The 4 Squares: Cleopatra and the Society of Architects: Deluxe Edition Review

[@mountainpony]

27:33 Mike's reaction to Tom's sign-off, too funny!

[@Straddllw]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@hucz]

kzbin.infoUgw9OGgQbZMpMrFBffR4AaABCQ

[@andrewgrant2328]

Thank you Tom for pointing out the cheap, flimsy insert. I posted a comment on the KS about how disappointed I was, and Mojito Studios response was that I was "different"... like everyone else has said it was great.

[@kamb26]

I’m tempering myself about emailing them and asking for a refund. I have games that are cheaper and have better components. (Pretty much anything from FFG in my collection. Big trouble in little China also has a great insert from Everything Epic. That game was priced at $30 less than this.) Where do I start? Card Quality is abysmal! I immediately had to sleeve them and they barely fit in the box sleeved. I sleeved them for fear of damaging them. Another point is that one of my pieces is broken(one of the walls). They would probably tell me just to super glue it. A final point I have is that the insert is flat out terrible and cheap. My girlfriend kept saying that as she tried to put it back in the box. Also the as for the game itself. It’s fun. The corruption and the worshipers of sobek is the best part. Weren’t we supposed to get more tiles for that? I think there was an expansion called builders from afar? I couldn’t find it with the expansions. Any luck with you? Overall though I feel like the game is too long for what it is? It’s like Catan and Ticket to Ride but less interesting. I will definitely play it again I’m just super disappointed.

[@NormalTheBand]

Have fun pleasing cleopatra... building stuff. Nice safe at the end there Tom!

[@olanmills64]

I'm happy with my Days of Wonder version and the rules update doesn't seem like an improvement. The new rules don't seem bad either, but I think I prefer the original rules.

[@RadishTheFool]

I'm a big fan of overproduction, but this is way too much even for me. Plus, I was always quite charmed by the idea of using the box as a game piece. Thanks so much for removing the distracting border, by the way. 😊

[@kanedafx]

Why 1st Edition is superior: -cheaper -plays 5 (and it's a GREAT 5 player game, Zee is super wrong here, it plays like a breeze with 5) -half the deck is facedown, makes the push your luck more interesting -die roll for corruption bid builds tension (and rolling dice is fun) -auto-elimination for highest corruption also adds a GREAT amount of tension

[@kanedafx]

@@JesusIsTruthAndWayAndLife pretty much.

[@Steve-L]

The original is OOP and hard to find unless people are suddenly selling their copies to get this. Thus while it may be cheaper for some, the supply is low and will get lower if people start hunting it and drive the price higher.

[@winklestiltskin]

Love the 4 Squares thanks guys keep them coming!

[@thecrabbydice]

And the award for the most over the top production for such a light game goes too ....

[@Manny-M]

You haven't seen Foundations of Rome, have you?

[@thecrabbydice]

@@Manny-M fair enough but that game isnt released yet

[@BoxOfFear]

It’s not even from CMON!

[@johchadow]

Glad I didn't back this one, I was on the fence, but I thought it looked a little too overblown.

[@duncancole1742]

The lack of elimination at the end is a deal breaker for me - that was the hook that made the game a winner for the groups I played with.

[@Laura_Stanford]

That game looks just like a Playmobile set, Lol. Where can you store it?

[@Y3sterdaysCub]

'Look but Don't Touch' the board game. I can imagine if you owned this game, you'd have a hard time watching other players pickup and place those fragile pieces. Especially if they accidently break a piece...the atmosphere would become pretty awkward considering the price point hahaha. I mean as friends you wouldn't fight over it or anything but I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing this version out to 'play'. Hopefully, the not so 'premium' version can withstand people playing with it. But i have to say, i'm getting frustrate with the terms 'Premium' 'Deluxe' Premium Plus' on the same project. I can see on the KS comments, some backers of this project didn't' realise there was a Premium Plus tier or didn't see the magnets add on. (which i think Tom got stung by aswell) and in Australia they were advertising the Deluxe edition and I thought that was the painted version etc but later found out it's just the standard edition but they listed it as deluxe for the Aus retailers. besides all that i'm sure the games fun to play. Just thougtd i'd put my 2 cents on the issue of so many 'deluxe/ premium/premium plus' tiers on the same project.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Uh oh do I now regret my backing ......... I have the original and was hoping this would be a direct replacement of it. But now I think the choice is harder.... I’m surprised that question was not asked here.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Check Zee's comparison video

[@Straddllw]

All the changes actually bums me out. I preferred the dice rolls, the different resources for building and feeding to the crocos at the end. It made the game a lot more interesting and tense.

[@gregsaldi1292]

This sounds like the most convoluted thing ever.

[@scottelam3726]

This was one of the most anticipated KS games I backed. I got it last week and took it home just to see if anything was broken after reading the KS comments. Looks like all my stuff survived, but the insert is extremely flimsy. Definitely still looking forward to playing it as it seems to fit my family's gaming style perfectly. Just hope the game play is worth the trouble. I don't mind set up / tear down that much.

[@leonardomarcarini5359]

I have the normal "deluxe" version. I enjoyed the game. Minor complains that I have are: looking which tile will not fit is very annoying, the end game punishment on the corruption should be on a player aid, thin cards and putting away the game. I didn't played the original, I played with 2 players and really liked the mechanics.

[@amoore05]

This 4-corners review was much better with calling out each other’s names. The previous reviews were too disjointed with everyone stumbling over each other.

