Bo Derek Would Have Enjoyed Phase 10
Written: Apr 03 '02 (Updated Apr 04 '02)
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Pros: Family card/dice game easy enough for kids and adults.
Cons: Like many games - parts are easy to lose.
The Bottom Line: A game perfect for kids and adults alike. Easy yet fun to play. If boredom sets in there is always the dice version to play.
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| lynus's Full Review: Phase 10 Card Game |
When I’m not watching movies or sitting in front of my computer attempting to review them, I’m thinking about movies to watch or reviews to write. Just kidding (partially) – when I’m not being anti-social, I’m playing Phase 10. My fiancée and I are addicted to Phase 10. It has in a way replaced the countless nights we sat down to play You Don’t Know Jack. Simple in form, yet complex in its way to induce entertainment – Phase 10 is the perfect way to unwind from a stressful day. Especially if you have to deal with clients who call you a brat (that’s for you, Alicia!)
Phase 10 is a simple game. You are given a deck of cards and a set of 10 phases to complete. The game borrows slightly from Rummy and Uno in the way that your mission – if you choose to accept it – is to create groups and runs with your cards depending on your current phase. Like, Uno, there are wild and skip cards although the skip cards can only be used once against one opponent (which makes them for the most part worthless when playing a 2 person game). Now, I’m normally the skeptical kind when it comes to card games, living by the belief that they will either be too complex (ahem, Bridge) or too easy (ahem, Go Fish) – but Phase 10 is easy enough that youngsters will enjoy it and adults will find it addictive.
The HOW DO I PLAY QUESTION –
Unlike most card games that require plaid pants or beer (ahem Bridge, ahem Poker) – Phase 10 only requires a specially designed deck that comes included when you purchase the game. Sorry, for those looking for an inexpensive way to save money on a $6 game – creating your own Phase 10 deck would be pretty futile. Now, I haven’t counted them exactly, but a normal Phase 10 deck is around 104 cards with some wild cards and “Skip” cards thrown in.
After the cards are dealt each person takes a turn trying to complete a “phase”. For example, the first phase is – 2 sets of 3. When it is your turn, you attempt to form with your cards 2 sets of the same number. For example, 10, 10, 10 and 7, 7, 7 would be enough to complete the first phase. Then, all you have to do is discard the rest of your cards and the round is over. Borrowing a page from rummy – you can discard your cards by either playing off yourself or by playing off of others who have also completed a phase. At the end of the phase you add up the number of points you have left in your hand since if more than one member completes the last tenth phase in the end – the person with less points wins. Of course, the one person who “goes out” has no points in their hand – and therefore has a lower score at that time.
As the game progresses you have to make phases for – 1 set of 3 and one run of 4, 1 set of 4 and one run of 4, 1 run of 7, 1 run of 8, 1 run of 9, 2 sets of 4, 7 cards of the same color, 1 set of 5 and 1 set of 2, and finally 1 set of 5 and one set of 3. Mathematically the 1 run of 9 is the hardest to complete since you are only given 10 cards to start with. Although you draw one card at the start of your turn (and discard one at the end of your turn) creating a run of 9 cards is not an easy task to accomplish unless the deck happened to be stacked in your favor.
The HOW MUCH FUN IS IT QUESTION –
It may not seem like much, but Phase 10 is a blast to play. Especially if someone begins to fall behind. When this occurs, they have to complete the phase they were working on while you work on a harder phase. There are times where they will get ultimate revenge by “going out” leaving you with a handful of points in your hand. More than likely, they will catch up thus making the final showdown a real nail biter.
There are also times, where the one bad seed will blow everyone away – winning the game with ease. Because the game is so easy to play – and so easy to set up (just shuffle the cards and deal out 10 to each person) the game can easily be restarted and the “winner” can easily become the “loser”.
The IS THERE STRATEGY IN THIS GAME QUESTION –
Yes, but not so much as lets say Canasta or Spades – but if you are careful to remember which cards your opponents seems to be picking up (this is easier when they pick up a card you discarded) you can foil their attempts by failing to lie down cards they may need. You can also create specific runs or groups to your own cards in hopes of easily playing off of them once you have completed the phase. Personally, I’ve found that the attempt to foil opponents is easier in a large group than it is when playing against just one other person.
The I HATE CARDS PROBLEM –
Those who play Quake all day – or think that games can only be played in front of a TV set (they have not apparently ever gone camping without a state-of-the-art trailer) – may be weary to sit down and play a “stupid card game”. If so, well there’s a solution on the horizon. Fundex, the makers of Phase 10 have created the Phase 10 Dice Game (Epinions has yet to create a topic for it).
The dice game works very similar to the card game. There are however a few changes. In the dice version, you are of course given dice to roll to create your phases. However, you want points – unlike the card game where you want less points. In the dice game, wild cards are worth nothing – so if at all possible you try not to use them – unless you absolutely have to, to complete your phase. There are also bonus points throughout the game and the ability to skip is gone. When I first heard of the dice version I was skeptical of how it would work – since the odds of getting what you want from one roll of the dice is a lot different than slowly drawing and playing a card game. Thankfully, you actually get to roll the dice three times and each time get to pick out the dice you want to keep to make up your phase. So if you don’t like cards – try dice!
The COST –
Phase 10 is extremely inexpensive. There are no boards to buy or little figurines, just a deck of specially made cards. The hardest thing about Phase 10 is finding it – since it’s package is so small. When in the game section of your local store look for where they “hang” the card games including Uno and, well, basic cards. Normally it is there that you will find Phase 10. The dice game is hung in a similar fashion. Both games range from as little as $4 to around $6. Which when compared to most board games seems like an extreme bargain for the amount of enjoyment they will induce.
The BOTTOM LINE IN OVER 30 WORDS –
Phase 10 is a simple game that is probably often overlooked because it seems to be “too simple” for family enjoyment. Phase 10 is not a game where you will detail your “life” nor will you worry about selling your railroads back to the “bank”. All you will get is a deck of cards and a set of phases to complete. But trust me, Phase 10 is a great game to play. For 2, or 3, or 10. With the dice game you can even play in solitaire mode if you so desire. Which ever way you deal it or toss it – Phase 10 surprisingly is entertainment.
The SIDE NOTE –
If after a while you find the game a bit boring – trying tossing in a new spice by playing the game where players choose their own phase. When I played the game in this manner I actually found that the game lasted longer than the traditional way.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 5.99
Type of Toy: Game
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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lynus
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