Ice Team Review - Slippery Business with Bears

Special thanks to @The Dragon's Tomb and @Watch It Played!
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#ChessMonth #BearChess

[@tracesigns9933]

"is this chess [holds up cheese]" is a visual pun I was nnnot expecting from that apparently throwaway bit, you have great powers

[@themongoosedog]

"Chairs" as well with his accent.

[@ericryan4111]

AND ParCHEESi

[@q-tuber7034]

*backgamCHESSon

[@TheBoardgamist]

Think you’ve slept on the “chairs / chess” pun too

[@ericnancel9628]

Plus, chair in french is « chaise », maybe that’s a pun too, dunno.

[@Natenator77]

The skit with Rodney was hilarious! Getting him out of character from his usual bright and helpful self was gold!!

[@acerumble4991]

Rodney is the glue that holds the Gaming Cinematic Universe together. Still hoping someday for a SU&SD / Inside The Box crossover

[@MichaelNerman]

He's like Stan Lee, isn't he?

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Ooh! Make Inside the Box play a live version of their show on a SHUX! A challenge!

[@scuba92186]

He just popped up in the latest Things Get Dicey video from Paula Deming, too. Such a delight

[@frostyz8091]

He's also hot

[@Cosmitzian]

This is the kind of quality video that sets SU&SD above and beyond. Where boardgame reviews are the point but they're not the whole concept. Where they fit each boardgame in a wider discussion that speaks to the context within which that board game exists and from the contexts of where that review even comes from.

[@alexmcdonough4973]

I was confused when he said that tiny box was 20 pounds until I remembered that he's British

[@TheShapingSickness]

Me too, I was like, are those bears made out of lead?

[@EricKaun]

It only weighs 20 stone.

[@DrMcFly28]

Yes he is very tall and strong

[@yeetleslaw8529]

Just remember the simple conversion. 20 british pounds = 40lbs usd.

[@randybookman]

I was confused when he said that tiny box was chess until I remembered that he's British and meant checkers.

[@Messengus]

Board game reviewers out here doing comedy crossover skits like it's 2000s movie reviews

[@milkshakesnail8008]

And I’m living for it

[@jasoncronin9145]

Almost didn't recognize Rodney without the sunny disposition. But that's fair since his whole country was asleep.

[@BigDerfGaming]

The "oops it's set up already" is how Love Letter became my groups default starter game. You just put that deck face down and hand out a card a person and it's already happening, and if not, just shove it back in the box.

[@Elbiman]

39 seconds in, and I'm already laughing due to the "chairs", "cheese" ALMOST chess-ness. So close.

[@whoisbatman]

I often describe games to people by saying: "It's chess but with..." Such as like Photosynthesis, "it's chess but you grow trees." Or Cave Troll, "it's chess but with barbarians and orcs." My favorite is describing a game as chess when it's nothing like it. "Oh yeah, Castles of Burgundy? It's chess but with trading and building your duchy."

[@OriginalPiMan]

Checkers. It's chess but with flatter pieces.

[@Cosmitzian]

It does work though, anchoring people into the concept of a 'game'. Since it's so fucking strange that people don't play games anymore where the goal is interacting with another person, and seeing the way they think through the game.

[@whoisbatman]

@@Cosmitzian I mean, most eurogames don't particularly require you to interact :D such as the aforementioned Castles of Burgundy.

[@JohnGottschalk]

Hive, chess but with bugs and the bugs are the pieces and the board.

[@ClaeFace]

Commissioner Rodney having a red phone is just perfect

[@ShaunJS]

Matt looking at his wrist with nothing there made me lose it

[@adamxpaul]

Me too. A classic bit, but he sold it perfectly.

[@MrTombombodil]

Hey you helped me figure out how to make video games! Cheers :D

[@freevbucksforeveryone3886]

didnt expect my teacher here lol

[@akizoraa]

I still remember the podcast where Quinns brought up calling the teaching process ‘The Teach’ and Matt vehemently objecting and now he’s just casually saying it like it’s the natural way to refer to it. Still, I think it’s a good way to summarise ‘the pre game teaching process of a board game’

[@CosmicTavern]

This made me realize that Twilight Imperium needs a polar bear race.

[@antaguilar7]

Wow man the camera angles on this one, the lighting... this feels so polished and at once so silly and old-school SUSD. So excited for more Chess Month content!

[@markcardenas8843]

Now that's one crossover i did not see coming...

[@bennelson270]

My head canon is now that Rodney always has the camera rolling on himself (even when he's sleeping) in case he needs to do a board game video. The man is just so dedicated!

[@alex7ink]

hahaha, "I'm not playing that, it's Ameritrash non-sense"

[@DrossPedantic]

"Boring, violent, AmeriCHESS nonsense"

[@jessecunningham9924]

That moment when he asked if chairs and cheese were chess...took me a moment, but I had to pause so I could laugh and laugh!

