Contagious Dreams
August 1999
Renee Camus
USA

I keep telling myself I'm not a gamer. I think I refuse to admit I'm a gamer. Yet I find myself playing all these games. I can't believe that not only have I played, but I own, all five games nominated for this year's Origins award! Well, now I'm writing reviews for the Contagious Dreams site.

The latest game I've gotten obsessed with is called Apples to Apples. Unfortunately, it was supposed to be called Apples to Oranges, a title that makes a little more sense for this comparison game, but due to unforseen problems with an already existing game, the name was changed. None-the-less, it is a terrifically fun little game, complete with really cute little graphics of red and green running apples!

This game is great. We all had a really great time playing it. The premise is easy, and easily understood by non-gamers, yet still intelligent. It can incorporate a large number of people, up to at least 10, which is great for big parties. In fact, we found it to be better for large groups than small.

Everyone is dealt 7 Red Apple cards. One player begins as Judge and draws one Green Apple card from the pile, reading aloud the definition on the card. The other players then pick from their hand the Red Apple card that best fits the definition on the Green Apple card, and the Judge chooses which of the offered cards, in her opinion, best resembles that definition. The player who owns the chosen Red Apple card gets to keep the matching Green Apple card.

The cards the judges have to choose from are what makes the game interesting. In some rounds, there are several choices that would fit the definition. In other rounds, the choice is difficult because there is no appropriate answer. There are also plenty of opportunities for the judge to let her own opinions and experiences rule, not the least of which are the "My" cards: My Hair, My Body, My Bank Account, etc.

Each round, the next player in the rotation becomes judge. She deals one replacement Red Apple card to the players, and the game begins again. The player who first accumulates six Green Apple cards is the winner.

One additional rule requires that the last Red Apple card played is discarded from the judging. This is just the impetus needed to keep the game moving. The graphics are adorable, and all the cards have descriptions on them, which I took the time to read and found very funny. In addition, it really doesn't matter if one person looks at the cards of another, unless the judge wants to play favorites. Also, one starts with 7 cards, but only uses one at a time, so one gets used to the cards in their hands, making it possible to choose a card quickly. Sometimes, if you don't have a card to play and your card is going to be disqualified, you can choose to throw out a card that has been in your hand since the beginning of the game.

Apples to Apples is a really enjoyable game: fun, amusing, entertaining, and intelligent, whether you are a gamer or not... or just refuse to admit it.

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