The Fall of Innovation
So Brian Bankler has fallen off the Innovation bandwagon, not long after Innovation has disappeared from BGG. I am getting the feel of the recurring tides of hype at BGG; Alien Frontiers and 7 Wonders (both games that I want) are next in line to be feted and promoted and then forgotten.
Anyway, I was slightly underwhelmed by Innovation; I had been expecting the powerful, creative combos of Glory to Rome but instead got a lot of icon-counting and draw-an-extra-card powers. The graphic design was dull, and games tended to lack control, and involve losing lots of resources or otherwise being crushed for a while. I did enjoy the puzzle aspect of the wealth of possibilities each turn, the light civilisation theme, and the sense of progress.
Ultimately, Glory to Rome is a better crazy-power card game because your progress is seldom nullified on the next turn, and Race for the Galaxy is far more balanced and polished than either of them, though the special powers aren't as strong.
Anyway, I was slightly underwhelmed by Innovation; I had been expecting the powerful, creative combos of Glory to Rome but instead got a lot of icon-counting and draw-an-extra-card powers. The graphic design was dull, and games tended to lack control, and involve losing lots of resources or otherwise being crushed for a while. I did enjoy the puzzle aspect of the wealth of possibilities each turn, the light civilisation theme, and the sense of progress.
Ultimately, Glory to Rome is a better crazy-power card game because your progress is seldom nullified on the next turn, and Race for the Galaxy is far more balanced and polished than either of them, though the special powers aren't as strong.