[@lystic9392]

I almost forgot I backed this and it suddenly arrived today ^__^

[@TheGiraffehead]

Great review as always guys! A note: I doubt anyone from the Dice Tower went to animation school so I wanted to point something out. I've noticed that in a few videos lately that animations have been both slow and linear (In this video it was the animation of the Cleopatra box in the four square format, but it has also been in the 12 days of Christmas videos). Why is this an issue? Well, you have to ask yourself, why you are animating? Is it to have a sense of action, or to look polished? Neither of these are really happening with a slow animation. Quicker and shorter is generally always better for animations. Look at any professional animation and time it. I think you will find they are much much quicker than you realize. Linear timing is a different problem. The only things in this world that move in a linear motion are robots. Linear motion doesn't feel natural and you lose quite a bit of polish by leaving it that way. No matter what program you are using there should be a simple ease-in/ease-out selection, I would recommend using them. Now if you are ambitious you can learn about bezier curves and how to apply them to employ overlapping and anticipation (a couple of the 12 principles of animation). They are pretty simple to use once you understand them. I'd be happy to expound on any of this if anyone from the Dice Tower is interested.

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

I got the deluxe version and I’m regretting it. It’s not even the painted one (they were out of that option)so what’s the point? I paid way too much for the value here.

[@robotskirts]

I got the unpainted Deluxe version. I had one broken wall I needed to super glue plus two other weak ones.

[@trapper0707]

same here

[@justanerd1138]

All the issues balanced with the somewhat limited play appeal makes me wonder how it even rates this high.

[@misdirections]

My copy had a few broken pieces that I had to glue back together... it definitely is pretty fragile.

[@danielengel4593]

I have the DoW version, and I do not get the appeal of this game.

[@gamera2351]

"Have fun pleasing Cleopatra.... er.... by building stuff." Haaaa!!!! 😅

[@ikyiAlter]

Overproduction, yes. But I don't think it is flimsy. It's just bad QC or QA. I was totally expecting mine to break but they were fine. My issue was it was clunky to assemble. But still nice.

[@martinteece8983]

New edition I think older one was a lot more clear on the cards and wat needed for buildings. But the new adition like the architects and the actual pieces of terain and etc is lot better

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Good review guys, thanks

[@shelbykeller2931]

Well apparently I’m “nobody” because I backed the retail edition 🙃

[@Steve-L]

About 5-6 years ago I hunted for the original version and it was hard to get, being OOP. I found a copy in great condition used, but was missing 2 pieces. Someone on BGG was kind of enough and had extra parts and sent me the missing pieces. The game was on my top 100, I think in the 50's or possibly 60's. I enjoyed it. But a couple years ago started playing games less, and it wasn't 2 player, which I predominantly play now, so I sold my copy for a profit. I agree with the production assessment of this edition, disappointing. And I think the price is not worth it. But it is a decent game to play.

[@inezkestens5561]

I backed the normal deluxe version and i'm kinda glad I did :3 I wanted this game but I found it a bit too overproduced so I was fine with the normal version ... and I haven't really liked what I've seen production-wise. Some corners were definitly cut :3

[@BassForever]

Sounds like I got lucky not buying the deluxe version, hopefully the non deluxe version is still fun to play but not hurt by the production

[@rubenNneri]

But with all the changes is it still possible play the new game with the old rules?!

[@richardscales9560]

I've got the original and prefer the look of that. This one is over produced for me. It's a fun game.

[@PeterSikachev]

Regarding fragility, idk guys what's wrong with your hands. I had 5 yo kid playing with components before we started and she didn't manage to break anything. It's a completely non-issue.

[@Valcurdra]

I really enjoyed this at 2 players, great light family game. I think it's an 8 for me too. But I do enjoy the wow factor of the production, I looks epic, undeniable. I didn't think the setup and breakdown were an issue, it's pretty quick really for a game like this.

[@FelipeRodrigues-vj1zb]

Game is super expensive here, for the same price I can get Lost Ruins of Arnak which looks incredibly superior.

[@benlauson555]

Oh my $100 for that really?! Are people out of their minds!!!! Definitely no need for stimulus checks!

[@lystic9392]

It was for sale before Covid19 tho.

[@nedeljkodukic7279]

The only reason Zee gave this an 8 is because of Cathala. Otherwise he'd give it a 5.5 lol

[@ezekielzeke18]

Maybe we should have backed the normal version instead

[@SeerMagicX]

Massive step back from the original.

[@aherosquest4536]

Oh no. Did I make a mistake in buying this game?!

[@poppyl2641]

Tom - please get a new camera! One that isn't so slow and choppy. :)

[@SykoLiu]

A new camera wouldn’t change his internet connection.... He’d just be higher resolution, but still choppy. Actually, a higher resolution video camera on his end might make the video choppier!

[@wolflarson71]

Network issue, not hardware.

[@Steve-L]

If you watch the Dice Tower videos, they have upgraded many times, as people above me have stated your analysis of this is very wrong.

[@nedeljkodukic7279]

Overpriced bs. You pay for a box of plastic with no game in it.

[@iggyflop3777]

It's a joke. note 8 for the deluxe edition with crappy cards. With rules simpler that made a cleopatra for kids. Did you buy this game or have you been given it for a review?

[@ScytheNoire]

What horrible production quality.

[@failboy6901]

That receding hairline though. Roys hair is thinning out.