Reviewed by: Wayne Tonjes

Zing! by SimplyFun is a new standalone card game of trick taking in the style of Bridge. The focus of the game is based on bidding and then successfully taking the entire number and type of tricks or gain penalty points. The player with the least number of points by the end of the game is the winner. The flavor of game play is neatly described on the product website:
"Outwit your opponents in this wily trick-taking game! Take a trick that another player wanted - Zing! Make someone take a trick they don't need? Zing! Accurately predict how many tokens to take and you'll be the greatest Zinger!"

All of these features are pretty standard to a trick taking game like Bridge or Spades. The big shift in this game is that one player, as the Zinger, can specifically aim to disrupt other players' trick taking, beyond the standard level of competitive captures. Unlike the rest of the players who have bid to take a specific number and type of tricks, this character tries to negate a base of penalty points by forcing other players to gain them. Since a bid is based on type as well as number of tricks, the Zinger can assist the competition take unwanted tricks as well as prevent the capture of bids.

The game set is all inconclusive with a specially designed play deck, scoring token chits, rules book and score book in each box. The play deck consists of five colors of fifteen cards each, with the trump color specifically called out with a different format. Each player is dealt fifteen cards per hand, with some of the deck being set aside for less than five players. The cards are of high quality, being thick and durable with texturing for easy sorting. Even the packaging is superb with exceptionally clear and thorough labeling of the game parameters and a breakdown on the outside and superb interior arrangement to protect the game. This is definitely a good game to introduce younger audiences to the nature of capture games, making this a fine game for the whole family. Definitely check out this exceptionally designed game and put a little Zing! back into the game night.

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

(Product Summary)

Zing!
From: SimplyFun LLC
Type of Game: Card game
Production, Rules Written, and Playtesting by: Friends at SimplyFun
Game Design by: Stefan Dorra
Design and Illustration by: Allison Kline and Damon Brown
Game Components Included: 75 cards, 28 tokens, rules booklet and score booklet
Retail Price: $19.00 (US)
Number of Players: Three to five
Player Ages: Ten and older
Play Time: 30 minutes
Item Number: SF018
Phone: 877-557-7767
Website: www.simplyfun.com

Reviewed by: Wayne Tonjes

Added: May 7th 2006
Reviewer: Wayne Tonjes
Score:
Related Link: Zing! at SimplyFun's Website
Hits: 1130
Language: eng