Quixotic leanings of another kind
For the uncontrolled, there is no wisdom. For the uncontrolled there is no concentration, and for one without concentration, there is no peace. And for the unpeaceful how can there ever be happiness? Profound thoughts paraphrased from the Bhagavad Gita, are
increasingly in vogue as a source of rich reference material for pretty much any context! Quixo from Gigamic is all about concentration and realisation!
Declared Mensa’s Top Five Games (USA), winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award (USA), Games Magazine Top 100 (USA), Oscar Du Jouet (France), and a few more unpronounceable French awards, Quixo has all the relevant critical acclaim to impress the most reluctant game board player.
I’m baby sitting the almost nine- year-old Aran as I write about this masterpiece. He’s not typically the sort you’d mention in the same sentence as a ‘board game.’ Aran is hyper-active, scarily contrary and with the attention span of a grasshopper.
Yet, something tells me he’ll appreciate Quixo. Maybe it’s just foolish optimism. I’ll find out soon enough. But in the meantime, for what its worth, I rate Quixo right up there with my favourites from Gigamic (Quoridor and Quarto). If you’re reading this, try your hand at it. Not just to keep the kids occupied. There’s happiness at stake, remember?
More of the spectacular Gigamic aesthetics and finish to marvel at. The circular game board, the solid wood play pieces with etching on them. A triumph! Incredibly, very few of the well-known books and games stores seem to stock this brand in their incredible range of titles. More’s the pity!
You have no idea what you’ve been missing. The Crossword chain has recently cottoned on, and has the entire collection for now. Good for them!
Twenty-five cubes are placed on the board in a 5x5 grid. Cubes are characterised with blank, circle and cross faces. The winner is the first player to make a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of cubes bearing their chosen symbol. Quixo works in two-player and team formats. I’m still savouring the two-player format, and will wait to assemble a suitably ‘intense game play’ group (yes, there is such a thing!) to try the team play version.
Play begins with all cubes bearing a blank top face. In turn, players select and play cubes from the periphery of the grid. The cube selected must then be replaced at any one end of the two incomplete rows created by the removal of the cube. Oriented with your symbol face up, you now push your cube into one of three possible ends.
What we have here is a heady mix of the 3D mental positioning agility required in the Rubik’s cube, the cunning of a Stratego connoisseur, and the stamina of eager detectives on the trail of Mr.X in Scotland Yard.
All in one game, so cleverly thought through, you can’t help salute its designer. Since Gigamic recognises their designers in play rules booklets, we have a Thierry Chapeu to thank for the concept!
The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com
ARUP
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