Brazil: Imperial - Board Game Review - 3X EURO? 2.5X Even?

[@f4m3r05]

Thank you for the detailed review. I have played the game 5 times (2P & 3P), with winning scores between 63 and 85. Brazil Imperial is in essence a race to complete the three mission cards chosen at the start. For each completed card, the player is awarded a palace which may grant a decisive amount of points. It is in fact a very quick action optimization game when played with that in mind. That's why I think you overstate the strength of the Bay exploration tile (+1 neighboring production) because the game is just too quick for it to significantly benefit the one who discovers it, except in a rare early draw near the player's capital (plus it is a single tile among 18, from which half or so will enter the setup). The really strong exploration tiles are the two Quilombos, which grant a fourth or even a fifth mission card, meaning a shot at another palace. As for the military units, I agree the extermination factor is low in the game, but tiles you invade and control count for the completion of mission cards and also count for points if you keep control until the end. So there are different smart ways to use military units in the game, not to mention the points you gain simply for deploying them. Finally, I agree the solo mode is not on par with current standards and the game should have been marketed as a 2 to 4 player game. Thanks for reading my two cents.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

A good read!

[@kristijan1985]

Thanks for the video. Keep up the excellent work. Honest reviews become a pretty rare phenomena lately. Very sad.. cheers!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Glad you like them! And honesty is how I play it!

[@fabricedubois8142]

Finding exploration tile that has to be fight to earn resource is giving you 4+ VP. Sure, it is not valuable early game but you will have to continue on exploring and when you have enough military, go for it as the tile is revealed & you know what to do in order to conquer it.

[@tiawainwright9792]

I don't think you're playing it right. My hubby and I have been playing a lot since xmas, we regularly score well over 70, the exploration files are balanced and work well, the tile that adds a resource does not mean that person wins, we've not had that experience. As for battles, we've had plenty of those in just a two player game. Much prefer it to Scythe which used to be my fa've game and now I find it flat and bland.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Playing it perfectly fine as always. Those tiles though, I'm sorry, one resource for a big fight vs plus 1 production for all surrounding tiles, you call that balanced? As much as I hate the "playing it wrong" argument, I think it could be reversed here if someone isn't winning with increased production on their side.

[@elainetyger]

Thank you for this review. I like the non-fighting elements of Scythe, and don’t mind occasional swingy luck, which allows players of different abilities to compete without feeling left out, but I don’t think I would like this enough to buy it. However, now that I have seen your review, if anyone else buys it and invites me to play, I will happily say yes. It was a good review because even though you didn’t like the game as much as some other games, you said enough about why you liked or didn’t like each aspect to allow people who like different things to make a decision based on your review.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

That's what I hope everyone gleams from my content! :-) I'm not forcing anyone to buy or not buy a game, but I hope that I give enough information that you can make a choice. 😃

[@Slyfox1775]

Cut a small hole in the bottom of the insert and u can push tiles and tokens up from the bottom

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

That would have to be a small hole indeed to not have tokens fall through, but even then I'd sooner tip the lot out and put in muffin cases.

[@Ariranhaa]

One of the developers kinda implied on our "local BGG" here in BR that an expansion is on the making, let's hope it improves the game for an 8/10! For example, I didn't quite like Fallout base game very much, but after 2 expansions it's one of my favorites. Sometimes a game didn't quite got there, but we know it has potential, in that case I think we should give it a second chance after the expansions!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I'd try it again, but I've long since despatched Brazil.

[@WanderingLunatic]

The Holy Grail clip for the movement is spot on. 🤣

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

He he I do love that whole sketch.

[@shovahkais7671]

Getting some inspiration from existing games is not bad for itself, but some kind of twist should be provided in order to differentiate oneselves. First time I saw this my thought was "oh ok, Scythe in Brazil", problem is when you enter the arena against one of the top 20 bgg you better have some more than a theme change.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Yeah it's got influences and differences for sure.But not enough to build it up.

