Post originally by Old_Scratch at 2003-10-15 06:27:48
Converted from Phorums BB System
Having played the game half a dozen times, everyone in our group was quite disappointed.
The characters were in some ways too much alike - in their similar life and body - while on the other hand some characters had too beneficial features.
Combat was a bore, all too often resulting in two or three characters dead by the first couple of locations scouted.
Rules were too vague on some elements, and the game does not reward skill, but penalizes characters who get ahead, who suddenty get swamped by encounter after crippling encounter. In the end, the most mediocre or lucky character will win - that is if everyone else hasn't died in the process.
This game promises a lot, but delivers very little, with the whole investigation points mechanic being little more than a victory point total. Truth told, this game is a horror style dungeon bash - enter a location, kill the monster, get your reward.
Post originally by Shannon Appelcline at 2003-10-15 11:38:37
Converted from Phorums BB System
I very much agree with your comments. I think you articulated some of the same things I felt, not all of which made it into the review.
<i>[T]he game does not reward skill, but penalizes characters who get ahead, who suddenty get swamped by encounter after crippling encounter. In the end, the most mediocre or lucky character will win - that is if everyone else hasn't died in the process.</i>
I personally find this to be a very common design flaw in American card games. The games get filled with cards which can do major damage to other players, and thus you have endless end games, and what i call the win-by-attrition victory condition.
Post originally by Shoggoth at 2003-10-16 22:18:04
Converted from Phorums BB System
I had the same problems with long endgames and player attrition in Zombies!, where it comes down to everyone running out of useful cards and deckcycling as fast as they can before someone manages to win. If Testimony is anywhere near as tedious then I'll be sure to avoid it.
Post originally by Derek Mitchell at 2004-03-30 06:35:14
Converted from Phorums BB System
I'm inclined to disagree here. My group of Friday night gamers enjoy this game immensely. The only drawbacks we agree on is that it can take some time to get to your turn in a 6-player game, and the rules can be hard to understand. However, Third World Games is quick to answer any questions you send them, so kudos for great customer service.
The box also states that you can piece the story together by playing the game, but sadly this is not true. TWG solved this by having an excellent serial posted to their website. It promises to be quite a read.
While not intended to be a humorous game, ToJH rapidly becomes a revenge-fest, with players eagerly throwing out nasties to any player that dared 'mess' with them earlier, and the laughs are many. As a group, we thoroughly enjoy a 'screw-your-neighbor' type game, and "Testimony" pulls that off nicely.
True, the game is not perfect, but what game is? Taken lightly, it's a lot of fun, but players that scrutinize games for the slightest inherent flaw should probably pass on this one.
Linear Mode
