On the other hand, if you own the bookshelf edition of Valley of the Pharaohs, you might consider buying another bookcase or shuffling some of your uglier books to your office, just so you can make room for this game in your living room. Front Porch Classics makes games that are meant to be displayed, and not just displayed, they are meant to be played.

Valley of the Pharaohs has some of the highest quality components found in board games today. The board is not high-quality line stock – it's actual cloth, with the board printed onto the fabric. The pieces are not colored plastic, they are cast metal. The spinner is not a cardboard pointer in a cardboard holder, it's wood. The metal coins are not high-quality pressed cardstock, they are actual cast metal. Everything in the box is absolutely stunning in its quality. These parts are meant to be touched and seen.

The game play is not as deep as many popular board games, but that mostly has to do with the target market for Front Porch Classics. These proponents of quality make games meant to be enjoyed by the whole family, so some of the intense strategy may not always make it into every game. On the other hand, Valley of the Pharaohs is a fun game, even if it doesn't leave players discussing strategic options after the game is over.

The premise of Valley of the Pharaohs harkens back to the pulp fiction of the 1920's. The sceptre of Amun-Ra has been found, but it can only be wielded by someone who has a completed scarab key. This powerful sceptre provides unimaginable power to the wielder, including power of the undead – in this case, a very troublesome mummy. Each player must avoid the wandering mummy as the place scarab tiles into their individual keys, then race to capture the sceptre and return to Alexandria.

The game is fairly straight-forward. Each turn, players roll two dice to move around the Egypt. A player who rolls doubles controls the mummy, guiding him around the desert to attack his enemies as they search for tiles. The scarab tiles are hidden in dig sites around the desert, and only the prepared adventurer can unearth them. To stay prepared, players have a selection of resource cards.

These resource cards come in three varieties. The first is equipment – water, medicine, weapons or other assorted items that help overcome various situations. To enter a particular tomb, for example, an explorer might need rope and tools, which he must discard to claim a scarab tile for his key.

The second resource card is the obstacle. These are not really helpful to the holder, but they can be played on opponents to cost them resource cards. For instance, to clear a 'Bandits' obstacle, the blocked player must give the person who played the obstacle a 'Weapons' card. If the blocked player does not have the right card, he can simply pay two coins, or just miss his turn.

The third kind of card is the most valuable. The Reversal of Fortune card can let a player avoid mummy attacks, overcome any obstacle, or even take another turn. These cards can be played as any kind of equipment, so two Reversal of Fortune cards will allow access to any tomb.

The trick to Valley of the Pharaohs is not rolling high or being lucky. The trick is knowing when to play a Reversal, when to stop in at an oasis, when to hide in a city, and when to outright attack opponents. While it might be tempting to play a Reversal of Fortune to dodge a mummy's attack (and the subsequent missed turn), it might be better to accept the penalty and let the mummy wander away before hopping up and running off.

The game play is smooth and easy to learn. A very simple set of rules allows players of nearly any age to jump right in and enjoy the game without remembering complicated rules. Game play is fast and exciting, and the theme of the game comes to life as players drive camels around the desert, battling bandits and poisonous snakes, uncovering lost tombs, and scheming to seize the sceptre of Amun-Ra.

Once everyone is able to enjoy the basic version of Valley of the Pharaohs, the story deepens. Each player can now select an alter-ego, with special abilities and arch-nemeses. Reversal of Fortune cards can send obstacles back on opponents, and specific cities can provide specific equipment. Play becomes more interesting, and the theme becomes even richer. A certain amount of backstabbing accompanies these rules, so if you are playing with young kids, you may want to stick to the basic game.

When a board game combines the finest components in board gaming today with a fun and entertaining play experience, it's a no-brainer in my book. Put away your old physics books and shuffle some of the old magazines; make room on your bookshelf for Valley of the Pharaohs.

Style: 5 – A game so attractive you'll want to store it in the living room.

Substance: 4 – Fun and easy to learn, this is a very enjoyable game for the whole family.

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