[@JohnGottschalk]

I think why chess and pool are things that are setup in public is because there aren't that many pieces for people to mistakingly lose or yoink, and if they do yoink a chess piece, it's pretty easy to find a replacement.

[@atheist_addict]

Shout out to Rodney, the most wholesome human on the planet.

[@seanmobley2610]

After the Watch it Played cameo, I was especially excited to see the post-credit scene with Samuel L. Jackson sitting down to lunch with Sam Healey and Melissa Delp!

[@myguy200inventions]

with the stuff about a chess board being always setup. Recently I have been playing mechs vs minions with my mom. And because of reasons, we have a spare table large enough to fit the game on. So one of the ways that I make it easier for her to start playing, after we finish a level, I setup the next one. Then next time we have time to play its already set up, and we can get straight into whats new for the encounter, rather then having to setup the encounter. its been a really nice way of making the game easier for my mom to get into.

[@acn1580]

I feel like the comparisons between Hey That's My Fish! and this are going to be unavoidable, and seeing as HTMF is a masterpiece of lulling family and small children into a surprise mosh pit of tactical scumbaggery, AND has adorable arctic animals as well, what makes Ice Team stand out? Is there a reason to own both?

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

Now lets Frankenstein these games together :P

[@shutupandsitdown]

You're comparing Dominion to the Quest for El Dorado there. HTMF collect-the-most-fish is certainly part of the core of the Ice Team experience (granted in an *even smaller* box that plays more people, and we really like that one too) especially in terms of their chilly themes, but that's actually less of the gameplay than the obstacle course race and the Sternhalma-style leapfrogging. It's how all of those pieces come together that makes it shine, and in our opinion, even more fun, if not nearly as strategic. They're both quick and small and cute with more depth than you'd expect, but they scratch different itches. I'll be keeping both.

[@MrTroxel]

I really like Onitama, or as I've sold it to friends "better chess." It'd be neat if y'all took a look at that, but it's a few years old at this point.

[@SamClemensRIGL]

Seems more than past time SUSD gave it a once over. Here's hoping it makes the cut!

[@Cuix]

Onitama is up there, Hive is up there, I feel like there's a few really excellent games that can be honestly presented as "better chess" and that I would LOVE to have as a perma-setup.

[@danopticon]

*NO POLAR BEAR IS EVER YOUR ENEMY How did you choose my first tattoo??

[@lamarhenderson8058]

Polar bears and penguins do not live on the same half of the planet, but they are so incredibly adorable it's hard to care.

[@jonathanhunter7648]

If they review Tak this month I am going to shit a tiny wooden square.

[@stacie_everdell]

Sounds like a lovely little game. Thanks for reviewing. I enjoy seeing such a mix of games reviewed on your channel. Thanks for all your insights and especially your humor. I really appreciate that right now!

[@EBHawellsGames]

The last 1/3 of this video is profound! I bet many board game fans were watching this and thinking "yes, finally someone said that" while we all feel it, logically, as tabletop game players.

[@jackspearing6821]

Not sure if the game flow / ice floe pun was intentional, but if so, good work. Also loving that you're still doing callbacks to the Tigris & Euphrates review years later

[@kapazoglu]

Chess Month is a beautiful concept. I always wanted to learn to play anything other than chess.

[@TheBronchitus]

Really a throwback to classic videos of yore... totally silly with a sincere core. Love!

[@rocketfallen]

Rodney and Dragon's Tomb's bits here were GREAT

[@MichaelNerman]

Haha, Rodney seems to love doing cameos. :)

[@LozNewt]

Amazing to see Rodney on the show, a cross-over of my 2 favorite channels. I can finally lay the occult idles to rest, I better pay my debts though the Elder Ones can get quite uppity

[@hisdudeness4925]

The Eric Andre Show nod at 11:40 was brilliant.

[@jetpac7890]

So it's a modern fancy Chinese Checkers, but with polar bears? That sounds... kinda neat, actually.

[@IronSalamander8]

Love it! So good to see you guys with Rodney and the Dragon's Tomb. Heck, I'd play chess again if it had bazookas!

[@josiane8516]

Wow, I looked if there was a new video earlier today, to no avail. But here you are, and its Matt even! What a treat.

[@kiruppert]

8:20 Ah! A classic episode callback! A fine move!

[@Atariese]

A Fine Move!

[@edencoles8040]

You should try, The Lord Of The Rings: The confrontation It's a great 2 player board with a lot of strategy and cunning. Which I've had a lot of good moments with, like Pippin killing the Balrog.

[@tommfranklin]

BONUS Rodney and Jeff FTW!!!

