In the past, before Knizia´s latest trend in making light games, it was hard to introduce a person to boardgames using one of Mr. Knizia´s games. I mean, you sure don´t play Euphrat&Tigris with a novice, he would be slaughtered even before he understood the rules, especially the internal and external conflicts. But there is a game by Knizia made during his more heavy games period that is especially nice to novices. It´s called Samurai and is one of his tile-laying trilogy games, the others being Through the Desert and Euphrat&Tigris.

What is Samurai? Samurai is basically a boardgame about influencing three factions in feudal Japan. The board consists of four parts that can be connected, depending on the number of players, to form part or the totallity of Japan. In the board there are cities and in the cities you place either one or two of the three figures, helmets, rice and buddhas, each representing nobility, peasants and clergy. The game´s objective is to win the maximum of all three figures. Being a Knizia game, and since Mr. Knizia has a Math doctorate the ways to resolve ties are complex, but not too demanding.

To win the figures, you need to play tiles, which you have 5 in your hand. The tiles influence one type of figure or, in some cases, all three kinds of figures. You can only pay one tile per turn but in some cases you can play two or more tiles. When a city is completely surrounded by tiles then you calculate who has the most influence and the figure or figures go to the player who has the greater influence. That is how you win figures.

Basically that´s all the rules there is to know. It´s a simple and fast game to learn, which makes it ideal to introduce Knizia´s games to boardgame newbies. It´s also a very tactical boardgame, with crucial decisions having to be made all the time. It´s not the best Knizia game and, in fact, I find it the weakest of his tile-laying trilogy but that doesn´t mean I dislike the game. Far from it, the game is quite good. It´s not heavy and it´s simple, which makes it quite appealing. Although it´s out of print, it is quite recommended for those new to the hobby. It doesn´t score high in player interaction but this short-coming is more than payed up by it´s ability to make constant tactical decisions that influence everyone in the game. So if it´s the first time you play boardgames and want a Knizia game, pick this one up. I recommend it highly. Get it if you can.

7/10