The Lowdown

This is a board game which is loosely based on the theme of The Count of Monte Cristo. Each player has a team of adventurers who are trying to pick up treasure from inside the Chateau d'If (apparently there is treasure in there) and then sell it for points.

Some Observations

• The game actually has a lot more strategic depth to it than you might expect. It's definitely made by people who are interested in making good board games rather than being a money-maker tie in to The Count of Monte Cristo.
• Some of the mechanics of the game are really good. There are different types of treasure (gold, rubies, etc) but there's also a market which dictates how much each of these are worth at any given time, so you have to adapt as the game goes on. There are also lots of decisions to make, which is one of the keys to a good game (none of that boring monopoly-esque 'roll the dice and always buy the thing if you land on it')
• The board and pieces are also really nice, with some particularly satisfying marbles which denote whose go it is.

The Verdict

This game has very little to do with The Count of Monte Cristo, but it's actually a really good game, and definitely much better than it has any right to be. There is however, very little revenge.

Characters and Plot Elements