- Was it fun?
- I would overall say the game was fairly fun; however, I don’t think it stood out as much as the other games we played in class.
- What were the player interactions?
- The game was similar to Pandemic in the way that the players interacted to try and beat the game before they all sank off the board.
- How long did it take to learn?
- Since this was the second game we played, it didn’t take us long to figure it out. Realizing that it was similar to the previous game we had participated in, I would say overall it took us no more than 10 minutes.
- What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?
- Honestly, the most frustrating moment of the game was trying to get to the treasure spot while also praying that one of the flooded spots didn’t get taken.
- What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?
- My favorite moment of the game was being able to trade with other players to get us closer to our goal of getting the treasure, and it sort of played out in the sense that we each were able to get a treasure piece.
- Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?
- One thing I wish I could do, which would have defeated the whole point of the game, was to be able to cross diagonally.
- If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?
- If I had a magic wand to wave and could change anything from the experience, I would have liked to expand the game with a grander goal in mind; however, we did play on easy mode, so if the water levels were higher I think that might have changed my opinion on the game and it’s purpose and how much I found it entertaining.
- Is this a game you would play again? Yes _____ No ______ Why
- I would play this game again simply because I feel like I didn’t give it a fair enough turn, and we did not complete it till it’s full of potential however I would also like to add that this was the second game that we played in the last 45 minutes of class, and my brain was dead for most of the game after Pandemic.
- Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
- Analyzing the game Forbidden Island in the three-act structure starts off with the First Act of setting up the game and getting to know each of the characters’ objectives and how that plays out throughout the narrative of the game, having the theme in mind as rescuing treasures, all the while trying not to let the entirety of the island flood. The second act or the struggle for victory, takes place deeper in the game where the Dynamics keep switching, and the goal is to not let the Island sink. Also, the game feels like it could take place in silence or in a very quiet room, which can easily make the players bored. The third Act, which is the push for victory, where each of the players must stand on Fool’s Landing, is a little bit more exciting than the rest of the game, but the more I think about it, I don’t know how compelling this game was. It ultimately avoided the “kingmaker effect” where a losing player can impact victory. However, I do think it is a nice touch because it requires players to work together to succeed or fail as a unit, which then pushes the idea of a shared outcome.
- What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?
- I don’t think this game was as competitive in the same way as Pandemic, which also ultimately avoided the idea of any frustration or big feelings with the players; however, yet again, it is collaborative, it is just not as compelling.
- What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?
- The game’s metaphor is ultimately telling The Narrative of escaping an island with treasure before it sinks; this narrative continues throughout the entirety of the game. I would say the biggest part of the mechanics is the idea of the water level rising, as well as tiles completely being removed from the game, cutting down the size of the board the players have to work with.
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