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

I still think Chess was a wasted licence for the designer: There are hardly any elements from the musical in that abstract game.

[@Cosmitzian]

Chess actually has roots from thousands of years ago.

[@Sven2andahalf]

Agreed, Tor. There are no references to the cold war at all. Did the game creators even watch the musical before they made the game? (I would love a 'one night in Bangkok' reference to be included somehow. Maybe a maneuver for the pawns?)

[@cadekachelmeier7251]

It's not based on a musical. It's based onto the 1988 computer game Battle Chess. They just removed the theme for the physical version to make it more palatable for parents.

[@ichifish]

Such great content. Thanks SU&SD for all your hard work.

[@Electroporcupine]

I GOTTA PLAY ALL OF THE CHESS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS TO CHECK MY MATE IS MY REAL QUEST I HOPE THAT HE'S OK WHAT IS CHESS?! OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@PGCole]

Whaaat! A special appearance by Rodney Smith, the No 99 (yeah, like Gretzky) of that whole KZbin boardgame stuff. Nice surprise, even if SU&SD is already the top "Franchise" of cinematic boardgame reviews.

[@GamingTremor]

I love Matt's watch. I have one just like it!

[@towerguardgames]

Fun fact, if you use saliva to spin your hairs into a point on your arm you can use it to make a sundial.

[@GamingTremor]

@@towerguardgames I will have to try this! =]

[@jonathanpayne858]

I forgot that Europe is a magic place where chess boards are just set up in places. I can think of one place in the states where that was the case, and then the guy I played with was a crazy man who told me that he was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, Jesus was a vampire, and the burning bush of Moses fame was marijuana.

[@Robubie]

Honestly, this might be your best video. it's so good

[@EricKaun]

I can’t believe Matt wasted a chance to get Rodney to pronounce “iron.”

[@alexandrepv]

A bazooka in chess? Finally a DLC worth paying for.

That cameo tho.

[@cell32005]

Mad props for that Eric Andre insert, must be a small Venn diagram overlap of people who'll appreciate it ...

[@catgod7924]

Haha, I just played Terra Mystica a few days ago on Board Game Arena. Went in with rewatching the SU&SD review of it. It.... Didn't go well... Shoutout to Board Game Arena, you can play board games online for free!

[@tomd2666]

6:44 Sweet god I can feel this in my bones.

[@juanalfonso8186]

I've always had to set up and take down games of chess with my grandfather and other people I've played with. I have never played one that's been out because I've never seen a chess set just out. We also have domino tables in public spaces where I am. I don't know if that counts

[@ANAKHA8]

Sneaky Secret Cabal PJs Rodney.

[@blueberry1874]

there was giant plastic scrabble at the tea and scones shop at wimpole hall in cambridge, i remember it from my childhood.

[@Nayr090]

Omg the cameo appearances. Insta-like, I love it.

[@user-gr5dv3ik3g]

And they said infinity war was the most ambitious crossover.

[@alasdairgoudie9459]

As someone whose birthday is this month and who hates chess, this is excellent news! I've also recently ordered Normandy: North Africa, which looks like a very interesting two-player option.

[@raffaelsteinmann7296]

Normandy:North Africa sounds great,lol.

[@Scorcher505]

SUSD, Watch It Played, and Secret Cabal crossover needs to happen

[@joelshepherd4659]

Matt is the Richard Hammond of board games....

[@lewisbrooks5788]

Hey that's my fish but it's polar bears and a bit of a race.Yep I'm all in i need this.

[@terrynicol2098]

Shut Up & Sit Down is the only thing in the world that is getting better in 2020. Seriously this has been some of your best content ever.

[@zenpvnk]

Best chess game that isn't chess, but is in fact much, much better.... Six Making. I hope this one gets a SU&SD look-see ... it deserves a much wider audience.

[@tahunuva4254]

Such a shame Matt will never be able to drive a car again, in case he puts the lives of strangers in danger for no reason.

[@danielveiga1337]

Is that a splatoon t-shirt that you're wearing during the family gattering? I LOVE IT!

[@matchesbattlefield8840]

amazing, more su&sd!

[@andrewlipnick8131]

Having recently tried to set up a game of Terra Mystica with the people I am living with at the moment 6:30 really got me laughing out loud haha

[@trailofdistraction2932]

Good to see Matt again. Top review, looks like a fun game. Totally agree with having larger-scale games set up around the place. Big Ice Cool, anyone?

[@brycevandewalker8584]

Love the Rodney cameo!

[@christopherhogben7231]

Absolutely sold on the bazooka chess variant.

[@RocketSlug]

Jaipur is such a fantastic 2 player game as well, and I've heard great things about Hanamikoji/Jixia Academy. Would love to hear thoughts on it from the SU&SD folks just to give them a little more exposure.

