I jump at a chance to review microgames and microgame-like products; there’s a certain Zen-like beauty in a game that is complete unto itself, done in a small format. Element is a boardgame done in that sort of format; published by the same folks who brought us Knights of the Dinner Table. For your investment, you receive a 11×17 map, which requires, the edges to be snipped off to make formation charts that demonstrate the killer moves. You also receive a double-sided cardstock insert, part of which is the (rather simple) rules and the rest a sheet and a half of double sided counters that you have to cut out. The counters represent Elements& from the medieval alchemist’s point of view that is: Air Earth, Fire and Water. The board is a simple grid, depicted almost like a Go board.
How it Plays
As you can guess from what I’ve already said, this is a game about Elements and how they interact. Each player (up to 4) chooses an Element for his side. Players should only choose 1 element to play, but may have to double up if they are shorthanded. Players then alternate placing Elements on the board, trying to create killer formations that will decimate the opponents’ ranks. The Victory Condition is to create a large diamond like formation called the Rose (this is pretty hard to do). If you can’t arrive at the Rose, the next best thing is to have the most elements on the board wins (by when, the rules did not say).
Creating Formations
The game is all about creating killer formations that will effect the other pieces on the board. There’s a big hint of Go here:
- The Mountain is a group of 4 identical elements arranged in roughly a square shape. The Mountain’s strength lies in being immutable. Other formations cannot effect a Mountain.
- The Tidal Wave is an S-shaped formation of identical counters. The tidal wave moves in any direction, once per turn, until the formation is broken up, meets a Mountain, or meets the edge of the board.
- The Winds of Change has an Othello-like quality to it. The formation is deployed by placing two sets of two identical counters in a straight line with all the formation pieces the same kind of element. If an enemy piece is placed between the two sets of two, it changes into whatever element makes the Winds.
- Fireball is a destructive 3-piece formation shaped like a triangle. Any point of the triangle can send out an imaginary “fireball” that can obliterate other pieces.
You’re noticing the elemental nature of these fighting formations at this point, I’m guessing.
These formations are the heart of the game and really, how the players attack each other. Combinations can exist that combine the effects of different formations& for instance, a volcano is a combination of fireball and mountain. A Death Star is a double sided fireball& shaped like a small diamond. Deathstars can fire up or down, right or left.
The Verdict
There’s some additional chrome (such as the erosion rules), but I’ve covered the waterfront on the basic game. I’ve played this game at least three times for this review, and kept thinking of games it reminded me of already. Go, certainly. Othello, as well. Also Pente. These familiar touches enhance enjoyment with the game, and (I dare say) might make the player a little better in the long run. I enjoyed this game, and will play it again. I would advise the folks at Kenzer NOT to change anything, because I plan to play it again soon. I rate this 4 out of 5.
