AuZtralia (Retail Edition)

The game is very straightforward and easy to grasp. The mechanisms work well and the experience feels very streamlined and smooth. In fact, it is a little too streamlined and lacking in tactical depth for me. I much prefer Wallace’s heavier games like Brass and Age of Steam. AuZtralia is a much lighter game that just doesn’t grab my interest as much. It doesn’t scratch the puzzle solving itch and the decisions seem very basic and too easy.

What makes the game most enjoyable (if not an outstanding experience) is the level of cooperation required (and thus diplomacy) amongst players in order to defeat the Old Ones, while at the same time trying to win it for themselves. The problem is that the best moves to hinder the Old Ones from winning are sometimes ones that don’t put you ahead of the other players. By spending precious actions simply to hinder the Old Ones means you are essentially helping the other players get ahead of both you and the Old Ones. This is a problem I’m not sure any semi-coop game design like this really solves. That said, the game can be played pure coop if players find the semi-coop experience frustrating or lacking.

While set up is a bit tedious, game length is very reasonable. I’ve played solo four times and even the first try was less than an hour. I tried it multiplayer twice with two players and it took approximately an hour each time. With more people it’s obviously going to take longer and have more downtime.

There are various modes, two different maps to play on and a random set up which should mean lots of replayability.