Terra Mystica - Shut Up & Sit Down Review

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First published on June 28, 2013.

[@beatmouse.]

"Ladies, I'm an expert in magic and spellcasting and cults and terraforming" really should be getting more love.

[@mydemon]

I didnt quite get it

[@Strausburg]

This is the review that made me realize that SUSD was something special. No matter how many years go by, I always find myself coming back and watching this. I finally got the expansions for Terra Mystica and I'm feeling nostalgic, haha

[@HelloFutureMe]

I'll never get sick of the awkward bent over camera angles

[@dylanm9071]

Omg my favorite video-essayist is a fan of board games too? Awesome!

[@TheRealMrWolf]

Our lord and savior is here ❤️

[@heikesiegl2640]

Whoot! Nice to meet you here :D

[@juvigoat2168]

So good to see Paul again in this repost. So glad Matt and Quinns are continuing to create, love their work. This is likely one of the videos that got me hooked. I watch, chuckling with every word!

[@MrTombombodil]

This was the first game you recommended that I bought. It's probably the most played game in my collection that takes longer than 30 minutes. It's just so approachable compared to other similar deep strategy games. It's a masterpiece.

[@StellarJustinJelly]

Oh wow this was a shock. I didn't realize how much I missed these old reviews.

[@Phox-in-a-Box]

"Big wood." This is a family show.

[@akumasan42]

I love the low fi and silly early shut up and sit down. It feels like (very specific UK late 90's nostalgia reference incoming) a channel 4 late night film review show called Vids. A film review from two guys, each episode interspersed with silly overarching stories, jokes and strangeness. Some episodes can be found on KZbin but it was 2am channel 4 viewing back in the day.

[@FinetalPies]

What you look so young, why is Paul here, what year is it I'm scared

[@SjurSkur]

2013

[@benanderson46]

Why, it's 2022, of course.

[@TheWindwall]

@@benanderson46 so true

[@middas7337]

What are you saying? It's 2024

[@Dextergec413]

Feels like a really complicated Settlers of Catan. Great review guys! Hilarious as usual!

[@nickspeelman9174]

On the surface I can definitely see that comparison. But in terms of game play the games are actually radically different. They both involve competing to build on hexes of varying terrains and winning by victory point. But I think that's where the similarities stop. Catan is largely about negotiation and playing your opponents rather than the board. Terra Mystica is much more focused on building an efficient engine.

[@sauce773]

Don't insult terra mystica comparing it to trash

[@Shenaldrac]

God I miss early SUASD. Come back to us Paul. Come back to me.

[@Shenaldrac]

@@brandaccount5941 It is. I don't think what SU&SD has become is bad, but it's definitely *different* and I really liked what it used to be more.

[@kryjchek]

It’s called nostalgia 😛

[@Shenaldrac]

@@kryjchek Not really. Nostalgia is stuff from your childhood, where the pleasant memories of those simpler times mix with your memories of a thing and you associate how happy you were then with the thing itself, even if the thing wouldn't on its own bring that much joy. 6 years ago I was still very much an adult. And I have seen SUASD change over the years, morphing from one kind of show to another. And both have their pros and cons. I personally prefer the older style which had a lot more focus on silly segments, which I think may have been more influenced by Paul as they seemed to fade more as he appeared less often, but that's just a guess. I liked back when their episodes were 20-30 minutes and covered multiple games and had meta plots. It was neat, and felt like an actual TV show. An amateur TV show without much budget, sure, but a TV show nonetheless. It was entertaining in a different way to the way SUASD is entertaining today.

[@peterfiser]

I found out about SUSD late 2018, and I like the new videos more. There are fewer dick jokes for sure, which one only starts to appreciate once over 30 and married.

[@Mattchew2232]

New SU&SD is fantastic, just different. They have really improved in their camera work. And, they still have a similar joy in what they do.

[@aSingularJame]

It's blowing my mind that nobody else in this comment section is talking about Paul casually eating pieces of the game from 17:13 to 17:49. That is top tier humor and I will not have it go unnoticed.

[@MrFrostyankles]

I miss Paul

[@musagetes23]

Been forever since I saw that Asuka wall scroll. Feels like home.

[@kivipaperisakset3999]

8 years I waited. And now my local library got a copy, and it's finally in my home. Now to find time and friends to play it with!

[@Evoken111]

Congratz, i was waiting too :D

[@tylerfransson9049]

I watch this review once a week

[@UnreasonableOpinions]

Terra Mystica is the best example I know of a game clearing itself up very quickly the moment you actually start playing. The first three games I played drunk at a big games day and managed to do rather well just by picking whatever looked most cool on my race's card and trying to do that a lot, and each time I ended up playing an actual game within the first few turns.

