REVIEW OF Zero In
A game’s replayability is very important, and when a game limits itself in this regard, I’m not sure that one can even call it a game! Welcome to my review of Zero In (On the Spot Games, 2006 – James Ernest and Mike Selinker), possibly one of the shortest I’ve ever written. The game is simple, and even enjoyably fun – but will only last three or four games at most and then become repetitive. I know that the game is a small, inexpensive one, but to me that still doesn’t justify picking it over a game that has much more replayabilty, such as Apples to Apples.
Zero In is for three or more players, who utilize a deck of fifty celebrity cards – each with a letter printed on the back – showing the first letter of the names of the celebrities on the other side. One player begins and takes a card, choosing one of the celebrities on that card (four per card). They then read the first clue to the other players, which is usually a vague one such as “I am an actor that starts with ‘C’”, or “I am a musician that starts with ‘M’”. Players may attempt to guess, but each player gets only one guess per round and, if wrong, does not get to guess on the other clues. A correctly guessing player receives five points.
If no one guesses the celebrity, then the next clue is read, worth four points, then the third clue – worth three points, etc. If someone doesn’t get it by the fifth clue (quite unlikely, since the clues are extremely obvious at this point!), then the reader gets a point. The next player draws a card, and the same thing happens again and again until someone gets twelve points, at which point they win.
Now, the clues are actually funny and interesting – and up to date, for that matter. I played the game on a bus and everyone had a rollicking good time. However, we used HALF the celebrities on the cards! Playing the game again would simply finish its usefulness, and then what good would it be to me? It’s a neat idea, although certainly not original; but it just doesn’t have enough bang for the buck. I also hate the packaging – in a small box with an unnecessary flap – but that’s really beside the point.
Perhaps the inexpensive price is worth two to four games for you. But why not just buy a trivia book or something? I want my games to last a while, to play out differently each time. Thus, Zero In won’t be often played – we already know all the answers!
Tom Vasel
“Real men play board games”
www.thedicetower.com
Zero In is for three or more players, who utilize a deck of fifty celebrity cards – each with a letter printed on the back – showing the first letter of the names of the celebrities on the other side. One player begins and takes a card, choosing one of the celebrities on that card (four per card). They then read the first clue to the other players, which is usually a vague one such as “I am an actor that starts with ‘C’”, or “I am a musician that starts with ‘M’”. Players may attempt to guess, but each player gets only one guess per round and, if wrong, does not get to guess on the other clues. A correctly guessing player receives five points.
If no one guesses the celebrity, then the next clue is read, worth four points, then the third clue – worth three points, etc. If someone doesn’t get it by the fifth clue (quite unlikely, since the clues are extremely obvious at this point!), then the reader gets a point. The next player draws a card, and the same thing happens again and again until someone gets twelve points, at which point they win.
Now, the clues are actually funny and interesting – and up to date, for that matter. I played the game on a bus and everyone had a rollicking good time. However, we used HALF the celebrities on the cards! Playing the game again would simply finish its usefulness, and then what good would it be to me? It’s a neat idea, although certainly not original; but it just doesn’t have enough bang for the buck. I also hate the packaging – in a small box with an unnecessary flap – but that’s really beside the point.
Perhaps the inexpensive price is worth two to four games for you. But why not just buy a trivia book or something? I want my games to last a while, to play out differently each time. Thus, Zero In won’t be often played – we already know all the answers!
Tom Vasel
“Real men play board games”
www.thedicetower.com
PDF Store: Buy This Item from DriveThruRPG
Help support RPGnet by purchasing this item through DriveThruRPG.
