This article originally appeared in Pyramid #28

Pyramid Pick

Groo: The Game

Published by Archangel Entertainment
Designed by Ken Whitman
$15.95
If you already know who Groo is: rejoice! More artwork! A fun game! Go buy it!

If you don't know, I don't have space to explain the wonderful zaniness that is Groo the Wanderer, star of a long-running comic book of the same name. The comic is by Sergio Aragonés, winner of the 1997 Reuben award (sort of a cartoonists' Hall of Fame award). Groo is temporarily on hiatus now, but there have been over 140 issues over the last dozen years, so go check out some back issues at a comic store.

Good news to both Groo fans and Groo novices is that this is an excellent game. While not a collectible card game, there is already one expansion set, which is also highly recommended.

On the plus side, the artwork is wonderful, the rules simple and clear, the replay value high, all your favorite Groo characters are there (except Bunta), there are enough special effects cards to keep the game exciting, and it's a blast to play - a mix of skill, luck and a lot of laughs.

On the downside, there is no mention of mulching, a serious omission.

The basic set includes 60 cards and seven dice, enough to play with up to four people. The dice stickers include pictures of Supplies, Labor, Kopins, Groo, Rufferto and pointing hands. (Sergio is a very visual-oriented person, so pictures are used whenever possible.) The expansion set includes another 55 cards, which will allow you to play with up to six people (and makes it . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: March 23, 1998

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