[@mydemon]

Top nice 3 nice things about Terra Mystica: Wood, Everything, Other people

[@danjohnson1243]

I just watched the review you did of Xia, in 2017.....I really really REALLY feel like you should review the game again with the expansion. (Almost) everything was fixed, that annoyed you, and myself, lol. Please give Xia another look with the Embers expansion! #Respect

[@adamxpaul]

I recently played the game without the expansion again for the first time since the expansion came out, and wow, I forgot what a huge difference it makes. I love Xia, but I'm glad I barely played it when it first came out. I think I might have ended up trading it off.

[@hellboy7424]

Yeap. The same with Scythe.

[@danjohnson1243]

@@Jindorek Embers of a forsaken star is the expansion. Also released this year was a tiny expansion that adds new missions and alternative powers for each ship! Huge!

[@getoffmeow]

the most nostalgic aspect of this video is the the sea foam beauty laddie ten just hanging out like it would be around forever

[@SGFlicksify]

Confused - saw this ages ago on KZbin, but it's dated March this year. Wasted SECONDS of my life trying to work out the time warp!

[@HenryRSeymour]

I feel like so much of their praise for Terra Mystica is the same as their criticism of Scythe.

[@nickspeelman9174]

I know I'm a year late, but how so? From what I remember their major criticism of Scythe was it's imbalance and its run-away leader problem. I've played a lot more Scythe than Terra Mystica so it's not the fairest of comparisons, but I've never had those problems with Terra Mystica. I've definitely had them in Scythe. Scythe is a lot more popular at my table but I personally think Terra Mystica is mechanically superior by a long shot.

[@mydemon]

@@nickspeelman9174 one of the major criticisms was fhe 'plodding'

[@nickspeelman9174]

@@mydemon That’s right. And I guess if you call Scythe “plodding” I’d have a hard time not also applying the word to Terra Mystica - or really any game with an engine-building-like component. So I’ll grant OP that one.

[@etheldir128]

@@nickspeelman9174 I've never played Terra Mystica but one of their main praises was that you're constantly looking at the map to see what everyone else is doing rather than looking at your player mat. Scythe is largely the opposite of that, so I'd say that is one criticism. I love Scythe, but sometimes you'll definitely pay more attention to your strategy/which order you're getting certain objectives than what your opponents are doing, especially those on the other side of the board.

[@iamvigant]

I think this is the best board game review I've ever seen.

[@boardgames1177]

The sense of humor and chemistry between Quinn and Paul is fantastic.

[@fuzzy4461]

I love the comedy style of this channel

[@wjhull]

First go round I didn't notice Paul's Electric Six shirt. Makes the 'bowls in the bedroom' bit that much more magical. (And by magical I mean delightfully weird and awkward.)

[@criticalhippo4294]

Woah, just noticed the 4-minute shot from 7:52 to 12:40. Jesus Christ, how many takes did that take.

[@bane9179]

The best reviews damn

[@CyberViking97]

ahh just what i needed a reason to rewatch this video for the 4th time

[@acerumble]

Paul always had the best magic bowls

[@Ad3tr]

Quinn’s is looking quite good for his age.

[@mrtalos]

No Zimmer frame or anything

[@MrShritz]

I just realize no that Paul had an S Tier shirt game. Well done, Sir. Well done!

[@simplysethpdx4831]

One of my favorite games from some of my favorite reviewers. I do actually love the older videos in a different way than the new ones. The really old ones have got such a great "kids in the hall intro" feel to them...rough but charming. And I loved their choices of music ..so good..

[@ecoKady]

This is my single most favorite SU&SD review video. I bought the game which I've played only twice off this review and I still don't regret the purchase, in no small part to how much I enjoy the review of this game. I don't know how that works out in my brain, but it does.

[@benlauson555]

Yeah, interesting how the video helped make the justification in your head.

[@oppenheimerroberta7440]

I watchet a few videos but this is the only one that actually gives me tips what are the important thing to look for and how to build my tactics, thank you so much!

[@joshwhalen17]

Too distracted by the Evangelion poster in your living room.

[@mchamberlain7408]

Just ordered it and the solo expansion....I shall return with my thoughts

[@raeelemental7084]

4:08 instructions unclear too distracted by Paul. Oh no~ guess I have to rewatch the segment again.

[@dkabib]

You make me enjoy watching a review of a game I actually dislike. Great job! :)

[@letsplaythatgame]

disliking TM? PATHETIC

[@rpgisaboutlife4396]

@@letsplaythatgame Your answer is pathethic.