[@z-beeblebrox]

My favorite is extra sharp chess, but my roommate prefers blue chess

[@l3p0ss]

That was amazing. I didn't expect it.

[@lavtekk2086]

I don't know what Chess Month is about, but you guys should check Onitama. It's a mini chess King + 4 "pawns" and the movement is set by cards instead of the piece itself.

[@danopticon]

Does Ice Team have a distributor in the USA? I can’t seem to find a copy anywhere, shy of having one shipped from Belgium… which I will do, God help me, because I cannot resist scarf-knitting polar bears! But if there’s an option to acquire the English/French edition of Ice Team, from the USA, without international shipping costs, if someone would clue me in I’d greatly appreciate it! 🙂♟🐻

[@mystic839]

this is one the funnier videos that susd has ever done

[@justacynic]

Just worked on my taxes (federal and state, here in San Francisco) and watching this, including the wonderfully cheesy intro with Rodney, was easily the best part of my day.

[@annegreu]

Penguins and Polar Bears live on different poles! How did the penguins end up on the north pole? Have the penguins gone on a holiday? Are they on student exchange with the Polar Bears? So many questions!

[@weatherbutinspace6799]

An excellent review by a young Doc Brown before he envisions the flux capacitor by slipping and bumping his head on the toilet.

[@Sky_Guy]

I do hope they cover Haven! A fantastic little 2-player game I use to introduce new players to board games, simple rules and the artwork is beautiful!

[@Phox-in-a-Box]

I had a chessboard which had a top that slid open to store the pieces. Even that didn't take long to set up or put away.

[@H4rrysp94]

Chess month is a great idea. Thanks for the content

[@CharlesN88]

YESSS!!! A cameo appearance by Rodney Smith. Love it!!!

[@RunawayWindmill]

4:25 Actually, polar bears are one of a handful of creatures that will hunt people.

[@adsilcott]

I love the way Matt dips into absurdity only to make it, almost, make sense in the end.

[@WitchDoctor87]

*It just occured to me after this review that it reminded me a lot of "Top Gear". However for Boardgames.*

[@romanraguz2056]

Now we can play War of the Ring

[@notjux]

Polar bears are from the Arctic and penguins are from the Antarctic. Immersion broken.

[@KitSixty322]

notjux They’re on a holiday

[@karolwesoek5350]

There are penguins in Europe and North America. Where do you think they came from?

[@troydavis5210]

There needs to be more Rodney / SUSD collaboration!

[@DensetsuVII]

Not gonna lie, was hoping this was a lead-in to a lovely Clubhouse Games 51 Classic Board Games Review... Next week's video? :D

[@lucypatton42]

Please!!

[@danielhoffman4247]

Love chess month! My wife does not like board games nearly as much as me, but games like Patchwork are great for us. Bear Chess Ice Team will definitely come to our house.

[@iamanoob9747]

Now I want the dragons tomb to make a Chess video

[@LeoStaley]

Chess is real popular right now. Even susd is getting in on it.

[@tehrookster]

I live in a world where there is a crossover event with Rodney and SHASD . Feels like they should team up to defend against the next boardgame avengers level threat.

[@BrandonGeorge]

SUSD

[@tehrookster]

@@BrandonGeorge fat fingers!

[@andrewhix9487]

Our local brewery has big wooden Scrabble!

[@3v1lp1ngv1n]

War Chest is my favourite chess game. Has barely any setup and teardown time fairly easy to teach and has a lot of depth. A close second for me is Hive.

[@Xalderon]

Chess month huh? I surely hope that means you will be reviewing Knightmare Chess by Steve Jackson Games! It has been one of my favorites for at least a couple of decades.

[@john-marccartagenas6706]

Really want this game, but I don't think it will be reprinted.

[@Xalderon]

@@john-marccartagenas6706 I have found it at a local gaming shop here in Kansas City. it was a reprint so it included the expansion as well. I wish you luck in finding a copy as it is excellent game.

[@MichaelNerman]

They've talked about it in the podcast a couple times, btw.

[@MoiMagnus1er]

If you happen to speak French, I'd really recommand "Tempête sur l'échiquier", which is the original French version. Khightmare Chess is not a translation, more an adaptation. (A lot of card changes, some due to the fact that the Bishop is called a Madman in French). And the art style is very different, inspired from French Bande Dessinée (see the illustrations in www.trictrac.net/jeu-de-societe/tempete-sur-l-echiquier-0/actus/le-roi-est-mort-vive-le-roi for example).

[@Xalderon]

@@MoiMagnus1er unfortunately I do not speak French however using online translators I imagine it would be easy enough to tag up my own translation of the game. I have taken a look at the example cards and it seems like a very interesting game. Thank you for the recommendation!