Above & Beyond Connect 4 ~ this isn't for the chronically indecisive! (Nordic Games Sequence)

Member Name: keeperofthematri

Product:	Nordic Games Sequence
Date:	15/07/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, addictive game. Easy to learn

Disadvantages: Possibility of no winner at the end

Packaging.

The game comes in a box which is slightly less than A4 in size. The box is predominantly green with the name "Sequence" is white type. There are some pictures of cards on the box along with some red, yellow & blue counters. The yellow counters are obviously there to confuse people are they're not a colour used in the game!

On opening the box you will find:-

+ 1 game board
+ 104 cards
+ 48 blue marker chips
+ 48 green marker chips
+ 48 red marker chips


Players: Any number of people from 2 - 12 can play this game. However, the number must be divisible by 2 or 3, so 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, or 12 people can play.
If there are just 2 or 3 players you play invidually. From 4 to 12 players you play in teams, but there must be an equal number of people on each of the teams. The recommended age range is 7 years upwards.


Gameboard:
On opening the gameboard you'll see that there's a 10 x 10 grid made up of playing cards. You'll notice that the corner squares have a design on them that matches the design on the marker chips. These corner squares are "free squares" & can be used by anyone to help make their Sequence. You'll also notice that each playing card appears twice on the board &, if you're really eagle eyed you'll also notice that there are no Jacks anywhere on the board.

The object of the game is to make either one or two "Sequences" on the gameboard. A "Sequence" is a connected series of the same coloured marker chips and can run horizontally vertically or diagonally. If just two players or two teams are playing then you need to make two Sequences to win the game. If there are three players or teams you need one Sequence.


Preparation:
Each player or team chooses one of the coloured sets of marker chips. If you are playing in teams you need to be alternately spaced around the playing surface. Players then cut the cards. The person with the lowest card (Aces are high) is the dealer are the person to the dealer's left is the first to play. Each player is dealt a number of cards. These vary depending on the amount of people playing, but if just 2 people are playing then each of them receives 7 cards. If 3 people are playing then each person receives 6 cards. The rest of the details can be found in the instruction booklet for the game.


How to play:

Look at the cards in your hand. Do not show them to anyone else. As I mentioned above each playing card (aside from Jacks) appears twice on the board so in the early stages of play you may well have a choice of two places to play on the board. Choose which card you are going to play & place it face up on the table so that everyone can see it. Place one of your markers in the position on the board where you'd like to play it. No cheating! ~ the card value & suit you place your marker on must match the card you've just laid face down (nless you've played a Jack).

Once you've placed your marker on the board select the top card from the deck. Your turn is now over & play passes to the person on your left.


Jacks:

As I mentioned earlier, there are no Jacks on the board but they are still used in the deck. If you pick up a Two Eyed Jack it's a wildcard. You can use it to place a marker onto any free square on the board. This is therefore a very valuable card so use it wisely!
To complement this there are also One Eyed Jacks. This allows you to remove any marker that you wish from the board & is therefore very useful for sabotaging opposing player(s) / team(s) attempts at completing a sequence. Again, this is a very valuable card so use it wisely.


These are the basic rules. A complete set is included in the instruction booklet which also has the rules in Dutch, French & German.


Gameplay:

At the most basic level this game is similar to "Connect 4" as you are trying to place a number of coloured markers in a Sequence. The fact that you have the majority of the playing cards limiting the amount of places you can play on the board, coupled with the fact that the Jacks add a bit more power makes this both a game of chance & of strategy. Gameplay can last anything for 5 or 10 minutes to over 30 minutes depending on how long it takes the people playing to get the required number of Sequences. It's possible to reach the end of the game and have the board dead-locked with nobody having completed the required number of Sequences, although this is the exception rather than the rule.


Price: At the time of writing Amazon are selling this game for £12.99.


Verdict:

This game is great fun. You never know, when you start, whether the game's going to be over quickly or whether it's going to carry on until practically all of the cards from the deck are used. As I mentioned, part of the game is down to luck & part down to strategy. Not only do you have to complete one or two Sequences of your own (depending on the number of people / teams playing) but you also have to prevent your opponents completing their own Sequences. Each move has it's own consequences, particularly when using Jacks is concerned. Do you, for example, use a Two Eyed Jack to further a Sequence or your own or block the progress of somebody else? And, if you do use it, will one of your opponents have a One Eyed Jack to completely wreck the move you've just made? Do you allow an opponent to build up a sequence of 3 squares unchecked, with the possibility that it may extend to 4 squares & then a winning 5, or do you concentrate on building your own "powerblock" & just step in elsewhere when it looks as if things are getting critical? If there are 3 of you playing do you gamble on your two opponents keeping each other in check whilst concentrating on your own strategy?
As you may have gathered, despite the fact that there are no complex rules to this game, winning it isn't as easy as it might sound. Most rounds will require some sort of decision from you that will have an impact on your own progress or that of your opponent(s) so this isn't a game for the chronically indecisive.

My partner, mother & I play this game regularly and it's becoming somewhat of a favourite amongst family friends that it has been introduced to. If you like Connect 4 then you shouldf definitely give this a try.

Summary: It;s like Connect 4 with cards!