Review of Nacho Loco
I love snacks, much to my detriment, but the one that I probably enjoy more than any other is simply nachos – whether with salsa, cheese, or whatever. Thus, Nacho Loco (Buffalo Games, 2007 – Not credited) caught my attention with the cards that were shaped as triangular nacho chips. Of course, one cool component does not a great game make, and going over the rules gave me thoughts of both Uno and Dominoes.
And that may be the best way to describe Nacho Loco – a mix of dominoes and the popular game Uno. Luck plays a large part of the game, with a few decisions that really don’t mean too much in the long run. The game looks good, although the cards are difficult to shuffle and will undoubtedly please fans of very light games. I enjoyed the theme and the look of the game in progress, but found the game merely passable, and certainly nothing I would request.
A pile of ninety-four triangular cards is shuffled, and six are dealt to each player. The remainders are placed in a face down pile, with the top one flipped face up in the middle of the table. Each card is divided into three segments, which are eithergreen
brown
yellow
“Go Again” (colored orange)
“Skip Next” (colored blue)
“Opponent Draws 3” (colored purple) or
black with an “x” printed on it.
The youngest player goes first, and play proceeds clockwise around the table.
On a player’s turn, they must play a card from their hand onto the table, placing it in such a way that each segment on this card matches any adjacent segments already on the table by color. A player cannot match black “x” segments. If the player cannot play a card, they must draw one card (playing it immediately if possible). If a player matches two segments of a card at once, all other players must draw one card. If a player matches three segments of a card at once (which I’ve never seen happen), then all other players must draw two cards.
If two segments are matches that have the same words, then that action occurs. Skip Next (skip the next player)
Go Again (take another turn)
Opponent Draws 3 (pick any opponent who must draw three cards).
If a player plays a card which prevents any other card from being played (all available sides are black “x” segments; or if everybody draws consecutively and cannot play; or if someone plays the “Closer” card in which all three segments are black “x"s, and it can only be matched to two other black segments simultaneously – an exception to the rule), then the playfields is considered “closed”. The closing player gives all other players one card, clears all cards from the table, and turns over a new card, starting afresh.
This continues until one player plays the last card from their hand. At this point, they receive one point for each other card in the other players’ hands. Another round begins, until one player reaches twenty points – at which point they win the game!
Some comments on the game…
1.) Components: The triangular cards are good quality, and the backs of them look like real nachos (except for the logo, of course). However, they are a pain to shuffle and hold in the hand, although I suppose I’m willing to sacrifice that for the novelty of using triangular cards. The segments are clearly delineated, and I’m glad that each of the special segments has their own unique color. Everything fits inside a cardboard inset that slides into a long, thin box, which is brightly colored.
2.) Rules: The rules are on one large sheet and show through many full color illustrations how to play the game. With the exception of the Closing rules, everything is almost self-explanatory. Even the closing rules are fairly simple to understand – this is a game that will easily work with any age group – even young children will be able to match cards and colors together.
3.) Strategy: There is a short section in the rules that talk about tips and strategies (including how to shuffle – basically mix ‘em around on the table). But the game’s strategies are really defined by what cards a player draws into their hand – and that’s basically luck. Of course, players are attempting to make it as hard as possible for the next player to place a card, but how can you determine that. Of course, the opponent who has the least cards will get hit by the “Draw 3” smack down, but what else can you really do? Some people will declare that there is strategy in this game, but they will be the same people who proclaim Uno a great game of tactics.
4.) Other games: The comparisons to Tri-onimoes or Uno are very apt, because the game is basically Uno as a tile-laying game. Players are matching colors, and attempting to get rid of all the cards in their hand. There is some added flavor as to the placement of the tiles, but it’s certainly the same genre.
5.) Fun Factor: Nacho Loco can handle up to six players and finishes in about thirty minutes or less, depending on the luck of the draw. I had the mildest stirrings of enjoyment when playing but mostly found it rather boring. It’s quick, easy to teach, and fun for some; but I find it so lacking in strategy or tension that my attention wandered during game play.
