo game!

@javiervareacalvo8911 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple thanks 😊!!!!

@Mepper. 2 жыл бұрын

I haven't played any Pfister games and I'm most interested in Boonlake for the solo and 2 player modes. Have you managed to collect your thoughts on the solo mode? The impression I get from your review is that it would have benefited from a few more months of development. I wonder whether it is selling well enough to either get an expansion to fix things or eventually a second edition...

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Solo Boonlake is ok, but it's nothing special - the AI gets points in a very artificial manner and there's other Euro's I'd rather solo.

@daniellelauzon3172 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great review. The Maracaibo expansion is bringing asymmetrical player abilities which is something Boonlake doesn’t have (that I know of…)…I will be looking into this game but doubt that it would replace Maracaibo for me…

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

It's the same price as a full game I think for the expansion which is a bit much!

@daniellelauzon3172 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple Not sure where it is elsewhere but it’s just a little over half the price as the base game here in Canada…thanks again for your great videos!

@daniellelauzon3172 2 жыл бұрын

Meant “how much” … not “where”…trying to type too fast…😊

@wsiegel9539 2 жыл бұрын

Luke, Will the expansion for Maracaibo - "Uprising" put it back on the shelf?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Doubtful especially as its a pricey expansion.

@clvrswine 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple But us solo players... could use your opinion.

@Mussar523 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the reveiw. I had Maraciabo and didn't like it. How much similar is it to it? How much better or in what way is it better? Thank you

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

It's pretty similar with the card use, less variety in how the board scape will turn out. Honestly I can see one person liking one and disliking the other, I think opinions would be similar on each.

@georgefestivus 2 жыл бұрын

Greetings! I enjoy your video's, I love the editing! (Futuramaaaaa) Have you seen Seinfeld, some of their clips are Gold!

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Not really watched much of Seinfield, but seen most animated shows! :D

@georgefestivus 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple if I had to choose 3 series to watch for the rest of my life, it would be futurama, seinfeld als fawlty towers :) . Your cuts are hilarious, you must spend ages finding the right ones

@klaus3856 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review, will you be doing a solo Boonlake playthrough? I love Maracaibo, sorry to see you replace it. I am curious how many total plays of a game it takes for you to become bored?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Depends entirely on the game and sadly I don't have the convenient setup for Playthroughs.

@BoardOfItReviews 2 жыл бұрын

Loved the review! Particularly loved the rant about the scoring tiles because we feel exactly the same way! I was laughing the whole time. I will note I was particularly annoyed by them in our last game as I picked the one that has you move up the money track...then didn't get a single card that let me move up that track the entire game, and was forced to score 2x negative points on myself.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, they just seem a waste of space.

@WayMau 2 жыл бұрын

Honest review!

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

As always!!

@george_castle Жыл бұрын

Hi Luke, is this one still in your collection? Or has it overstayed it's welcome? I just got it but just for the solo mode and will see how it plays out.

@TheBrokenMeeple Жыл бұрын

Nah I got rid of this one ages ago. Overstayed pretty fast.

@george_castle Жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple Yeah, can't blame you. So far, I feel there is a lot of overlap to his other games so it just doesn't feel unique enough to keep it for very long. I'm going to move on to Whistle Mountain next, your video on that one looks amazing.

@ajtame 2 жыл бұрын

Agree on the art, they should have got Mihajlo Dimitrievski to do it

@Coffeemaker1978 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Luke, many of us are not as fast as you. I haven’t even punched my Maracaibo yet 😂 However I enjoy you telling me, what you like ✌🏻

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 😃

@AnkitGarg 4 ай бұрын

I was watching a rules video from another channel, at the end of game overview they said "at the end the person with the most points" and I braced myself for the "of course" but they just said "wins the game" and I was disappointed 😂

@TheBrokenMeeple 4 ай бұрын

Ha ha, missed opportunity!!

@Aaackermann 2 жыл бұрын

Why is there a computer platine scheme in the title of Boonlake? Have I missed something?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

A what sorry? 🥴

@Aaackermann 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple Look at the Boxcover and the title. The background of the title itself (BoonLake) is a tech-scheme. I don't know why though! Is the theme anywhere related to hightech? It looks more like a wildwesttheme to me.

@georgeresso6835 7 ай бұрын

my thoughts on most heavy games exactly....most games could remove 1-2 (pointless) mechanics or aspects of the game and still have a coherant game...

@TheBrokenMeeple 7 ай бұрын

cough cough Voidfall! :D

@mros9254 2 жыл бұрын

just for my own research, why is it bad or negative when a game does not have an original mechanism but a combination of known ones?

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

It's harder to get into them given that thousands of games release every year and games are getting more expensive. Games that try something new or come up with a unique selling point stand out. This one will be forgotten fast.

@mros9254 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeplethank you luke! Have a great day

@iansutton7416 2 жыл бұрын

A rather good challenge, perhaps worthy of a video all to itself. I guess the challenge is to make players feel like this is indeed 'more than the sum of its parts', making it feel like that subtle twist or combination really makes it shine more than the games that influenced it. Fail to do that and it's easy to say "why did you even bother to make this game - it's a mashup of game A and game B and both of those are better experiences". With euros, there is typically a 'puzzle' element to it, as you work out effective gameplay. If it's too close to previous games, part of the puzzle is already known and understood, whereas innovative mechanics provide a fresh challenge to working out the puzzle. I do find myself drawn to genuine innovation, e.g. the theme / narrative of This War of Mine, or the use of deckbuilding in Undaunted series which opens up a theme to people who might not ordinarily want to play it. Gloomhaven isn't my thing at all, but I do respect the innovation of the card combat system vs. the historic dice-chucking norm of the genre.

@CarlosRodriguez-ez3ls 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Luke! I'll stick with Maracaibo.

@CarlosRodriguez-ez3ls 2 жыл бұрын

BTW, have you thought of reviewing CloudAge. It seems to be quite a bit different from Pfister's other recent games.

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

I don't usually hunt Pfisters down, even this one was a last minute decision. And I hear nothing great about CloudAge!

@CarlosRodriguez-ez3ls 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple I thought it might interest you in that: (1) it's not a rehash of a previous Pfister game(s) like Boonlake; (2) it's lighter (mid-weight) and plays faster; (3) it has a solo mode; and (4) it has both campaign & legacy elements. All of which I think makes CloudAge unique and worthy of your consideration.

@kevindelord 2 жыл бұрын

Good job!

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@joannakrolikowska187 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this review although I think I won't be buying it. I'll stick to Great Western Trail instead!

@TheBrokenMeeple 2 жыл бұрын

Ewwwwwww! :P

@joannakrolikowska187 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple yeah, I know 😅 GWT has a special place in my heart. I watched one of your other videos yesterday and Ark Nova intrigued me quite a bit and I am going to check that one for sure. Who knows, maybe I will even buy it 😁

@benjaminanselmo205 2 жыл бұрын

I WAS a Alexander Pfister fan. With this game and Cloud Age Pfister have managed to loose at least two fans that i know of for sure. And i dont think we are alone. This game doesnt have the same card system as Maracaibo. In Maracaibo you can play the card or selling them for goods or object printed to the left. In Boonlake you can only play them. And released almost simultaneously as Boonlake the expansion to Maracaibo came out. So what Im doing is gettin rid of Boonlake because the game is just too simple, too long to play and has nothing new. I agree Bonnlake is something around 6-7 but i expected so musch more.