Spy Sight’ from Dr Wood was one of the birthday presents we gave Divya, nearly a month ago. From the play rule synopsis behind the box, it promised fabulous tactical adventure. I eagerly looked forward to an inaugural session. Finally tired of waiting for a moment between her trysts with a current boyfriend who insists on booking an extra seat in theatres, and carries bed sheets to public spaces to avoid germs(!), I borrowed the still unopened game, and test ran it with less distracted souls.
The four-way fold out board opens to an 8x8 play grid with interconnected circles forming the zone where you protect your spy, while you seek and expose the enemy spy. Each player has a set of eight pieces including a spy. Pieces are arranged in a pre-defined start position. You decide where to place your spy!
The well-moulded play pieces will sadly draw comment on their toothpaste tube cap like appearance. The spy pieces with a white or yellow centre, will inevitably begin a conversation about soft Bengali sweets with a firm centre. Allow this digression for a moment. Then draw attention back to the game!
Some months ago I played Karo from Dr Wood. There are distinct rules definition similarities in Spy Sight. Move pieces in straight lines, in any direction, as many spaces as you like, as long as there is no obstruction. Jump over single or multiple adjacent pieces, and turn over the pieces jumped. Each of the initial games lasted under five minutes. Play was gloriously intense!
Corners present safe houses for your spy. But provide no guarantees! The use of ‘suspicion cards’ can unmask you. Each move involves deep deception, and the first payer to uncover the enemy spy wins!
In a stunning reversal of the more familiar rule of stationary or near stationary prize pieces, in Spy Sight, your spy can move around and actively participate in the game. There’s a heady danger about flirting with exposure and instant defeat, as you aggressively move your spy, the single piece the enemy is after, right into their midst!
— The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com [1]
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