The Ravens of Thri Sahashri Review - with Zee Garcia

[@FunatticChannel]

Today I've played my first try to this game with my wife and we've enjoyed it a lot. We haven't found it bizarre, but special and different. It's not what's normally seen in a game, and that's what have really catch us. Anyhow, I understand it's not a game for everyone. Hoy he jugado mi primer intento a este juego con mi esposa y lo hemos disfrutado mucho. No lo hemos encontrado estrambótico, sino especial y diferente. No es lo que normalmente se ve en un juego, y eso es lo que realmente nos ha atrapado. De cualquier modo, entiendo que no es un juego para cualquiera.

[@laughingbandit33]

Really surprised he didn't like this game. Two player, card, cooperative, abstract, asemectrical, and a little bit of a legacy concept? And it is super thematic. Dreamscape and fractured memories and puzzles and problem solving....I watch a lot of these reviews and I am really surprised he doesn't like this one.

[@Brimah314]

Thanks for the review Zee. As a second view point, know Eric Summerer was a fan of it when he talked about it on the podcast. Seemed there was a lot of overlap in the reviews but seemed Eric really enjoyed it.

[@philsheep9926]

This game is mad as a box of frogs, and 100% not for everyone. We love it and need to play it again. The rules are difficult to get your head around to start with, but once/if they click, you can chug away at this game quite easily. A really good place to go are the BoardgameGeek forums as they have a lot of explanations and clarifications - these _really_ help you to understand how to play. It's very difficult and frustrating, and if you don't want that steer clear, but if you want a fiendish puzzle that you have to solve with your partner, but _which you can't talk to each other_ about that solution, give this a look.

[@Mahuloq]

I enjoyed the game a great deal, was a nice puzzle with me and my partner slowly learning each others queues and signals.

[@hughdavidson6748]

The story is elliptical, but i don't think it's thin. The idea of recovering lost memories by completing fragmented pictures is a pretty common metaphor, so the card-play mechanism didn't come across as too abstract for me. It'll only suit certain gaming couples - one player needs to take a more active, analytical role while the other benefits from being more intuitive, but it fit very well for my partner and me.

[@PamWD]

Just got this for Christmas, and love it! Played it with my son (he's in his late 20s) and we won the first time we played. Yes, it's a thinker for sure, especially the last round. I thought the "theme" was very interesting and different. I was Ren, and I doubt we would have won if I had been Feth! Will be interesting to play with my husband who I know will probably not go at it the same way my son did.

[@karaokevideos5418]

I'm glad I bought this game before seeing this review! I see Zee isn't a big fan but. IT'S SO GOOD. After my first play I loved it! It's so different from any other two player co-ops I've played. Agreed that its pretty abstract and not a light game or for people who prefer lighter games. But it's really fun and refreshing and you could get into the theme if you wanted to because the artwork is so nice. If you didn't enjoy your first play, try playing the other character, you may find you like it better since it's asymmetrical.

[@theplaidpirate]

A little surprised that Zee didn't like this one. I recently played it and fell in love with it! I've only played twice though, and so far both times as Ren so I'm not sure how it plays as Feth. My partner did really enjoy it as well however, and we're both looking forward to playing it again.

[@גמביטמשחקיחשיבה]

i can't figure out what the girl does except knowing what's on the cards, because he's the one creating the puzzle, and picking one to add to her memories, trying to reach 5 or 7. or am i wrong and just didn't get it....

[@BoardgamesBourbon]

this game is above my brainpower limit.

[@raccoon0413]

I'm not following him too....

[@ricksleurink5064]

Trust me, buy it and try it. My partner and I goofed up the first game, but last weekend we played two more games. With The second we beat it and got to open envelop #1. We really liked, for all the reasons Zee dislikes it. It is challenging, puzzly and very hard. But this game is really different from any other games. When in doubt: the game has some hint of 'hanabi', 'and than we held hands' and 'zendo'.

[@TheBenjamoon]

I've played this a few times and , while it takes a game or two to get your head around, it's neither particularly complex nor hard to teach but yes, it definitely benefits from playing with the same people to get the best out of it. But that's true of many games. The rules aren't great so, as ever, BGG is your friend.

[@pluvia33]

While I am a little surprised that Zee didn't like the game, I kind of do and kind of don't understand/agree with some of his reasons. First, I don't think it's a hard game to teach at all; it's a hard game to LEARN. Big difference here. The game is actually rather simple, it's just that it's so different from most other games and the rulebook (in my opinion) isn't written very well, so it can be really hard to wrap your head around how the game plays from scratch with just with what's in the game box. This is the only game that I've ever HAD to watch a rules explanation video for to understand how to play (Osprey Games has a solid Rules Explanation video that I'd highly recommend). However, once you do grasp the rules, the game is actually pretty easy to explain to other people in person with game in hand; I've taught the game twice and it was really simple both times. Second, I feel that this was one of the best executions of narrative story-telling that I've ever seen in a non-campaign-style tabletop game. I didn't think the theme was thin or didn't mesh well with the mechanics of the game; I thought they went together very well. For me, it was like reading and playing through a short fantasy shoujo manga series. Yes, the story was kind of odd, but I have read similar stories in short-length manga. I actually kind of wish someone would adapt the game into a 2-4 volume manga series in Japan because I really did enjoy the story that much and would love to see the scenes with complete visuals. I do, however, fully agree with Zee's recommendation that this game is best when played between the same two people. This is very much a "couples" game. My friend and I played this game for a few weeks until we fully beat it and I only played with one other person during that time and that was kind of jarring. This is not a game that's well suited to just pick up and start playing with someone, at least not until you've been able to play through the entire game with the same person first. The only other thing that I'd touch on is the design of the cards in relation to the abilities and Zee's comments about not liking how the abilities are done. Now, even though the game does say "Players may not discuss the game in any way," I found that a good way to keep the Ren player engaged is that she can read the abilities of the cards that are already part of her poem (or when they are added to her poem) to the Feth player. You do have to be careful to not do this in a "hinting" way, such as, "REMEMBER, you DO have this card ability available that lets you DISCARD a card from the ATMAN....." But if the Feth player asks what abilities are available, there's no reason that the Ren player can't just read them out instead of going through a long process of him grabbing cards from across the table one-by-one to read them himself. Anyway, that's my take on the review and the game. I loved the game; it was one of my favorite and most unique 2-player experiences in gaming. I'd highly recommend it as a "couples" game, for two people who play games together a lot and especially if you enjoy Japanese storytelling.

