Game Review: Space Alert

This is one of the best games that I have ever played. And the one game that I get to play very little.

Hugely successful, the first run of this game sold out very fast, and it took what seemed an absolute age to get a reprint. I finally got my hands on a copy at the 2012 Midlands Game Expo, and boy was I excited to get it home.

The game revolves around you and the other players being dumped in a spaceship to babysit it whilst it goes out on a expedition mission. You move your un-named characters around the ship, refuelling the core, manning the guns and other things. Games last around half hour a game. The thing that sets this game apart from anything else is the way it works.

First, its a CD game. You play a CD, and each track throws different events at you. Its a cold, monotonos track, and perfectly captures the essence of deep space exploration.

Second, you have to program your characters. You get a hand of cards to begin with, and these all have different actions on them. You get a short amount of time to discuss what you need to do, and each player plays his cards. Heres the catch.. after a period of time elapses, you cannot change the order of these cards, you have to move onto another section and start again.

Thirdly, the game is quite random. Enemies and events are in decks of cards, so you never know whats goind to come next, even if you have heard the CD tracks a few times.

Photo from www.spieletest.at

You play the first round to decide what you are going to do and program your cards, then play the track again and act out how well you managed the situation. This is where friendships are broken.

So the CD tells you that a enemy has appeared, so you start to manouver around the ship to fire the guns and reload the guns. and charge the shields. The clock is ticking, and you have limited choices, and sweat begins to run. You think you are all locked in place correctly, and the round ends. Time to play this out and see if you all die a horrible death.

You reload the gun before someone fires it, but thats all wrong. You wanted to do that afterwards. You actually shoot the guns at the wrong time and miss. The person who is supposed to be recharging the shields moves the wrong way... this mission is a failure.

Yes, this game thrives on arguments. But when you get that one game where you do it all right, the elation, the high fives and hugs that happen because you survive are second to none. Grown men will cry.

And thats why we dont play this game very often. It is one of the most stressful board games ever made. Ever. But thats where the charm is, and why you need to have this game. I have not even gone into the fantastic pieces you play with, or the rule books (yes two) which are written in such a great story telling manner, these are all icing on the cake.

One of the best games ever.