Toxins

Game Review

reviewed by Andrew Greenberg


Designed by Keith Houghton
Armadillo Press 105 Giffords Church Road, Schenectady, NY 12306
Price: $4.95 + $1.00 postage and handling
Complexity: Beginner
Solitaire Suitability: Low
****

Toxins is an enticing Monopoly-like game about toxic waste disposal. The players are waste disposal companies who attempt to develop a monopoly on the different sorts of waste disposal sites. in the advanced game, the players take the role of the company presidents, with each one having different advantages and disadvantages.

The game is fun to play and read. The introduction is funny and a little disturbing as it is set in an all too close and all too possible future. The game has a slick, expensive look that is not reflected in the price. The counters have to be cut out by hand, yet are not lined up for easy cutting. This is one of the few problems with Toxins and obviously a price-saving move. The first game thus takes a while to start up. The map, while bare, is colorful, and reflects the barren nature of this future.

The rule book is short and well organized. The basic rules are laid out in front and the advanced rules are on the last page. A problem comes up at this point because the basic rules say that in the basic game only four trucks may he purchased, but the advanced rules do not say that more can he bought in the advanced game. Six truck counters, however, are provided for each player.

Toxins can be played many times using different strategies. Since there are several different ways to win, it is possible to use many different strategies in one game, A ~layer can concentrate on getting a monopoly of waste disposal sites, accumulating money, or, in the advanced game, enhancing his character's specialties.

No two games of Toxins are alike. A player never knows where he will start at the beginning of the game and must compensate immediately. He has to decide whether to dump legally and make long trips and pay high costs or to dump illegally and risk being fined. He cannot enter the game with a clear-cut strategy hut must form it as the game continues. The infrequent special effects have little effect on the game and are almost always a minor hindrance. Still, they do add to the suspense.

While being a lot like Monopoly (paying dumping fees on someone else's property owning more properties of the same color and increasing that fee), Toxins offers many new ideas. For instance, a player can have several trucks rushing around the hoard making him money, and he has several different victory conditions that he can meet. Players have a chance to create new strategies through the use of characters.

All this adds up to make Toxins one of the best new board games on the market. It is easv to learn and play, and has nianv fresh ideas that should appeal to peopie looking for something new. Its low price contributes to make it an excellent choice for any gamer.

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© Copyright 1986 by Dana Lombardy.
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