[@formalsyoutube1181]

If you loooove this concept, what would be a better game to look into?

[@ricksleurink5064]

I don't know if these are better, but try looking into: Hanabi, And than we held hands, The Game and Onirim.

[@UnionJack437]

I know this is a really old comment but I'd recommend giving it a shot!

[@matthewharris-levesque5809]

Wow. I usually love Zee's reviews. but at 6:08 I just stopped it. I couldn't follow the explanation. Maybe I'm having a bad day?

[@homelessjoe]

I think it was just a matter of the game being unnecessarily complicated for what it is. My take anyway.

[@philsheep9926]

It's not so much complicated, it's more weird. Once you get your head around playing it then you're go "oh, OK, I get the rules".

[@philsheep9926]

Oh yeah - because of the history of the game I knew the original win-state and so was pretty sure what was in the first envelope - when I opened it and confirmed it my mate's face was priceless, hahaha. Not tried it on that level yet, hopefully will do soon.

[@forisrex]

rahdo runs through reviewed this game last year before it was brought to north america. he explains it and shows it pretty well if you are still curious how the game plays more explained

[@philsheep9926]

On the above comment - one thing to bear in mind is the first game in the Osprey version is slightly different to the original:- *MILD SPOILER* To end the game in the original, you have to have match only and all of the colours in Ren's heart with the Atman, in the Osprey version at the first level you only have to match the colours of Ren's heart, but not have all of them in the Atman. This makes the first "level" easier and is remedied by the first envelope.

[@carlosvega4735]

Almost 18 minutes and I still have no idea what's going on. Was the game not explained properly or its truly this weird?

[@littleratblue]

Carlos Vega It's pretty weird. And from knowing Zee (I.e. via his videos), I suspect that the difficulty of teaching to others is what sank the game for him. There's a ton of little rules to make the game balanced and interesting and mystical and even though the manual gives a few examples of certain things, you still come out of it scratching your head. I think I had to read the instructions three times, just to feel like even trying the game, and they're really not that long. And I'm pretty sure I missed a rule or two, even. I do think it's a game with trying out, but with fire plays under my belt I still couldn't say whether I think it's a good game or not. I'd really need a regular partner to do it with. But I would be interested in getting to the point where I felt like I had a good grip on what the game offers and how to beat it. The one thing that Zee didn't mention, and which I've seen as a potential minus (or positive, depending) is how vastly different the level of difficulty is for the two sides. Unless I've missed something, the game really seems a bit condescending towards the Ren player. Like, basically this is a game for someone who really likes puzzles and really wants to get their puzzling on, but has a partner who just isn't interested, nor capable of joining along in such a venture. While Feth is card counting and figuring out spacial problems and solving a deduction puzzle all at the same time, Ren's job is basically to look at the underside of a card and say "Yup" or "Nope". So like, if you've got a partner who doesn't like gaming and would really rather do stuff on their phone than play something with you, Ravens might be the perfect game for that couple. But I feel like you'd do better off to just let your partner do their own thing and find a solo game instead. As an excuse to do something with your partner, this game is really sort of you telling your partner that you think they're too dumb to play anything else with you.

[@VaultBoy13]

"[T]his game is really sort of you telling your partner that you think they're too dumb to play anything else with you." LMAO

[@philsheep9926]

It's weird, and you need to play it with the same person. If it clicks for you, it's really good, though.

[@SethalaTheGamer]

I haven't had a chance to play the game myself, but I think I disagree with your assessment of how Ren plays, based on what I've heard from others who talked about the game. You're right that Ren doesn't have as many actions available to her in a turn, but she's also the only one that has access to hidden information (everything Feth has is completely visible to Ren, but Ren's the only one that gets to see the heart cards). It's important for Ren's player to find ways to signal to Feth what needs to be done to match colors, as well as pull cards that have useful abilities for Feth to use.

[@UnionJack437]

I have this game and it is honestly really fun! But I have played it dozens of times and I feel like I find new rules for it every single time. The written rules are really fucking awful. That being said, once you learn the game, it is honestly really fun and relaxed game to play with someone!

[@nezukoshop]

same here, I barely understand what Zee said. Looks boring....

[@Dragnfly_mynamewastaken]

Art: Good Concept: Good Execution: meh

[@peggygarcia8255]

I'm on level 138 on Indy Cat it is ridiculously crazy it's just too much Sam less time and I'm just about to get rid of it and I love love this game so what can I do I've been on this for 6 weeks and it's not me cuz I'm a gamer

[@peggygarcia8255]

I'm on level 138 on Indy Cat too much sand cannot beat it without the tool that I need I have been playing this level for 6 weeks and it's not me because I am a gamer I love this game but I'm about to get rid of it and I really don't want to so give me some help