Review of Once Upon a Time, The Storytelling Card Game

This is not a collectible card game-- Thank God -- but in the best tradition of TSR's late lamented Bullwinkle and Rocky game this is an extraordinary storytelling card game. The cards a wonderfully illustrated, and the rules are fairly simple, though it takes a few runs to get the kinks out.

Each player is dealt a hand of cards. You can have characters (a thief), items (a sword), places (a tower), aspects (happy), events (an argument), interrupts (which allow other players to continue the story), and happily ever after cards (which is the goal toward which you as a player are moving the story). Someone starts telling the story, and then all Hell breaks loose!

This is great fun as a party game, but the somewhat muddied rules can cause some problems if people become more interested in competing, than with telling compelling stories. This game gets a "B." This game is a bargain price-wise, but the rules could have used some more polishing. Otherwise, this game would have been an instant classic, as it is it comes mighty close.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)