Constellation

The Classic Space Game

Review by Kerry Lloyd

Designed by Helmut Kimpel
Kimpel Games 1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20005
Released: September, 1984
Price: $37.50
Complexity: Varies
Solitaire Suitability: None

CONSTELIATION is a board game with chess-like antecedents in which the pieces are named for the planets and central sun of our solar system. The object of the game is to capture your opponent's sun and his other pieces by creating various constellations (triangies, quadrangles, squares, or pentagons) in which two, three, or four of the opponent's pieces are involved, and/or to locate your own sun on the centermost point (#1) of the board.

The game comes packaged in a standard 10" x 19" off-white box, illustrated on the front with the black, blue, and red symbols used for the playing pieces. Inside can be found the heavy, hinged, cloth game board printed in white on a dark turquoise background. The twenty pieces (ten to a side) necessary to play the game and a rules folder are also included. The pieces are made from glazed and fired earthenware by a pottery studio located in the designer~ home town; one set is in red, the other in black. The pieces are the astrological/alchemical symbols for the nine planets and the sun. In the box is a special grid of padded compartments formed from cardboard strips which prevent the pieces from being broken or chipped. The quality of the components is, of course, reflected in the price of the game. The slightly hexagonal board contains no squares; instead it is a collection of 61 points joined by circles, straight lines, and ellipses.

Since a diagram in the rules specifies the numbering sequence for the points, it would be a good idea for players to transfer the numbering scheme to the actual board. An initial setup diagram is printed directly on the board for each side, and the pieces and their special moves are illustrated in the left-hand corners. Any piece can move from one point to the next immediately available point (this is the sun's only allowable move), but individual pieces have other allowable moves for considerable distance: Mercury and Venus can move two or more points on any circle, ellipses, or straight line; Earth and Mars, the same on any ellipse; Jupiter and Saturn on any circle; and Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto on any straight line. One point in the rules specifies that ellipses contain no circular or straight lines, an important distinction considering the movement capabilities of the pieces. It is also noted that pieces may not switch lines during an individual move.

The game is simple to learn, but it has strategic and tactical likelihoods that change it from a very simple game to one of exceptional complexity. The sheer number of possible opening moves and the incredible variety of strategic and tactical variations available thereafter definitely put CONSTELIATION in the same class as chess and the Japanese classic, Go. It is indeed a challenge to become a proficient player, although it requires a substantially different manner of thought than do normal board games. If CONSTELLATION catches on (and it has a definite chance to do so), it may rival chess.

The rules are very simple and well written; there is no wasted verbiage, and all points of play are covered--even a bit of instruction on courtesy at the game table is given. A set of abbreviations is included for use with the board diagram to record games or engage in correponclence play. The idea of the non-straight movement along specified paths and of forming certain shapes to capture pieces is relatively new, and the game frequently has surprises for a player who does not pay attention to his opponent's move possibilities.

This is one of the few games I've seen in which a draw is extremely unlikely--either a sun is captured or it moves into the central point.

CONSTELLATION is a potentially great game; its interweaving possibilities are tremendous. it is however, not for everyone, and the price tag will discourage many buyers. if you enjoy a good solid strategic/tactical abstract game (like chess or Go), and don't mind the cost, CONSTELLATION is an excellent and worthwhile acquisition. If your games' budget is limited, wait for a cheaper version (and I hope the designer authorizes one soon).

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