Maybe it’s hipster contrarianism. Maybe you really are special. In any case, for better or worse, there’s that one game that everyone else seems to love that you can’t stand. Or, conversely, there’s that game that everyone else hates but that you can’t get enough of. Does this describe you? That’s this Friday’s question: Are you a dissenter? Do you disagree with popular (or friends, or the Indisputable BGG Top 100) opinion about a game? Tell us about it in the comments!
@FarmerLenny answers:
I realize @Futurewolfie might go crazy about this one, but I’m not a huge fan of Cosmic Encounter (gasp!). I don’t dispute that others are justified in their love for it (and I like it much better with the Cosmic Incursion expansion), but it just doesn’t deliver the goods for me. It feels too random and imbalanced for my tastes, and it’s hard to get a handle on what I’m supposed to do. I realize others will respond with “You need to read the other players,” blah, blah, blah. It’s just my dissenting opinion: it’s not for me. I’ll still play it, I just need space between the plays to cleanse my palate. More recently, I have a dissenting opinion on Quarriors, but I’ll save that for a forthcoming mini-review. Of course, on the other end, I love Canasta, which too often is derided as a game for old ladies. Clearly, those who say such things have never played in my household.
@Futurewolfie answers:
“Hipster contrarianism”? Well, I guess @FarmerLenny was a hipster before hipsters were cool, so he would know about that kind of thing. Anyways, I feel like “dissenter” is a strong term, unless we’re talking about dissenting against @FarmerLenny’s cruel tactics and ganging up on innocents whenever he can. I dissent against meanness.
I like to think that I mostly just dissent against things that are… you know… dumb. For example, when I tell people I like board games, they almost always ask, “You mean like monopoly and risk?” I didn’t even capitalize those names, I dissent against those games so much. I used to like Munchkin, but the last few times I’ve played it has kind of sucked for one person, so I’m starting to generally dissent against that game. It doesn’t help that they keep rehashing the same game over and over with different names. I also dissent against games that have better alternatives… for example, Werewolves. I mean who doesn’t love a game whose entire point is to vote who doesn’t get to play anymore? I realize that it supports a large number of people… but the more people, the longer the first guy has to wait. Play the Resistance, or if you have more than 10… play… I dunno… Caveman Telephone. Dissent!
For the record… I am a little crazy about @Farmerlenny’s rejection of Cosmic Encounter. That’s pretty much the best game ever. At least, it’s my favorite game. (Although Ascending Empires, you are a hot contender. Hot!)
Do you dare dissent against games that people love?
