Customer Reviews

BANG 4th Edition

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This game is really simple to learn to play and doesn't require much thought during play. Games can always be pretty quick compared to games with more elaborate board setups like Settlers of Catan. The fun is in the subterfuge in trying to figure out who's on your team and who's trying to kill you off while everyone is scheming to win. And of course... there's something to be said for juvenile humor as players try to "Bang!" each other to death. The cards all have Italian as well as English on them - I think a nod to spaghetti westerns, of which some were filmed in Italy.

My only complaint with this version of the game doesn't have as many cards as I would like. I would have gotten the "bullet" version of the game (up to 8 players) where the game comes in a big bullet shaped container if I had known better.

Here in the Midwest, there's a game we play called Mafia. In this game the players become part of a town where a few unsavory characters (the mafia) exist. Throughout the game, the mafia try to knock off all others (to win), while the townspeople, the sheriff and a nurse attempt to root out the mafia and save their town. Bang! takes Mafia, this game I grew up loving, to a wholly new level.

In this basic set, one can play with up to 7 people (although I recommend 5 as the ideal number), and regardless of playing with 3 or 6, the game is still a lot of fun. It's fast-paced and entertaining and makes you strategize time and again as the game progresses.

Additionally, and here's one huge drawing point for me, it's a very simple game -- both in pieces and rules. The game consists of cards, playing boards and bullets (to keep track of life), so it's a very travel-worthy game. Additionally, during a recent time with my family, I taught the game to my youngest brothers (aged 6 and 8) who readily learned the game and consequently played with a cutthroat edge I had hardly expected.

Bang! appeals to all, and it's catchy enough that you'd play it over and over.

For a quick rundown of how the game functions, please read on:

As I said earlier, Bang! consists of a deck of cards, playing boards and bullets. The bullets simply keep track of health, and the playing boards show where all the cards and bullets lay. One could easily play without either of those items, although a certain dramatic flair would be lost.

Coming to the cards, there are four kinds of cards used (I'm using generic names, by the way):

1. Role cards- these determine your objective for winning (or losing) the game. One can be the Sheriff (who must kill the Outlaws and Renegade), the Deputy (who must protect the Sheriff by helping to kill the Outlaws and Renegade), an Outlaw (who must kill the Sheriff) or the Renegade (who must be the last person standing). One trick of the game is that everyone (other than the Sheriff who begins with his/her role exposed) starts the game with this role card face down. Only the player him/herself knows his/her own role, thus for the few rounds, people simply shoot blindly at others. It's only through deduction and observation that roles can be known during gameplay. As someone dies, though, the role card is revealed to make sure the game needs to continue.

2. Character cards- the determine who a person is and what they can do. The character card determines one's maximum health (either 3 or 4 bullets), and each card has a special ability. For example, one person may have a character who gets to draw an extra card and choose which one to throw away. Another may have an ability to use certain cards interchangeably. There are 16 different characters in the basic game.

3. Blue-boarder cards- these are cards that, when played, remain on the board and either help or hinder a player. For example, in this game, the players' seating arrangement determines how far/close players are to one another. Gun cards are used to increase one's range in order to shoot opponents sitting farther away. There are other cards one would play to his/her own board to help him/herself, but there a few that can be played to hinder an opponent. For example, the Jail card, when played on anyone other than the Sheriff, causes that person to probably lose his/her next turn, and the Dynamite card can float around during the game until it explodes, at which time the owner of the card immediately loses 3 bullets.

4. Brown-boarder cards- these cards at the bulk of the playing deck. The are all of the action cards that one would play to attack, defend, make other discard cards, steal cards, draw extra cards or perform a few other, more particular actions.

All in all, this is one of the best games I've ever played, and although I'm not the most avid of game players, I have Passed Go quite a few times.

Happy gaming! bg

Bang is a really fun game that appeals to people that like both card games and board games. Plenty of strategy, bluffing, and fun to keep everyone interested. You really only need the cards to play, and the bullet pieces have never left the box on my game. It combines a little role-playing, poker, and Uno into one fun game. You are assigned a character with special abilities as well as a role (Sheriff, Deputy, Outlaw, or Renegade). The other players only know your character, not your role. If you have really young kids or are particularly sensitive to violence, then the gun-play basis of the game is probly a deal killer, but otherwise it is that cartoon style of violence that will not scar anyone's psyche. If you are old enough to remember the spaghetti westerns, then you will appreciate a bit more of the humor of the dialogue and instructions. Game play time can vary, but about an hour is a good average. While the rules seem a bit complex at first, the instructions are well written and quickly become clear and easy to remember. Great for family or friends game night.

We love this game, but it does take time to teach others to play, and you need at least 4 people to make it enjoyable.

Late one night at a party, some friends pulled this out and roped me in nigh unawares... and, by luck of the draw, I ended up the Sheriff (center of attention, with most people out to get me). Even under those circumstances, I did very well and enjoyed the game immensely.

The rules are very simple and elegant, being almost entirely explained on the cards you as you play them - however, the strategy / deduction / bluffing heart of the game is as complex as you want it to be.

If your group of friends is looking to spend 30-45 min enjoyably shooting eachother, dodging behind barrels and the like (and nobody is going to be offended by being 'sold out') then this should be very successful (and may even open the door to other games along the same lines). While I haven't tried it mixed-age, there's absolutely no reason why it couldn't be.

The game is playable enjoyably at 4 people, but I think realizes its true potential at 6-7.

Durability: Basically just well made playing cards with nicely atmospheric "spaghetti western" art... they should last you as long as you like, provided you don't abuse them. The "bullet" life counters and play mat are cute, but in theory they could get lost. They do come with their own included bag (a nice touch), and aren't necessary by any means. You can take this traveling with you easily.

I thought this was a decent game. Its biggest drawback is that either the luck or the politics involved makes some games lopsided for some players - they die quickly. And once you die, you're out of the game, while the others continue to play. Fortunately, since the games aren't very long, you can play several, so everybody gets a chance to have fun.

I saw a bunch of reviews saying how complicated this was to figure out. I'd put it at the level of Munchkin. Not simple, but the average group of people should be able to get it, and gamers can figure it out relatively easily.

My six year old grandson received this game as a Christmas gift after playing it with other relatives on Thanksgiving. While it is somewhat complicated, the whole family has been enjoying it.

Be prepared to spend some time reading the instructions. Once you are done you will have a fun intensely competitive time with the people you chose to share the experience of the game with. Great fun!

This game is great fun! I got the expansion and that's great too. My friends and I love to "Bang!" on weekends and we have great fun with it. It takes about 10-15 minutes to explain and games can last over an hour and a half if there are enough people that are decent at it! It's a cerebral game, not too tough and can be played over and over again without becoming dull!

Had a blast with this game, very unique interaction with people knowing the Sheriff, but not all the roles. Who will survive... Great fun