Pacifica – review and review of Game 2

Pacifica… This sounds like Vacation, Adventure, Atlantis. What awaits us in the city at the bottom of the sea? Does it meet the requirements or is it just fishing in murky waters?

This nautical themed town development game is recommended for ages ten and up and is refreshingly short at 20-30 minutes. It is not the first joint work of authors Matthias Prinz and Martin Kallenborn (eg. Helios), but the first binary game in the Kosmos series. Successful illustrations come from the pen of Amber Scharf.

How is Pacifica played?

The goal of Pacifica is to build the best half of the city as cleverly as possible and snatch the coveted trophies (idols) out from under the noses of the other side or take back control of them.

The two parties sit opposite each other and place the cards for the seven different colored areas (Treasures, Population, Resources, Architecture, Knowledge, Machinery, and City Festival) face down and in a line between them. So everyone can grow the city on their side. Large table feature.

On each turn, three actions can be chosen from three options:

• draw card
• Put the card
• Activate the map

It is also possible to draw a card three times, etc. Hand cards are limited to a maximum of three times.

By placing cards, you collect points for which you get idols. But idols can be captured or defended. You first need three tokens for each idol, then five with seven tokens, the idol is “locked” and stays there until the end of the game. A small dial shows the status of the idol in question. The first player to have five idols or three guaranteed idols on their side wins the game.

Lucky Tactics vs. Pacifica Tactics

Explaining all the mechanics of the game would be beyond scope here. In my words, it looks more complicated than it actually is. Once the principle of the game is understood, it can easily be explained further by showing it. The game instructions are detailed and provide enough examples.

Some cards must meet a condition before they can be activated. For example: This treasure card can only be activated when there is a resident card in playor:To activate this architecture card, you must discard the resource card.”

In turn, other cards offer special functions, for example: “You can also win the match with two saved idols.” Some of these special cards are one-time use, others are permanent.

By drawing cards, the game has a great luck factor. After several rounds of the game and familiarization with the cards, you will be able to better assess which deck you can help with. The danger remains.

Stupid idols

The packaging of the game promises the underwater adventure par excellence. But we smash the submarine to the bottom of the sea, because the game remains abstract. Collecting tokens and capturing idols can also take place in a space scenario or in the Wild West. It’s a shame the cards don’t capture an underwater theme (except partially graphically).

The idols must be knocked out in the first game and assembled with plastic dowels. Nothing against a little DIY, but it took a while for all the idols to stick together properly. And while we grumble on a high note: the term “idol” doesn’t fit my understanding of the language as it’s used in the game. The Drehdingsi name has now established itself with us.

but …

Pacifica grabbed me. It’s easy to get started, and the short games create great replay value. You first search for the simplest and cheapest treasure maps. But slowly make your way to the city’s interesting festival tickets.

The game components are elegant and the coding is excellent. What I tried to explain in such a complicated way is very well explained on the cards and in the game instructions.

Some of the moves are reminiscent of good old point-and-click adventures: if I draw another population card, I can activate copper to build my device and take over the world! Then the other party ends the match in the next move. Pacifica’s big luck factor doesn’t bother me in this case because I won the next round! bets?