[@shatnershairpiece]

If I hated scythe, would I hate this even more?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Depends on why did you hate Scythe?

[@monomundo]

Thank you Luke. As a fan of someX games, Brazil attracted my attention immediately. The fact that it came from Brazil itself played in its favour as well. But after watching some reviews, I felt that it does not have the meat needed. Your views just confirmed this and Scythe is such a good game. Happy New Year btw :) ... and hope you reach 20K subscribers soon!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

My pleasure! And thanks, here's hoping 20K comes around soon! :D

[@bernardorippe7024]

Balance is a tricky word to talk about, especially with it comes to exploration. I really like this review, is pretty consistent and detailed, but is a little unfair with the exploration tokens XD

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Disagree! :-) Exploration tokens in most games are a problematic affair - the timing of them can cause major swings and the resource boost token in particular in a game like this where resources are fairly tight, is so huge.

[@bernardorippe7024]

@@TheBrokenMeeple Yes I understand the point, but the key factor of exploration is bringing diversity. I work in the boardgame industry on analytics and statistics, and most of the time what players refer to as "balanced" is not translated into fun or diversity. The main objective of exploration is to bring diversity to each game session, and you are right that here "balance" (The equal distribution of value or impact on the Nash equilibrium) on this game is off. But in this game exploration is the lesser part, and actually is part of a bigger problem that you already mentioned.... the lack of replayability. Objectives are just set not strategies, exploration is not diverse and player asymmetries are a bit railroaded. Still is a good game, that needs "more time on the oven". Thank you for the amazing review!

[@Sanderus]

Solo mode looks like quickly put together just to expand the player count on the box. I am not a solo gamer, but still it angers me as it is misleading buyers.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Yeah it's a joke. Misleading is the right word.

[@jdober77]

Thanks for the review. I saw that and wasn't really interested. And if you are comparing it to Scythe, why get it, if I already have Scythe. Still I would like to try it.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Yeah I can't see myself preferring this to Scythe and the whole "do a different action each turn" thing is the same deal really.

[@TheRubic3]

Yep I also felt the same way. Thanks for the review I was worried it was just me that felt that way. Would rather just play scythe

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

You and me both!

[@RConsonni]

Excellent review! Honest and to the point. I too think this game had lots of potential, but might have been rushed to production, before it was ready and playtested. I hope a 2nd edition is released in the future, with better-balanced map tiles and honed mechanics.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Honesty and objectivity is my speciality! 😁

[@arronthrossell3434]

Yeah I enjoyed my 2 plays of it but don't feel the need to play more. Anunnaki I played once and prefer it.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Not tried that, certainly the first "pull-out" they did via KS didn't do it any favours with me.

[@arronthrossell3434]

@TheBrokenMeeple I agree that's 1 of the reasons I didn't back it. But I might pick it up. It does have a better player interaction than Brazil and I do like the player board puzzle aswell.

[@sadekhanna]

they will release an automa deck in early 2023

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Apparently it already exists in Brazil, this is what I mean they've done a poor job of showing it off and I doubt I'll still have the game by then.

[@patrickrochel9827]

Yeah, this is exactly how all four of us that played it felt. It felt to me like someone said “Scythe is really cool, let’s make a version that strips out a lot of that cool”. It’s a very mediocre game and I am likely the least critical person when it comes to games. I’ll never play this instead of scythe. Sadly this one is going back to the used bin.

[@TheLuminousCleric]

If that thumbnail is any indication....

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

But how many X's? :P

[@frankndice]

Almost picked this up and now happy I didn’t. Looks like I’ll just stick with scythe

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Good man!

[@Listan1]

Man this looks (having not played it) like a Scythe copycat.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Probably not a copycat, but heavily influenced.

[@renatotavares5845]

I found this game to be a weaker version of Sçythe, and I am happy to did not buy it. Boring and uninspired, unfortunately

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Uninspired for sure, but I got some enjoyment out of it.