Cosmic Coasters Review
Cosmic Coasters is an interesting concept – it’s an inexpensive game that comes printed on 4 coasters, which can be used both as a game and as actual coasters. What makes this especially useful is the fact that the only extra components needed to play are seven matching tokens for each player (coins are perfect for this), so it really is the perfect game to play in a pub. Further adding to the neat concept is the fact that the instructions for the game are actually printed on the reverse of each coaster, making this an incredibly compact and portable game needing just the coasters and some coins to play (pennies for one player with the other player using two-pence pieces seems to work very well).
Each player takes a coaster, which displays their home planet, along with the factories, control point and teleporter located on the planet surface. Each coaster is the same - with the only differences coming in the form of special powers (each planet has a different special power which is detailed on the back of the coaster). For the first few games it is advisable to ignore the special powers in order to grasp the basic concept.
To win the game, one player must teleport to the opponent’s planet and then teleport back. This is easier said than done - in order to teleport, a player must have at least two out of four control points occupied, but also the other player cannot be occupying any of the control points. If ownership of control points is shared, no teleporting may occur. When teleporting, a player can place his ship anywhere, on any point on either planet - if landing on an opponent's ship, it is instantly destroyed. On a turn, players may perform one of the following actions: Move, Build or Teleport. If both control points flanking a factory are controlled by a single player, that player can build a ship (providing they have destroyed ships). If deciding to move, a player can move one space - if moving onto an enemy, a game of rock-paper-scissors is initiated, with the following conditions: if the attacker wins, the defender is destroyed and the attacker moves into the now empty space; if there is a draw, the defender is destroyed but the attacker remains where he/she is; if the attacker loses nothing happens.
It really is as simple as that, which is to be expected considering that it has been designed with pub play in mind – it’s an easy enough game to play as long as you haven’t imbibed too many beers!
One problem with the game is that the special powers are quite unbalanced, and don’t seem to have been properly playtested. It does seem to be much more preferable to play the game without using the special powers as players are then on an equal footing. Also, playing rock-paper-scissors to determine the result of combat can be a little frustrating, but it is understandable that this method is used in order to keep the game components to a minimum and therefore make sure that it is as portable as possible.
The nature of the gameplay can lead to a lot of repetitive situations, with players going through the motions until someone gets a bad run of luck with the rock-paper-scissors contest. It therefore seems like little more than a lengthened game of something like noughts and crosses, albeit with reusable, drink-friendly boards. It does say a lot that a 10-minute game of Cosmic Coasters can feel incredibly long and drawn out!
As an experiment in using a different, pub friendly format for a game, Cosmic Coasters is partially successful – the coasters are sturdy and can be used comfortably both as game and coaster – but the game itself is a little too repetitive and frustrating to be enjoyable for long.
Summary
Presentation: Everything that is needed for play except the tokens is included in the small, inexpensive package. Well designed, sturdy coasters that are perfect for resting drinks on. 8.9/10
Clarity of Rules: Not many rules to speak of considering that they are printed on the back of each coaster. The rules that are there are reasonably well written, although some of them are a little unclear. 7.3/10
Game Length: The biggest problem with the game is the duration – it can feel like it’s dragging on for ages even after ten minutes of play, due to the stalemate situations that players can often find themselves in. 4.4/10
Value: Cheap and functional, but more useful as coasters than as a game. 5.8/10
Overall: The price is right, and it’s a neat conversation piece for gamers unfazed by taking their gaming out in public – but the game itself is uninteresting and repetitive. Nice coasters though. 6.1/10 (not an average)
Each player takes a coaster, which displays their home planet, along with the factories, control point and teleporter located on the planet surface. Each coaster is the same - with the only differences coming in the form of special powers (each planet has a different special power which is detailed on the back of the coaster). For the first few games it is advisable to ignore the special powers in order to grasp the basic concept.
To win the game, one player must teleport to the opponent’s planet and then teleport back. This is easier said than done - in order to teleport, a player must have at least two out of four control points occupied, but also the other player cannot be occupying any of the control points. If ownership of control points is shared, no teleporting may occur. When teleporting, a player can place his ship anywhere, on any point on either planet - if landing on an opponent's ship, it is instantly destroyed. On a turn, players may perform one of the following actions: Move, Build or Teleport. If both control points flanking a factory are controlled by a single player, that player can build a ship (providing they have destroyed ships). If deciding to move, a player can move one space - if moving onto an enemy, a game of rock-paper-scissors is initiated, with the following conditions: if the attacker wins, the defender is destroyed and the attacker moves into the now empty space; if there is a draw, the defender is destroyed but the attacker remains where he/she is; if the attacker loses nothing happens.
It really is as simple as that, which is to be expected considering that it has been designed with pub play in mind – it’s an easy enough game to play as long as you haven’t imbibed too many beers!
One problem with the game is that the special powers are quite unbalanced, and don’t seem to have been properly playtested. It does seem to be much more preferable to play the game without using the special powers as players are then on an equal footing. Also, playing rock-paper-scissors to determine the result of combat can be a little frustrating, but it is understandable that this method is used in order to keep the game components to a minimum and therefore make sure that it is as portable as possible.
The nature of the gameplay can lead to a lot of repetitive situations, with players going through the motions until someone gets a bad run of luck with the rock-paper-scissors contest. It therefore seems like little more than a lengthened game of something like noughts and crosses, albeit with reusable, drink-friendly boards. It does say a lot that a 10-minute game of Cosmic Coasters can feel incredibly long and drawn out!
As an experiment in using a different, pub friendly format for a game, Cosmic Coasters is partially successful – the coasters are sturdy and can be used comfortably both as game and coaster – but the game itself is a little too repetitive and frustrating to be enjoyable for long.
Summary
Presentation: Everything that is needed for play except the tokens is included in the small, inexpensive package. Well designed, sturdy coasters that are perfect for resting drinks on. 8.9/10
Clarity of Rules: Not many rules to speak of considering that they are printed on the back of each coaster. The rules that are there are reasonably well written, although some of them are a little unclear. 7.3/10
Game Length: The biggest problem with the game is the duration – it can feel like it’s dragging on for ages even after ten minutes of play, due to the stalemate situations that players can often find themselves in. 4.4/10
Value: Cheap and functional, but more useful as coasters than as a game. 5.8/10
Overall: The price is right, and it’s a neat conversation piece for gamers unfazed by taking their gaming out in public – but the game itself is uninteresting and repetitive. Nice coasters though. 6.1/10 (not an average)
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