Space Alert

Customer Reviews

Captain! Help! What a Jump Review by TR

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Space Alert is one heck of a co-operative game. The only real-time co-operative game out there; Space Alert has everyone scrambling to plan their actions in real time using movement cards. However, you never know what threat is coming next as the relentless CD keeps tossing out new directions, providing a heart-pounding 10 minute game.

However, the game isn't over after the 10 minutes as you then resolve the movement cards you've placed. You'll find yourself swinging from exasperation to ecstasy as your well laid plans pan out or not.

Space Alert will leave you wanting more and more; and with each game running about 30 minutes; you'll definitely get a chance to play it again on the same night. (Posted on 5/2/12)

Holy Space Aliens! Review by Brian

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This game is named correctly. It is easy to lose this game if you aren’t careful as you only have 10 minutes to complete your orders.

This game is different each time you play as there are different threat cards, different cd scenario tracks and different trajectories so the game changes every time you play.

There is also enough skill level variation that you can alter your game to constantly challenge you. This game is not for people that need a lot of time to think their turns through, you need to get through your actions quickly or risk not doing anything, tripping up or totally the wrong thing (although that might happen anyway).

A bonus to this game is that it is quick to play and after spending 10 minutes getting your ship shot up you will come back for another round of mayhem.

This is also a Co-op game, I find that the more you play this game with the same group of people the more you get into a groove and are able to make quicker decisions. With the co-op game you all win or all lose.

So if you enjoy a bit of chaos and getting attacked from all sides trying to overcome hopeless odds then you will enjoy this game. If you like to take your time and relax then you might want to go to bed early and play old maid in the morning.
(Posted on 9/27/10)

A fresh, fun take on co-op board gaming Review by Ryan

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There are a lot of options out there for someone wanting to purchase a co-operative board game. For a few reasons, I think Space Alert is one of the better co-ops available, and is perhaps the purest example of co-operative gaming. Below are a list of what I consider to be its strongest attributes, followed by one aspect that leaves me wanting more.

Positives:

1) "There is no 'I' in 'team'"

It is crucial that the players all work together, or the team has zero chance of victory. Each player's actions can directly influence what everyone else can or cannot do on their actions. As such, the players need to be in constant communication (unless communications go down...). You need to listen, and you need to tell people what you are doing. This is what I'm referring to when I say Space Alert is pure co-operative gaming.

2) The clock is ticking...

The usage of real-time occurrences for the planning phase is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. It adds so much tension as your group is scrambling to try and organize responses to the disaster that are piling on every few seconds.

3) And release...

Whether your team was a well-tuned machine or a complete Gong Show, win or lose, watching all your frantic planning unfold is about as fun as gaming gets.

4) definitely not the same old, same old

It's not the first game to mix media types, but it's a unique enough approach to table-top games that it feels fresh. I appreciate that in an industry in which many games are simply reconfigurations of the same old mechanics that have been used in a dozen other games. You have nothing else quite like Space Alert in your collection.

Negative:

1 and only 1) Where's the story?

My favourite games have a strong narrative. There are characters with specific skills and attributes, as well as an overarching plot that advances throughout the game. I think Space Alert misses the boat here. I would prefer characters instead of player colours. I would prefer a more prominent story element rather than a series of random situations. Does this lack of story and character make it any worse of a game? No, but it keeps it from reaching its full potential in terms of my personal expectations of what the BEST games should contain.

Overall, I think the game is a blast -- not among my very favourites, but certainly not too far below. Anyone interested in venturing into co-op gaming should definitely consider it. (Posted on 8/10/09)