Apples to Apples - Review

In life, we have to compare things. The fine folks who wander into a Games
by James store often ask me to compare games to each other. They will also
ask me to compare games to such adjectives as “popular” or “best”.
Interestingly enough, that sort of activity is exactly what one would do in
the game that I answer more often than not to those questions. The game is
Apples to Apples and despite an initial aversion to words like noun and
adjective, the game is indeed quite enjoyable.

Game play for Apples to Apples is shockingly easy. At the beginning of the
game, each person receives six red apple cards. The dealer then takes the
first turn as Round Judge. Turning over a green apple card, the judge reads
it aloud. In a recent game, the word “Adorable” came up as the green apple
card for the round. Everyone except the judge then looks in their hand for
a red apple card they think matches the green apple card. I quickly chose
“Teddy Bear” and slapped it face down in front of the judge, certain of my
impending victory.

Once everyone has had a chance to play a card, the judge then discards the
last card played. It not only pays to have a good card but also to play it
quickly. The judge then takes the remaining cards and mixes them up so he
or she will not who played which card. Now the fun begins with the judge
reading aloud each of the cards that were played. Again, during that game
such cards as “Rainbows”, “Sunsets”, and “Puppy Dogs” were played against
the one card that went completely against the grain: “Pond Scum”.

If you’re sitting there wondering why anyone would say pond scum is
adorable, you’re not alone. That is the most enjoyable aspect of the game:
the judge is under no logical explanation as to why he or she picks a
certain card. During the decision making process the judge is encouraged to
anguish long and hard over which card is deserving of the winning award.
During that lengthy deliberation, the players are encouraged to lobby or
table talk to convince the judge that a certain card is the perfect (or
imperfect) pick. Once the judge has made his or her decision (in the above
case Pond Scum did win), the player who played the winning card for the
round receives the green apple card. Play proceeds around the group with
each player taking a turn as judge. The first player to accumulate a
certain number of green apple cards wins the game.

The game itself is a tremendous value, especially if have the new party box
that replaces the crate edition. The party box contains the base game along
with the first two expansions. That means you will have almost 1,000 red
and green apple cards for countless hours of entertainment. Due to the
random nature of the game, repeat play is virtually limitless.
Additionally, the company offers four booster packs with plans for more on
the way. The cards are of reasonable quality for the price and should
withstand the repeat playings this game will receive.

You don’t have to take my word for the greatness of this game, either. Not
only has the game won the Games Magazine Game of the Year award, it’s shown
up on no less than ten other award lists including Mensa. Further, the game
’s overall popularity attests to the enjoyment of the game and it remains
one of Games by James’ best selling games year round. Finally, my dad, who
thinks that if the game does not have dice, play money or standard playing
cards it is not worth playing, actually played and enjoyed the game. If
that is not a ringing endorsement, I do not know what is.

Apples to Apples remains one of the best games around. Clever, witty and
enjoyable, the game appeals to game hobbyists and casual players alike. If
the green apple card is fun, three guesses what red Apples to Apples card I’
ll play. And no, it isn’t pond scum.