[@Radien]

I think Terra Mystica (which, note, I kinda liked) is the closest I've ever gotten to playing The Cones of Dunshire.

[@TabulateNewt8]

Hey SUSD! If you're looking for other reviews that haven't made it to youtube yet then the Hexagonal Tile Laying Fest video is still languishing in the dark halls of vimeo. It's my absolute favourite episode so it would be nice if it were brought over for all the newer SUSD fans to enjoy. Love your work as always

[@PaperJoelio]

Thank you for mentioning this! I went all the way to vimeo to see it & am appropriately delighted.

[@ezrawalker]

Played this game for the first time last night and then watched the review over on PATV's channel. A coincidence, but weird timing to then see the re-upload.

[@Hanc_vrbata]

15:40 This is awesome. You really should come back to that, at least sometimes.

[@Hanc_vrbata]

You looked like you're more into it back then Quinns, I miss that.

[@Hanc_vrbata]

Also, the review itself is good. I iked how you talked about negatives here.

[@blackdaz3]

this is a golden classic.. it's thank to this that years ago i got to know you guys.... owwwww.... a stroll down memory lane

[@marcoferri4374]

love the lord Dunsany touch

[@ValosarX]

Would like to see them do a Gaia Project review

[@Richard-il6wc]

Thanks😊

[@DrossPedantic]

Well, now Lord Dunsany is on my reading list.

[@josephhorton5311]

6:28 you just picked the worst faction possible to explain that 😂

[@JD-qq8fz]

Paul!

[@darrensmith8487]

Ahh... The video that first introduced me to shut up and sit down... And the one that convinced my 12 year old daughter to play Terra mystica.

[@jamest1513]

Was that "What?" before Paul went into the bedroom always there, or was that added? I think I'm going mad....

[@ChristianLeibig]

I have that video downloaded with a file date of January 2015, and it also has the "What?". Don't know what that says about your mental state, but I guess it has always been there. :)

[@jamest1513]

The mystery is solved!

[@docbun]

Neat! So, how do you guys feel about Gaia Project? Is it yet much more stuff and brain rattling, or better in being worse?

[@Shelf_Help_ca]

Throwback Sunday test? To see how many views reruns will get?... I mean... i still watched...

[@username_horse]

Do you plan to review Gaia Project?

[@draheim90]

I’m a university professor, and this still looks intimidating at first glance.

[@HolyBuffalowings]

Went out and got it straight after seeing this. Gotta say i love it

[@Flamingbob25]

Well, I'm going to be different from what seems to be the majority of comments, I think the stuff SUSD is producing now is even better than this older stuff. Though I do miss Paul, I hope he is happy in whatever he is doing now.

[@rvervuurt]

Terra Mystica or Gaia Project? I tried both, and I have difficulty choosing which is the better one. >IF< I choose to purchase one, I want to make sure I buy the better one. Because of all hexagons being close to each other (max. one river tile between areas), I feel that player interaction is greater in TM than GP, which I think is good. What are your thoughts? As big TM-fans, you must've tried GP by now.

[@CoronaMobius]

Which do you like more: plastic or wood?

[@rvervuurt]

@@CoronaMobius Wood :D But the plastic in Gaia is also very good quality, so I can't make the decision based on just that. :D

[@pinealbland5076]

I can’t typically afford a lot of games or have the space for a large collection. If you had to pick like five games what would they be?

[@TheNumber1jedi]

Bedside chats are my fave...

[@scuba92186]

Given the release of this and no news this week, I predict a giant Terra Mystica Recap Gaia Project Comparison Review Extravaganza

[@VaNsEn100]

An absolute classic review.

[@aagg6124]

Bought it on recommendation of my local shop, and we love to play it, but it certainly requires some experience with other games, as you can very easily fuck everything up, if ou don't calculate, not only forward for yourself, but also try to analyze what the other players will do

[@mbl26]

This is the video that turned me on to SUSD.!

[@meenki347]

You mean, I could be a cult leader? No thanks

[@NinjaWatermelon42]

I understand this is an old review, but you guys usually put a note in the description to explain it as such, which is missing here

[@Zombie-lx3sh]

I’m disappointed there’s no mention at all of the mechanic that lets you profit when others build or upgrade next to you. That mechanic alone is what makes this game so amazing imo as it forces cooperation as well as competition.

[@JosephLachh]

So it's a more complicated Settlers of Catan

[@StyxTBuferd]

Ah, our favorite game about different types of wood. What a legacy.

[@nameskaz]

Quality Electric 6 shirt.

