YORKTON - If a key criteria in terms of a game drawing your interest is great looks – well then you will want to seek out Bandada.
In Bandada, players – it can be played solo or for two -- travel the world and photograph birds as you compete against your opponent to see who has the best pictures by the end.
The game relies on dice – three colours are in play – and those are manipulated through game play to the best advantage of the player, using drafted cards.
The scoring system is on the cards adds an exciting element of strategy as you try to outsmart your opponent and come out on top.
The game is designed by Chase Estep who shares art credits with Dawson Cowals.
As noted this one is absolutely gorgeous.
Each card is a bird – parrots and such so the colours are striking.
The impact is enhanced by the print and play available files – through the publisher Runnaman Games (runnamangames.com) – are tarot-sized cards. The larger format just lets the art pop.
But, those tarot-sized cards are also the one drawback to this one.
When you print a game you need to do something to protect the cards or they soon go to ruin even with casual play – and this one is fun enough and pretty enough you will want multiple plays.
Typically – at least with the PnP games in The Meeple Guild collection – cards are sleeved with a common playing card inserted behind to provide substance and strength.
The common playing card-sized sleeves are usually easy to access at any gaming store, or where you find sport card collectible items.
Not so with tarot-sized sleeves. They can be a special order – especially in smaller stores.
And once you have found the sleeves you will need to cut some bristle board as backing. This not impossible, but it is added effort with a game such as Bandada.
In the case of this beauty it is worth the effort given the game looks so nice, and all that dice manipulating is rather fun for an afternoon over coffee, but it will cause some to pause over whether to print Bandada.