If you have a friend or relative who thinks that Uno is the be-all end-all of gaming, then perhaps this will make a nice sequel for them. The cards are nice looking, and it has a bit of novelty flair about it. However, for most gamers, it is entirely too simplistic and lacking any meaningful decisions to be much fun. It is good for kids, as they learn to match cards; but everyone else should think twice before picking it up.
Tom Vasel
“Real men play board games”
www.thedicetower.com
And that may be the best way to describe Nacho Loco – a mix of dominoes and the popular game Uno. Luck plays a large part of the game, with a few decisions that really don’t mean too much in the long run. The game looks good, although the cards are difficult to shuffle and will undoubtedly please fans of very light games. I enjoyed the theme and the look of the game in progress, but found the game merely passable, and certainly nothing I would request.
A pile of ninety-four triangular cards is shuffled, and six are dealt to each player. The remainders are placed in a face down pile, with the top one flipped face up in the middle of the table. Each card is divided into three segments, which are either
The youngest player goes first, and play proceeds clockwise around the table.
On a player’s turn, they must play a card from their hand onto the table, placing it in such a way that each segment on this card matches any adjacent segments already on the table by color. A player cannot match black “x” segments. If the player cannot play a card, they must draw one card (playing it immediately if possible). If a player matches two segments of a card at once, all other players must draw one card. If a player matches three segments of a card at once (which I’ve never seen happen), then all other players must draw two cards.
If two segments are matches that have the same words, then that action occurs.
If a player plays a card which prevents any other card from being played (all available sides are black “x” segments; or if everybody draws consecutively and cannot play; or if someone plays the “Closer” card in which all three segments are black “x"s, and it can only be matched to two other black segments simultaneously – an exception to the rule), then the playfields is considered “closed”. The closing player gives all other players one card, clears all cards from the table, and turns over a new card, starting afresh.
This continues until one player plays the last card from their hand. At this point, they receive one point for each other card in the other players’ hands. Another round begins, until one player reaches twenty points – at which point they win the game!
Some comments on the game…
1.) Components: The triangular cards are good quality, and the backs of them look like real nachos (except for the logo, of course). However, they are a pain to shuffle and hold in the hand, although I suppose I’m willing to sacrifice that for the novelty of using triangular cards. The segments are clearly delineated, and I’m glad that each of the special segments has their own unique color. Everything fits inside a cardboard inset that slides into a long, thin box, which is brightly colored.
2.) Rules: The rules are on one large sheet and show through many full color illustrations how to play the game. With the exception of the Closing rules, everything is almost self-explanatory. Even the closing rules are fairly simple to understand – this is a game that will easily work with any age group – even young children will be able to match cards and colors together.
3.) Strategy: There is a short section in the rules that talk about tips and strategies (including how to shuffle – basically mix ‘em around on the table). But the game’s strategies are really defined by what cards a player draws into their hand – and that’s basically luck. Of course, players are attempting to make it as hard as possible for the next player to place a card, but how can you determine that. Of course, the opponent who has the least cards will get hit by the “Draw 3” smack down, but what else can you really do? Some people will declare that there is strategy in this game, but they will be the same people who proclaim Uno a great game of tactics.
4.) Other games: The comparisons to Tri-onimoes or Uno are very apt, because the game is basically Uno as a tile-laying game. Players are matching colors, and attempting to get rid of all the cards in their hand. There is some added flavor as to the placement of the tiles, but it’s certainly the same genre.
5.) Fun Factor: Nacho Loco can handle up to six players and finishes in about thirty minutes or less, depending on the luck of the draw. I had the mildest stirrings of enjoyment when playing but mostly found it rather boring. It’s quick, easy to teach, and fun for some; but I find it so lacking in strategy or tension that my attention wandered during game play.
If you have a friend or relative who thinks that Uno is the be-all end-all of gaming, then perhaps this will make a nice sequel for them. The cards are nice looking, and it has a bit of novelty flair about it. However, for most gamers, it is entirely too simplistic and lacking any meaningful decisions to be much fun. It is good for kids, as they learn to match cards; but everyone else should think twice before picking it up.
Tom Vasel
“Real men play board games”
www.thedicetower.com
