Java

This afternoon Alan, Brock, and I enjoyed the attractive tile laying game "Java", published by Rio Grande Games. The game is one in a series of three by authors Kiesling and Kramer (the other two are Tikal and Mexica). The game takes tile laying to new heights, literally, by having players stack tiles on top of each other.

The beautifully illustrated map depicts the undeveloped land of central Java, a volcanic island in South East Asia. Each player is a ruler trying to assert his own control and culture over the land. Fame points are scored during the game by building and improving palaces, irrigating land, and arranging palace festivals.

The first two are accomplished by placing tiles, which range in size from 1 to 3 hexes, on the board in strategic locations. Palace festivals are resolved in an auction, with players bidding cards whose symbols must match the festival's symbol(s). The player with the most matching symbols wins the auction and scores fame points based on the size of the palace.

Once the last 3-hex tile is placed, each player takes a last turn and performs a final scoring. Having control of the highest points within the cities and around the irrigation areas is the key to winning, especially in the final scoring turn. As the island fills up, deciding where to place the next tile becomes increasingly difficult (players must place at least one every turn).

However, it's the tile stacking that I like most about the game because of the many creative possibilities. The layered tiles create an interesting terraced effect as the game progresses. I also like the scoring track on the outside edge of the map, which helps players keep tabs on their rivals.

In the end, Alan skunked Brock and me with at least a 30-point lead. Now that I've seen the final scoring, I'd like to give Alan a run for his money. I give it an 8 out of 10.