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Instant Classic

Posted by Unknown on 7th Jan 2010

Wow, what a great spaghetti western card game by DaVinci! Up to seven players can participate in this gun-slinging, beer drinking, bar brawling of a good time. Grab your friends/family/game group and get ready for one of the best elimination style card games you’ve ever seen.

At the start of each round, all players are dealt a “Role” card, which contains an identity that cannot be revealed. The roles are as follows: Sheriff, Deputy, Outlaw, and the Renegade. The Sheriff and his Deputies set out to rid the wild, wild, West of evil – one dirty Outlaw at a time. The Outlaws on the other hand are thirsty for law-abiding blood. The Renegade “don’t take kindly to nobody” and will only be satisfied if he’s the last man standing at the end of the game. The game proceeds as players try and decipher who’s with them, and who’s waiting for the first opportunity to put a bullet in their chest. If the Sheriff and his Deputies eliminate all of the Outlaws and the Renegade, they win the game. If the Outlaws slay the Sheriff, they drink to victory. If the Renegade manages to kill everyone, he reigns supreme. Lies will be told and lives will be lost before the dust settles and the victors are known.

After a few games of Bang!, players will start to develop a more strategically oriented approach, and that’s when things really get interesting. Aside from the secret identity cards, each player is assigned one of 15 special character cards. All characters have unique abilities which contribute to (and no doubt enhance) game play. You’ll find your games include ever changing character combinations, which makes Bang! very re-playable. At face value, some of the characters seem much more powerful than the others. However, an experienced player can make ANY character work to his advantage.

A word of caution: Leave your emotions at the door. There have been several rather nasty confrontations around the table during some of the more intense games of Bang!. Player elimination is a huge part of this game, and some people (at least at my house) tend to respond negatively to aggressive action taken against them. I am constantly reminding my family and friends that this “is just a game”. If you can remember it “is just a game” as your spouse unloads three rounds into your back… you’ll be fine.

The length of games can vary depending on the aggressiveness of those around you. If there is a trigger happy cowboy (or girl) in your group, games will typically only last 20 to 30 minutes. If, on the other hand, players are overly cautious and defensive, games can easily last over an hour. The flow of the game is determined entirely by those who are in it. At no time is it safe to assume you’ll “live” to see the next round. Because each player is afforded an unlimited number of actions per turn, your fate is never certain.

REPORT CARD

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: B-
Yes you can play with seven players, however, the excitement of the game exponentially declines as the number of players decreases. I gave this category a B- because finding six other players is not always a easy task. Don’t get me wrong; a five or six player game can still result in hours of fun.

RE-PLAYABILITY: A-
As mentioned before, your identity, and therefore your mission objective, is constantly changing. When you add in 15 character cards into the mix, it’s nearly impossible to play the same game twice. I would have given this category a B+, but the expansion, Bang! Dodge City, adds even greater variety. Please read my review for Bang! Dodge City if you would like additional details.

GAME COMPONENTS: B
Nice box, great cards. There is a fair amount of shuffling taking place during the game, so the cards can wear quickly. I highly recommend applying plastic card sleeves to your “role” and “character” cards. This can prevent cheaters from repeatedly choosing their favorite role/character by identifying uniquely damaged cards.

RULE CLARITY: C+
The rules in the rulebook are very clear, and you'll have no problem setting up your first game. As you become more familiar with the game, you'll develop questions concerning character abilities and game play. DiVinci Games released a Bang! FAQ document which is helpful in answering those questions. The FAQ can be found at boardgamegeek.com

GAME MECHANICS: A
Secret identities, special characters, survival of the fittest. Need I say more?

PRICE: A
(If you purchase from boardgameguy.com for $15) Hours and hours of fun for the price of a half tank of gas? Obviously this is a no brainer. The expansion - Bang! Dodge City - will set you back another $14, but trust me, it's worth it.

OVERALL: B+
Would I recommend you purchase this game? Of course. I have yet to meet someone who dislikes this game. Have fun!