****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Food chain magnate is exactly what other reviewers have said it is. A "cutthroat" game.This is the kind of game that doesn't "Force" you to behave in a mean way, but instead puts a rule set in front of you that ALLOWS you to behave in a mean way, and then steps back and throws its hands up. If you're a "Care bear" type of player. this game is going to ruin your day, I'm certain of it. I on the other hand, only despise a certain TYPE of player interaction. FCM doesn't make me angry, because its not a game where people can "Destroy" stuff you've built. Its instead the type of game, where people can throw wrenches into your plan, and simply spoil your intentions. No... not wrenches, I should have said they can drive freight trains into your plan. It's %100 true that once you fall behind in this game... you are so dead in the water that the game should have come with a coroner card. This way you could hire a coroner in turn 4 to come scrape the deceased remains of your lame little fast food chain off of the pale grey roads of the (seemingly prototype) modular boardI did used to think the board was obnoxiously bad looking. After a half dozen plays... I rather like the overall looks of the game. The board never gets in the way of understanding what's going on, the food meeples are great, and the cards have a great feeling....Basically, to sum it up. I think every serious gamer should try this game at least once, but maybe try before you buy... And I'm sorry in advance about how badly you got smashed into the ground on your first try!Chin up kid... its only a game.Reviewed by a 12-year-old boy. This game is a stroke of genius in my opinion. Splotter Spellen really hit it out of the park this time. I think that this game is easy enough for people of all audiences to learn, but not to really enjoy. Don't get me wrong, this is easily in the top three best German style board games, but it is not for audiences of just the everyday gamer. I don't have much to say about the game mechanically because there is not much that is really all that bad about it in that regard. But the only problem, is when you're behind, you will stay behind, whether that is in turn order, serving customers, or being able to train employees. But of course, if you are really focused on staying ahead, and not staring out into space thinking about when it will end, then you will not be in last. It is really easy to create, and keep a hold of the small niche you have created. And that is what makes it fun. Being able to control, or contort the environment around you in order to make as much money as possible. To make your own niche. To be a Food Chain Magnate.I have played various board games with my 9-year-old boy, and I can say this game is one of the best ones. We spent more than 2 hours to play the first game, and my son wanted to keep playing! There are lots of things going on in this game, and you need to react to your opponent's strategy. This might not be a game for board game newbies, but if you can focus more than 2 hours, I highly recommend this game!When I got this game, the box was already broken. Additionally, Splitter is KIIIIIIIINDA ripping people off. $130 for mostly cardboard components (some printed off center), a cheap box, and only a handful of wood is ridiculous! Gloom haven gives you an ENORMOUS box of plastic and robust cardboards, boxes, bags, maps, board tiles, etc. and costs $30 less! WTF?I’m really hoping the actual gameplay lives up to its reputation or this will be the first and LAST Splotter game I ever purchase.This is a classic board game. We conceived and implemented. It has a steep learning curve and graphically is kind of boring. However, if you can get past that the game play more than makes up for this. My only advice is just skip the basic intro rules as they are easily broken and poorly realized when compared to the full game.The game is so rich and balanced, and brutal! Your food chain empire, in one round, can take off on a meteoric rise, only to have the advertising you’ve spent actions on begin to benefit a rival in the next round. It truly represents the fickleness and brutality of modern business. The paths to success are many, but the fostering of those plans takes cunning, discretion and moxy to achieve. This game will be a classic and crowd favorite within my group for years to come.The game is very fun and the rules are complex to explain but easy to remember and understand as the game progresses. Its very fun for those who are looking for a more cutthroat euro-style game and is brutal for newcomers. Overall though very fun!!!The game is not cheap but somehow worth itFood Chain Magnate ist ein absolutes Expertenspiel und nur für Vielspieler zu empfehlen. Wer zu diesen gehört und Wirtschaftssimulationen mag ist hier genau richtig. Es entführt einen in die Welt der amerikanischen Fastfood Restaurants der 50er Jahre. Man muss sein Restaurant mit Hilfe unterschiedlicher Faktoren steuern. Man beginnt als CEO und muss sich überlegen, welche Mitarbeiter man einstellt. Lieber das Recruiting Girl, welche mir bei der Mitarbeiterauswahl hilft oder doch lieber den Vertriebler, der den Bedarf bei den potentiellen Kunden weckt und mir dadurch entsprechendes Einkommen sichert. Denn meine Mitarbeiter möchten schließlich auch bezahlt werden.Das Spiel hat eine außergewöhnliche Aufmachung, wodurch man sich im Thema fühlt. Es verzeiht nur schwer strategische Fehler. Setze ich auf die falsche Kampagne oder vergesse eine entscheidende Variable ist die Partie auch meist verloren.Food Chain lässt sich sehr gut zu zweit spielen. Vorallem für die ersten Spiele ist es sinnvoll mit einer kleinen Spielerzahl zu starten. Mit 3 Spielern auch noch gut. Mit mehr habe ich noch keine Erfahrungen sammeln können.Klare Kaufempfehlung für Strategen und Gerngrübler, die auch vor längeren Spieldauern nicht zurück schrecken.
