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Title:
Da Vinci’s Challenge
Description:
Strategically lay pieces to form patterns for points.
Integrates with Da Vinci’s Challenge Card Game.
This 2005 entry was the winner of an unprecedented 11 awards including the MENSA Select and the Oppenheim Platinum awards. The game board consists of a pattern of circles called the Flower of Life. This Flower of Life symbol was first inscribed on pyramid walls over 6,000 years ago. Take turns placing shapes on the board to form nine different patterns. The more complex the pattern that you make, the more points you score. While very easy to learn, it is difficult to master.
Review:
DaVinci’s Challenge keeps things amazingly simple in terms of game play. Each player, or team, you can play two person teams, has an equal set of pieces. There are triangles and sort of squashed ovals. The pieces match the two pattern designs on the nicely laid out board. Made of plastic, the pieces still look very nice, and work well, although be warned, if you lose one, it will make it hard to play the game since generally most pieces are used before finishing up a game.
Each player places a piece on the board, their choice of either star, or oval. In placing pieces, players are attempting to complete one of nine different patterns which score points.
Some patterns, such as the triangle and diamond need only three pieces to achieve, and are worth only one point in terms of scoring.
More complicated patterns are worth greater points. A gem takes four pieces, and is worth five points, the star takes six, but is worth 10 points, with circles and flowers worth 25 each.
While it looks as though the key is going after the larger designs for the big points, it is possible to double up on points with a single piece placement. For example, you can at times lay a single piece that could complete a triangle, gem and hourglass all at the same time, creating a 16-point score.
Initially, you will tend to concentrate on creating your own scoring chances, but as you get into a few games, it become rather apparent you have to expend at least as much effort watching your opponent and moving to block their big scoring opportunities.
With more plays you will also realize you need to work at creating what are best described as double scoring chances. If a player moves to block one, you have an alternate place you can lay a piece on your turn to still score.
This is pattern recognition on an ever changing board, and in some cases, in particular the pyramid, can be difficult to recognize.
The pieces, in black and white, are easily differentiated though, so that helps.
After a couple of plays, your eyes can be a bit strained, since concentration is a must.
While I couldn’t play four, or five games of DaVinci’s Challenge is a single sitting, it is a good change of pace, which avoids false luck, and focuses on seeing patterns as they emerge, something not seen in a lot of games.
Overall, entertaining, if not outstanding.
This review appeared in Yorkton This Week.
Components:
game board.
score pad.
144 playing pieces (half dark gray, half off-white).
instruction sheet.
historical notes
Integrates with Da Vinci’s Challenge Card Game.
This 2005 entry was the winner of an unprecedented 11 awards including the MENSA Select and the Oppenheim Platinum awards. The game board consists of a pattern of circles called the Flower of Life. This Flower of Life symbol was first inscribed on pyramid walls over 6,000 years ago. Take turns placing shapes on the board to form nine different patterns. The more complex the pattern that you make, the more points you score. While very easy to learn, it is difficult to master.
Review:
DaVinci’s Challenge keeps things amazingly simple in terms of game play. Each player, or team, you can play two person teams, has an equal set of pieces. There are triangles and sort of squashed ovals. The pieces match the two pattern designs on the nicely laid out board. Made of plastic, the pieces still look very nice, and work well, although be warned, if you lose one, it will make it hard to play the game since generally most pieces are used before finishing up a game.
Each player places a piece on the board, their choice of either star, or oval. In placing pieces, players are attempting to complete one of nine different patterns which score points.
Some patterns, such as the triangle and diamond need only three pieces to achieve, and are worth only one point in terms of scoring.
More complicated patterns are worth greater points. A gem takes four pieces, and is worth five points, the star takes six, but is worth 10 points, with circles and flowers worth 25 each.
While it looks as though the key is going after the larger designs for the big points, it is possible to double up on points with a single piece placement. For example, you can at times lay a single piece that could complete a triangle, gem and hourglass all at the same time, creating a 16-point score.
Initially, you will tend to concentrate on creating your own scoring chances, but as you get into a few games, it become rather apparent you have to expend at least as much effort watching your opponent and moving to block their big scoring opportunities.
With more plays you will also realize you need to work at creating what are best described as double scoring chances. If a player moves to block one, you have an alternate place you can lay a piece on your turn to still score.
This is pattern recognition on an ever changing board, and in some cases, in particular the pyramid, can be difficult to recognize.
The pieces, in black and white, are easily differentiated though, so that helps.
After a couple of plays, your eyes can be a bit strained, since concentration is a must.
While I couldn’t play four, or five games of DaVinci’s Challenge is a single sitting, it is a good change of pace, which avoids false luck, and focuses on seeing patterns as they emerge, something not seen in a lot of games.
Overall, entertaining, if not outstanding.
This review appeared in Yorkton This Week.
Components:
game board.
score pad.
144 playing pieces (half dark gray, half off-white).
instruction sheet.
historical notes
Number of Players:
2 or 4 Players
Barcode:
761707401018
Category:
Strategy
Puzzle
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Publisher:
Briarpatch / 3 Amoebas
Playing Time:
60
Year Published:
2004
Designer:
Paul Micarelli
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Suggested Ages:
8+
Family:
Puzzle Games
Automatic Estimated Value:
~$9.99
Automatic Estimated Date:
2024-06-04
Date Added:
2018-06-21 11:57:43