The 4 Squares Holi: Festival of Colors Review

[@kchorst5037]

❤ the memories that music brings. Maybe you have enough ppl to do an A-Team parody instead of a Miami Vice one? 😂

[@felixfryxell7529]

You say it's a crowded genre, but what genres are not? Do you need to say it every time you pick up a euro game, an auction game, a skirmish game, a wargame, etc?

[@trunghoang-jummyegg]

very good argument. Is it because we have always considered abstract strategy as niche genre and now when it got a bit more popular, we see it as crowded ?

[@jasonkimmings9939]

Playing a card face down allows you to place a single token on your level but NOT on a player piece.

[@searose6192]

Pretty disappointed that it is so abstracted and removed from the theme. Could have been more thematic. Still might be fun, I’m going to go watch your playthrough👍🏼

[@samanrahemi2199]

@3:52 the card says your not allowed to place a color token on a player marker when playing a color card face down! I'm not sure where he got the "place your token in opponents token pool" from!?

[@antilog17]

I find the review interesting. I think a lot of the mechanical aspects they mention are pretty accurate, but as an Indian that has regularly played Holi (the actual festival), I'm not sure that the game is that abstract. I'm curious what made it feel abstract? The festival is about throwing color around, which colors the environment and people (represented by the tokens staying on the grids or going into other player's piles) and eating lots of sweets (as a note of cultural discussion, it isn't candy. Consider it more equivalent to cookies / brownies than candy). I'm curious (and maybe other people familiar with the holiday have good ideas) what would have made it less abstract? Edited: Reading my comment, it could be construed in a negative tone. I want to clarify I am genuinely curious and was looking more for ideas. As a regular participant in Holi, I probably have a very strong bias that is blocking my understanding of why the game is more abstract than say Viticulture (which I enjoy a lot). I'm sure it's just a failure of imagination on my part (as I am not even remotely close to being a designer by any stretch), but just curious what might have made it feel less abstract. Or is it simply that it is a tactical game and Holi (in real life) is generally more about having as much as you can throwing color everywhere than any strategy? Holi can involve "mock battles" (e.g. my wife and her neighbors would do these roof top battles growing up), but I would characterize it more about having fun than winning any type of battle.

[@thedicetower]

I would say that if you took the theme out, it simply is putting dots in squares. And that's what many abstract games are. The Festival is a cool theme, but there is no real tie in that I can see. Viticulture has "aging" of grapes, red wine and white wine, and many other things that make it feel like no other theme could work with the game.

[@adamholt5395]

Zee thank you for the comment about Sagrada. I love the theme and the aesthetics of Sagrada, but I HATE the scoring for it. Why should I get less points for filling out my entire grid making sure that none of the colors and numbers are touching when you have gaps in your window but you made sure to get the rows of numbers that lined up better? That's what bother me the most about games sometimes. The game can be really fun and challenging, but the scoring is what makes it lame.

[@forrestdunton2451]

Why would scoring ruin a fun experience for you? I don’t understand why that would be enough of an issue to dampen an experience. If I have fun playing, the the end scoring is just an addendum.

[@forrestdunton2451]

I’m happy at least Tom really liked this. I kickstarted it the moment I saw it, it looks so beautiful and interesting. Hope I’m not disappointed but keeping my expectations in check. We have these festivals every year in California and they’re amazing to attend. Definitely worth seeing if the opportunity arises.

[@forrestdunton2451]

@Dr Odd seemed like he was aware. He is very open minded from what I’ve watched over the past year, don’t think it would bother him. His channel is built on positivity and inclusiveness. Check out the board game breakfasts to see the wide variety of society he encourages on his site. It’s why I like the channel. If you have a chance, go. And buy some of the powder and get in the middle of it. It’s quite an experience and something you’ll remember for a long time.

[@ajynotna]

You are all welcome to celebrate Holi with us maybe next year in March. PS: You cant eat the colors. Although the candy you mentioned is a Ladoo and you would not call it a Candy if you had it. More of a Dessert. :)

[@garyfaust6769]

Nice theme, but does not align with the game. The rules and modification cards are so arbitrary. Thanks for the detailed description, but it is a hard pass for me.

[@ralelunar]

I feel like this is the "Color Run" version of what a Holi game should be. Sure, Color Runs are fun events because you get to throw colored powder around, but they reduced out all of the cultural meaning of their inspiration.

[@benlauson555]

Well Holi is a Hindu religious holiday. In today's time it is almost secular (mind you I understand there are some that are still fervent in the religious intentions). Regardless - Hindus, non-religious, Christians, even Muslims participate throwing colour around. It's almost now a time to celebrate happiness and enjoy life and the people around you. Considering the lack of religious conviction in today's participation of the holiday seems fitting with the games theme or lack of one..... in my simple opinion.

[@ralelunar]

@@benlauson555 That's a very interesting perspective, thank you

[@nezukoshop]

So, I guess Tom dictate what game get Seal of Approval, and what is not. I mean, 3 of them 6, only Tom 7,5 and the game got SoA? 6+6+6+7.5 / 4 would be 6.35. I thought SoA is for game that 7 plus rating.

[@toddkauk6099]

This is not correct. This has been answered on almost every video. If any of them rates the game at a 7 or higher it gets a Seal of Approval/Excellence.

[@blacksheep9950]

@@toddkauk6099 Is that only for the group reviews, or are you saying that if Zee did a regular review of this game it would still get the seal because Tom likes it?

[@thedicetower]

No, but if Tom did the review (me), it would get the seal. So pretend that this is a review by Tom and everyone else joined in with their throughts.