[@chrisjohnphillips6352]

Why haven't you did a Gaia Project review?

[@yuarthur455]

Will you guys be reviewing Carnival zombie 2nd edition now on Kickstarter?

[@Skippan]

They don't review games without retail availability

[@DayLoukarai]

Unlisted? Only 8 likes in 2 days? How did I get here?

[@allenruiz964]

With that wall scroll... explain Evangelion. Please.

[@tehkyle]

Bowls... booowls. bowls

[@mattiasselin4955]

Hodor? Bowls.

[@ThatGuy53297]

I know he has clothes no, but I still feel I need to cover my eyes so I don't see his body. Wait. Quinns, if your still there. Who's holding the camera? Paul who are you in there with?

[@spawnof200]

that music at the start sounds familiar, but i cant put my finger on it.

[@exaroceans]

Have you guys played Cthullu Wars?

[@michaelotton1170]

correct me if I'm mistaken but this is a re-upload of an old review isn't it?

[@gmscott9319]

I was thinking the same thing. I swear I remember watching this video a few years ago.

[@sageslarres]

It is yes.

[@zzgamer11]

So... uh... this is not a new review? Why has it been posted again? I mean.. I love you guys but I'm pretty sure Paul is longer with the group, right?

[@brianseba5098]

This is a pretty old video. Paul is no longer with SU&SD. If I'm not mistaken all the old videos are in vimeo. They post it again cause they want to have everything on YT

[@Naeddyr]

This has been up on KZbin already, my guess is they've just done some late editing for swoosh effects or something like that.

[@Semiotichazey]

The Walrus was Paul.

[@mrballerpants3813]

...... Quinns: "LOOK HERE"

[@matthewgraham1846]

This is great but we need more twitch playthroughs! Give us a playthrough of Inis and we will love you forever...

[@RainbowCrewPeople]

Should I still purchase Gaja Project instead of this if I like the setting of Terra Mystica more?

[@RyanLangewisch]

I would definitely recommend Gaia Project over Terra Mystica, I personally felt like it was a big improvement. The only case I'd say Terra Mystica might be better is if you are going to be teaching new players often (as Gaia Project is a bit more to teach) or if you really need the game to go up to 5 players.

[@RainbowCrewPeople]

@@RyanLangewisch thank you very much, it clears things up!

[@mr_baa]

IMHO Terra Mystica is one the very best board games ever made. Gaia project is "just" a good game. TM has a better theme, more interesting races amd maybe more fluent gaming experience. GP looks like a washed out version of this game that runs longer. GP might be better choice if you and your friends are SCI-FI fans or if you have played TM over 20 times. I have played TM many times and GP only twice. If I can choose I would always pick TM to play rather than GP.

[@RainbowCrewPeople]

@@mr_baa thanks, this makes my decision even tougher

[@hundun5604]

5:16 Is that the rulebook, that you have there besides you? Or is it a strategy guide? And, why do you guys sleep in the bathroom?

[@tristanruff3546]

I think I saw this review, but still great 🤗

[@TheRealMrWolf]

4:07 for magic 😏

[@trinstonmichaels7062]

Trinston was here

[@plaidpvcpipe3792]

Umm.... what year is it.

[@crocosnz3322]

Welcome back Paul?

[@olsonjonathan]

Purple is the color of power...

[@SilentBeutlin]

They’d be much more critical about all of this nowadays.

[@Uther1313]

I have no interest in Terra Mystica, but your reviews are always great!

[@IronSalamander8]

I love you guys, and good to see some of the old reviews on the channel, but I despise this game. I owned this thing briefly and after I played it, I thought I'd die from boredom. The theme is pasted on at best, the victory conditions are some of the worst point salad I've seen, and it's almost the definition of multiplayer solitaire. There's obvious intelligence behind this design, I'd never deny that, but while it might be kind of cool as a single player puzzle, as a multiplayer game, it's tedious and dull.

[@codywilson4938]

Get to the Choppa

[@narbuvold]

There are two rule misses here. 1. Giants is the only race that doesn't pay extra for terrains at the bottom of the wheel. 2. The bonus points for "biggest city" isn't doesn't have to be a city. Its the largest connected area, which means cities connected by boats get counted as well. So you don't have to choose between building a big city or many small ones

[@MarkBrowning]

I blame you all for why I have this game in my collection. Bowls!

[@Kisuke323]

bowls

[@benjaminteixeira4709]

they use catan pieces lmao

[@jaspin555]

Play dominant species :) it's my favorite board game! People compare this game to dominant species. I don't think I'll find a game to dethrone it's position (although scythe is close)

[@alwaysfallingshort]

Big wood.