Azul master chocolatier in about 3 minutes

[@3MBG]

So yeah, a weird version this as i feel its marketed to azul veterans, but might actually be a better fit for new players. It's still Azul at its core and Azul itself is a gold medal game, this one misses out because, well, the same game with a new coat of paint doesn't get an award. I mean the only reason unfathomable got the medal was it was a way to give BSG one.

[@Lunartic128]

If you change Azul too much, it stops being Azul and becomes another Azul sequel. A big part of Azul's appeal for me is how simple and elegant it is. It's easy to learn, difficult to master. It doesn't add enough to replace the original for me, but I don't think you can. I do really, really like the chocolate theme, though. Maybe I'll pick up Master Chocolatier if I find a copy of it for cheap and someone to take my original.

[@terraaustralia]

Never played or heard of Azul. I was interested in the theme.

[@re4evermk]

So true... I bought the original Azul this Christmas, and I am enjoying it a lot. So much I am already watching other 'Azul' games! I am surprised to find this Master Chocolatier would have been a better purchase! It's the same price, has (a little bit) more content and... Who doesn't love chocolate?

[@jasharin]

damn, they're really going all in on the azul cinematic universe

[@tyrroo]

"And no, you cannot eat the pieces!" I mean, you *can*... you'll just regret it

[@yamikaga]

I can already forsee the etsy "upgraded components" just being edible chocolates.

[@jordanw2741]

They knew what they were doing by making the theme chocolate. Still will get it just to make sure they are not edible.

[@3MBG]

That is covered in the review, lol. Right at the end.

[@jordanw2741]

@@3MBG listen, I do trust you and I heard your warning. However, this is something I need to confirm for myself. My brain says edible, so I must make sure.

[@jasoncronin9145]

@@3MBG honestly I've seen this in a shop and was aware of it for a while and it wasn't until the last 10 seconds of this video was I aware the peices are not in fact edible.

[@melski9205]

They missed a trick didnt they not making them editable... I'd buy over and over... and you have to eat them if you cant use them right... that would be my rule.

[@fizzy965]

Don't be fooled, people! The tiles in this version taste exactly the same as the ones in the original. 😭

[@tyrroo]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Azeial]

Classic Azul with different theme. Not gonna lie I like the new tiles! Very pretty. Almost want to pick this up PURELY just for the advanced factory tiles to change it up

[@LorenzoLiverani]

Advanced factory tiles sorry what you mean?

[@rjkral]

OH c'mon WE DON'T NEED YET ANOTHER VERSION OF....oh wait, CHOCOLATE! Shut up and take my money!

[@Golden_Mustang]

I don’t own Azul, but if I had to pick a version it would be this one. I like the colour aesthetic better. But yes, realistically a new version of the original wasn’t really needed.

[@3MBG]

Yeah, i think it they were gonna go for a deluxe version it needed to be more deluxe, as Azul is already super pretty to start with.

[@tatianasearle3470]

Finally! "Azul: the colourblind friendly version"!

[@3MBG]

Is it now? I hadn't even thought of that, but of so thats excellent

[@tatianasearle3470]

@@3MBG Yes, because the red tiles are the darkest, the cream ones are the lightest, and the others have distinctive patterns on them. The original Azul was ok for red-green colourblindness, but not for other, rarer types, such as monochrome vision. :)

[@3MBG]

Makes total sense, i just have no colourblind folk in my game testing groups so this one routinely slips past.

[@RatchetSly]

This seems neat; I've played Azuls 1, 2 and 3 and enjoyed them (in 3, 1 and 2 ranking, for the record), but haven't bought any of them yet. This seems very much like Azul 1.1 with the variable tiles. The only downside, to me, is its tiles are ever-so-slightly less pretty. I liked the tile colours and designs of original Azul a lot. EDIT: Also I liked the backing music track of this review!

[@matthewpeterson3926]

I wonder is classic Azul will be the new patchwork. Azul Halloween, quilt making, you name it. Just reskin it for whatever they are looking for.

[@3MBG]

That's pretty common with successful board games. *gestures wildly at monopoly, cluedo and pandemic*

[@matthewpeterson3926]

@@3MBG haha so true, I’m not mad it. At least the game getting remade over and over is good!

[@Koshak87]

Om-nom-nom. Advanced mode sounds fun. Although, this version seems nice, in the looks department, to my taste, it does not beat the original. And now I wanna grab a sweet or two. Damn.

[@dgresko]

In other words, this is the same as the original with tiles that look different.

[@3MBG]

Pretty much, and the bonus mode where the factories have unique powers. That's about it

[@ZuoKalp]

So basically, to apply the added content to a classic version of azul, you just need to have a new set of factories.

[@3MBG]

Pretty much

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Doesn't seem like the "advanced mode" adds much other than an annoying extra step at setup each round to dig out the tiles for the factories that take an extra one.

[@3MBG]

yeah, can't say i found it particular engaging.

[@quadparty]

Horizontal 😛

[@3MBG]

I caught it at the last second, lol

[@Paul-ro6py]

Theme is a little more appealing

[@melski9205]

Sure sure, place two spare pieces of that curly chocolate across two rows, and a third odd piece on the 3rd row just to trigger me.

[@3MBG]

Are you talking about the transition shot where there is too much curly choc so they have to then place it in the bottom?

[@rcarterbrown1]

I'm disappointed they didn't throw in some actual chocolates for me!

[@3MBG]

Before i respond, are you legally an adult?

[@cainimtruax5737]

Great review. As always. So if all you already own is Summer Pavilion, is there any reason not to pick up the Chocolate version over the original Azul?

[@3MBG]

The colour? Gameplay wise, no real difference asides from the special factory mats, but im not sure they are really any good as much more than a novelty.

[@Twotailedkit]

I like the idea of the advanced mode but those tiles are really not the prettiest they are all so similar in color to each other and the patterns not crazy different I had a hard time telling them apart during the video

[@tyrroo]

You might wanna check out the tiles in person, I've found there's absolutely no problem telling them apart [and nobody else in my game group has, either

[@Twotailedkit]

@@tyrroo I’ll have to see if I know anyone who has an open copy so I can take a look, thanks for the heads up :)

[@Leooo888]

Hey! But which Azul version is best of all?

[@3MBG]

I like classic Azul, but this is really just classic azul with a new coat of paint. So its a coin toss. Then i'd go Summer, Queen, Sintra in order of best to worst.

[@Leooo888]

@@3MBG that's really helpful, thanks)) they can't all be on my list!

[@quadparty]

@@3MBG this is the correct ordering. I own Summer, but mostly because I figured others wouldn't, so I could actually add to the collective boardgame ownership of my playing groups 🙂

[@stevegeorge7773]

The first is way better as the tiles are clearly and distinctly different. This one was badly thought out with two tiles too closely alike. It’s a thumbs down for me.

[@tyrroo]

Which tiles are too closely alike? Maybe it's just how you're seeing in on your screen, cuz I don't know anybody who's had trouble with them in person