Origins: How We Became Human

[Gerald]

The game traces the development of early human species from 120,000 years ago through to the near-modern era. Players take the role of Peking Man, Archaic Homo Sapiens, Cro-Magnon, Neanderthal, or Homo Floresiensis, and each attempts to develop instincts and higher cortical brain functioning, such as language traits. The populations expand and collide, and eventually consciousness, society, and culture are sought after.

Origins is not a complicated game, but is very complex in the interplay of the various aspects of the game. There is a lot going on, a lot you need to do, and a lot of forethought to end up advancing at a reasonable pace: go too recklessly, and you will find yourself hopelessly foundering, advance too slowly and you’ll never catch up. It is not a game to master at your first sitting, nor the second of the third. There is a real art to timing your play that is not at all apparent when you start play.

Mr. Eklund has a history of making theme-dripping games with a vast scope (American Megafauna, Lords of the Sierra Madre, Rocket Flight) and has assembled a small but rabid group of fans. This game will not disappoint the initiated, and at the same time has been made more accessible to attract in some of the more hardcore Euro gamers, folks who enjoy Die Macher or Martin Wallace games and are willing to sit at the table a little longer.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Mr. Eklund is also the (drum roll pls):



I was looking at his game "High Frontier" and the board will make your brain sizzle if not fizzle!

[viscoos]

High Frontier = space game?

I tried reading the rules of High Frontier, but was not able to finish, it sounds complex and im intrigued by the theme

I have Erosion which also has Phil Eklund as designer, and the rules are written the same way good thing the erosion rules is 1 bond paper I think but its written the same way as High Frontier very difficult to read