Reviewed by: Wayne Tonjes

Drive by SimplyFun is a new standalone card game. Despite the name, this is not a racing game, but a collection game with a car theme. It might have been more accurately called "Garages of the Rich and Famous," as each player tries to stock a garage with the best collection of cards. Unfortunately, the driving theme is enforced by the description on the product website:
"Step on the gas and make the right maneuvers to capture the ultimate vintage automobile collection. Draw and discard cards to make valuable sets of cars. But keep an eye on the road because if someone plays a larger set of the same cars, your cars are discarded. The player with the most points is the winner."

There really is no driving aspect to the game as the game theme is really focused on "an avid collector of limited edition cars" filling a garage. All of the cards in the game simply represent nine possible limited edition cars valued from 6 to 20 points each. Each turn players draw two cards and then either discard one or play a set. There are some strategic options in making sets. First, each card drawn at the start of the turn must come from different piles. Initially, the game starts with just two draw piles but two discard piles are added during play. Thus, collecting cars can be made through considered choice of the discard piles. Correspondingly, since any discard can be taken and played by the subsequent players, there is some strategy in picking what to discard beyond just trying to get a good set.

Second, only one set of each car can be in play. Any time a player wants to play cards of an existing set, even if that set is his or her own, the player must play a new set with at least one more card. The previous set is then discarded. Given that the lower value cars have fewer cards, there is less possibility of swapping control of a set. A strategic player can win by accumulating the lower value sets while leaving other players to compete for the higher but more easily switched sets.

The base game round ends when one of three conditions is met. If all nine cars are in play or one player controls some quorum of sets, the game immediately ends. These options can be actively pursued and triggered by players in the lead. The last game finisher is less strategic as it simply takes effect when one of the draw piles is empty. This ending would depend on a more collaborative action by all of the players consistently drawing from the same pile to run it out faster.

Once the game is complete, each player takes score based on the sets controlled. This score is simply equal to the value assigned the car and not the number of cards. This is how a player with a majority of lower value sets with fewer cars can beat out someone who scores one or two of the larger, more valuable sets. The winner of the game is determined after three rounds by combining the scores of each round to see who has the most.

The game design is really good quality. The rules are written straightforward with several full color illustrations to highlight tips and suggestions. If the rules lack anything, it is suggested play variants or alternative score parameters. The memory log booklet is a nice option. It goes slightly beyond a scorebook as it sets aside some space for recording particular game details such as highest scores or who made a complete set of different cars. The cards and play board are also well constructed, with thick, textured cards for easy shuffling and handling and an artistically designed board with labels for the four piles and general end rules for easy reference.

Even the packaging is superb with exceptionally clear and thorough labeling of the game parameters and a breakdown of game play on the box. The box itself is exceptionally sturdy with a fair bit of weight. The interior of the box is designed to protect the deck and hold the other components in place. If there is a downside to this game, it would probably be the price, as it is a little high. Removing the board might have trimmed down the cost a little with relatively little loss to play, as the end rules are fairly simple and most people can handle placing a couple draw and discard piles without a diagram. Overall, this is a fine game for the whole family. Definitely check out this exceptionally designed game and put a little Drive back into the game night.

For more details on SimplyFun and their new standalone card game, Drive, check them out at their website http://www.simplyfun.com and or through one of their home party events that can be arranged from their website.

(Product Summary)

Drive
From: SimplyFun LLC
Type of Game: Card game
Production, Rules Written, and Playtesting by: Friends at SimplyFun
Game Design by: Michael Schacht
Artwork by: Allison Kline and Damon Brown
Game Components Included: 110 cards, play board, rules booklet and score booklet
Retail Price: $22.00 (US)
Number of Players: Two to four
Player Ages: Eight and older
Play Time: 30 minutes
Item Number: SF009
Phone: 877-557-7767
Website: www.simplyfun.com

Reviewed by: Wayne Tonjes

Added: June 10th 2006
Reviewer: Wayne Tonjes
Score:
Related Link: Drive product page at Simply Fun
Hits: 861
Language: eng