Team Components Hive Carbon

Hive Carbon: 2 Players, Ages 9+, Average Play Time = 20 MinutesIt's easy to see why this game has won so many awards, the Mensa Select award being among them. Hive is very easy to play but surprisingly has a lot of depth. It reminds me a little of Chess, except that it is more freeform. Like Chess, players are encouraged to think ahead and plan their moves.I was a bit overwhelmed in my first game...that is...I had no idea what was considered a good move and what was considered a bad move. I found myself experimenting with the pieces, moving them around the hive, trying to see how to best use their abilities. For example, I realized that the grasshopper was an excellent way to fill a surrounded space that I needed to occupy and eventually branch out from. I also recognized the grasshopper as a deadly sniper that could jump across the hive and surround the enemy queen bee in one foul swoop. It became obvious to me however that I still have a lot of learning to do.I particularly liked the travel case that came with the game, which allows players to pick up and go without carrying around a clunky box. The pieces themselves where solid and thick and it was fairly easy to pick out one insect from another. Kudos on the component quality.My son and I played the game without the expansion pieces, just to get our feet wet. At first, we both had to get used to moving pieces around without causing other pieces to become separated from the hive. I was clumsily moving pieces back and forth, trying to find ways around his pieces to get to his queen bee...it was comparable to my first slow dance in grade school, minus the zits and cracking voice. The game only lasted about fifteen minutes, if that, with my son pulling ahead to victory. I was so engrossed in bringing my beetles over to his queen that I totally ignored the soldier ants that he brought around the outside, engulfing my queen bee one space at a time. All I needed was a few more moves, but he was quicker.All in all, Hive Carbon turned out to be an excellent two player game...one that will keep me busy for a good while. I'm really looking forward to inventing (or reinventing) strategies that will improve my game. I'm sure there are player guides out there that tell players how best to use their pieces, but I look forward to unlocking those secrets myself through trial and error. If you enjoy two player games like Chess but don't have a lot of time, then Hive Carbon will fit the bill nicely. It's quick and easy to play, but will keep players engrossed from beginning to end.

In this game, you have tiles that have different bugs imprinted on them that are used for playing pieces like in the game of chess. Your turn consists of drawing or placing a tile in the "hive". Each bug has it's own special movement. The player wins when they can surround their opponents queen bee. There is no board per se; the hive consists of the pieces that touch each other.The pieces are of the highest quality I've ever seen in a game (think high priced dominoes). Very smooth to the touch, a real pleasure to handle. The game comes with a pouch to put them in, and since there is no board, this is a very portable game.One reviewer commented that you should get the color set instead of the Carbon (black & white) set. However, I have vision issues, and the stark contrast of the black & white makes it easier for me to see what pieces I'm playing. Also, at this time, when you buy the Carbon version, in addition to the base set, you also get two expansion pieces, the Ladybug and the Mosquito.I would like to throw in that this game won a Mensa award. If you like chess or similar abstract strategy games, you will enjoy this.

Finally a Hive box that I can carry around. I hate the original color variant box with all the plastic display. It looks good on the shop shelf but once you open it .. It's tricky to put the pieces back. But this version is a normal box with ample storage space and a high quality zippered carry bag. High quality pieces. And I love playing with this black and white version over color.

What a great game! I love it. So often I will buy a new strategic game only to find the game sitting on the shelf because it is too complex or too simple-minded to be much fun. This game truly is something new and interesting. The only problem I have is finding people to play it with me. The learning curve is quite similar to chess, in that you must learn how the pieces move and how they give you advantages in the game. I enjoyed this set because, even though it is less colorful, it does contain two very useful additional pieces. And it is beautifully made. The pieces are heavy, each one has heft. In fact this set is too heavy to be practical as a travel game, so we beware if you plan to play on the go. I did and may, yet, purchase a travel edition. However, I'm still glad to have this set, because it makes an eye-catching display for my table. So far, everyone who has seen it has stopped what they are doing to ask about it. They can't seem to avoid touching and examining the pieces. Game collectors will want to buy this set before it goes mass market.

Hive is a two player tile game that is a mix of chess, dominoes, and checkers. Each player takes turns placing a tile or moving a tile. The object of the game is to surround the opponents queen with six tiles of any side. There are seven types of bugs, five from the original version (ant, beetle, grasshopper, spider, and queen) plus the new ladybug and mosquito. Each moves in a unique way allowing for a variety of strategies to achieve the main objective. This game requires a lot of strategy and ability to think at least three moves ahead. It is a good game for teenagers and up.As far as whats in the box is concerned the material is top grade. The tiles feel solid and have a nice heft. It has the feel of a professional poker chip and they make a pleasant sound when the tiles make contact with one another. The tiles are black and white with one side being solid black with white insects and the other side being white with black insects. They look a lot sleeker than the original which were multicolored. The game also comes with a round plastic pouch if you're so inclined to carry it around with you.I gave the game four out of five stars. It is a fun game that is very well made. May be challenging to younger players but thats not necessarily a bad thing. There is not a lot of educational value besides having to use your brain. You don't really learn about the insects.