| View Larger Image | Wasabi Card Game | Toyby Z-Man Games
| 11 New starting at: | $29.57 |
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| | Sales Rank: | 10,170th |
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FEATURES | - 2-4 players
- ages 10 and up
- 30-45 minutes
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
In Wasabi!, players are apprentices to a great sushi master, and have spent the last ten years honing your skills in preparation for this day - your final test before earning the title of expert chef: Itamae-San! Drawing upon a variety of delicious ingredients played out in their hand and those previously placed on the board by your opponents, players compete to assemble their quota of unique sushi recipes in a rapidly dwindling space, while completing a recipe with style will earn you bonus points! |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 1 review)
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Fast, Fun, Easy Game - But Shop Around for Price by Amazon Fan!  4 Stars
December 31, 2008
First, a bit of a warning. I ordered mine from Eric Robinson via Amazon. $39.99
Found it the next day at Fairplay games for $23.45
THEN found it at Cardhaus for only $22.95 (and $5 less shipping).
Ouch. Those differences are huge. This game is not out of print nor is it a high volume seller a la Nintendo Wii. So these prices are just crazy. I came very close to returning mine to save the money.
So, lesson 1 - shop around. Shop the Amazon partners but also the Internet. I'll definitely be avoiding Eric Robinson regardless.
Anyway, on to the game.
Nice, colorful box. Sturdy.
Four pages of illustrated rules. Two sets provided (English and German). They are on rather thin paper but you can download them in pdf format from boardgamegeek.com. Search for Wasabi! and go to the bottom where "files" can be downloaded.
It's basically a "tile placement" game. You manage your ingredients to complete sushi orders before the opponents. Fun with 2. Up to 4 can play. Actually, to learn it I played solitaire (switching roles as if there were 2 players). That was amusing as well.
Play is about 45 minutes. So it's a great start to a more serious gaming evening or a nice "wind down" game. Also works as you wait for others to arrive before you go to dinner. I played with some folks from Japan and learned alot along the way. They enjoyed it. I came in second. :)
The components are very nicely done - eye candy if you will.
1. The board is solid cardstock depicting the sushi chefs' preparation area. The number of squares in play depends on the number of participants - so the time required is consistent (nice touch).
2. The playing pieces (sushi components) are also colorful, good sized (1.5 inch), and easily pop out of the die. They are English on one side and German on the other.
3. Cards to guide play are clearly marked. They tell you what has been ordered, how to make it and what it's worth. There are also cards you can draw and play to alter the course of the game - to your advantage and/or to the detriment of the opponent(s).
4. Little green wasabi cubes are placed in little Asian design bowls allowing you to track your "style". More style (flair), more cubes. More cubes, more points.
5. Screens are provided so you can hide your work from others until ready. Even without the screens it's fun. But the screens are needed for a "true" game.
Playing... Again, it is a tile placement scenario. You draw ingredients and sushi orders. Matching the ingredients to the requirements moves you forward. More complex orders are worth more points. Done with "style" and you get even more points. The playing surface is populated as players compelte orders. As ingredients are placed you can "build" off of them to make your own orders. Efficient sushi chefs can complete multiple orders in one play. During this, the special cards can jump you ahead or disrupt your opponents. The game ends when no spaces remain. Takes about 45 minutes.
While you probably won't play this one again and again as a reason to get together, it's a fun start/finish activity. Light and easy. Low stress -low complexity - although you might get hungry.
Can be fun for kids, families or just adults. Can be a party game. Some options, which may or may not be appropriate depending on your group...
1. Try playing with the wooden pull-apart chopsticks you get from take-out restaurants. Adds atmosphere (assuming you can use them). Adds humor if you can't. :)
2. For adults, consider taking a congratulatory drink of sake (rice wine) when an order is completed. Couples? Both take a drink if any player finishes an order. Keep in mind sake should be in SMALL amounts. Please don't drink and drive.
3. Speed play - some people take a long time to decide what to do. In a real sushi restaurant the orders would be coming at you fast and furious and the customers aren't going to wait. Set a time limit to keep it moving. 1 minute is a nice balance between game flow and fun.
Combine all three (1 & 3 for kids) and it's a fast paced, sometimes hilarious, shift at the sushi bar.
A nice advantage to simple, fast, games is the opportunity to tailor the rules to match your mood or personality. Enjoy.
Order up!!
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