Squint

or Go Back to GM's Call.

Type: Party Game
Author: Deborah Boss
Publisher: Out of the Box
Medium : Box
Price: $19.95
Reviewer: Bob Trezise

  Squint is a new game from Out of the Box publishing, the same folks who brought us the highly successful Apples to Apples. I'd have to classify this game as a 'party game' in that the maximum enjoyment will be had in a social atmosphere with at least 6 players.  The game is reminiscent of Pictonary, but I like this a bit better because instead of drawing, you are provided cards to assemble into the required picture.  The cards are simple line shapes; single line, double line, circle, wavy lines, etc. In Squint, one of the players is the 'builder' and they roll a special die that indicates several things, such as which item is to be drawn from the cards, the difficulty of the item to be assembled, and it's score. The 'builder' then silently reads the subject and when they replace the card the 2 minute sand timer is started. This could use some better definition, as some people will use this undefined time to study the shapes for an annoyingly long time. The builder then constructs the item as best they can. He or she is limited to the pieces on the table, but may animate them as long as they remain in contact with the table. Pointing is allowed, but other gestures are not. The other players then guess and ask questions about the item that the builder is constructing. This questioning is another problem. How many questions? Any limit on scope of question?. The rules imply that the builder, who is franticly concentrating on making the picture, is supposed to answer "Yes" or "No" to the questions. Remember, the builder is concentrating on the object, and all of the people are asking questions all at once. If someone correctly identifies what the builder is trying convey with the image and his answers to the questions, then they each receive a number of points equal to the difficulty of the item. Then the player to the left becomes the next builder.
   The game is played in rounds, depending on the number of players. This way everyone is the builder an equal number of times. The winner is the player with the most points, and in the case of a tie, a player who is not tied for the win, becomes the builder and the tied players compete to determine the winner.
   For me, the game has issues. Most annoying is the questioning while constructing aspect. I personally think the game would play better where the timer is used once just to build the item, with no questions, and then again to answer questions (maybe with more limits) and field guesses. Also, as with Pictonary, artistic talent comes into play. If you can visualize and construct items well, you'll score better, whether you're building or guessing.

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Bob Trezise      7/24/2002