Distilled deduction - A classified information review
Updated: 5 days ago
In comparison to Yesterday's game, this one, this is a looker, wrapped up with solid gameplay that is astounding brilliant!
A two player deduction game, I know what you're thinking. Two player, deduction? That won't work. We'll let me tell you about
Classified information, is a game wrapped up in politics, where knowledge is power and the aim of the game is to access your opponents classified information. Now I should point out I'm a big big Android Netrunner fan (a game that was in my opinion destroyed for me personally by the community), and this gave me those vibes, through the artwork and the gameplay of trying to block your classified information.
It's remarkably simple, there's only 18 cards in the deck, so games are 10-15 minutes at most. You'll be using a dry eraser to keep track of what you think your opponents code might be, and looking to keep a card in your hand that matches one of the unguarded numbers in your opponents code. There's no way this game is overstaying its welcome, in fact you'll be wanting to come back for more. And it's those additional plays that reveal what truly lies here, as multiple plays reveal what essentially is a Meta game evolving as you learn from past mistakes as does your opponent and your choices change. It's good, like I cannot state how much I enjoyed this. Its like someone Distilled the fabrics of Android Netrunner, that bluffing behind servers and put it into a 15 minute game, there isn't that barrier to entry either. It's a pick up and play, and go again and again kinda game. And you'll want to, those win conditions and working them out, took me a few games to get to grips with, there's 4 possible endings and each one is well explained, but putting that together with the numbers and cards at first was a little bit overwhelming, but we got there. There was also one major typo, which stated the completely incorrect win conditions. But the company changed the rules pretty much there and then and issued an updated rules set within essentially minutes.
You'll be playing guards to block, assassins to try and remove guards, but you've only got 3 slots in front of you, and every card you play potentially reveals a bit more to your opponent. So is it better you encrypts cards (remove them from the game, unseen), but then you've thrown away an ability or a potential blocker or assassin. Every card has a purpose, and its antagonising decision making.
Classified information comes with 3 sets, essentially each being a standalone that you can sit down and play or you could mash them together for something ultimate. And this is pretty much where my only criticism is, the packaging, its insanely frustrating, I totally get why, its to keep costs low and make the game accessible, but I'm pretty sure the packaging for the sets isn't going to last very long. There's a little hook that holds the package together, and after just a few uses it's already slightly bent. Now the inclusion of essentially the entire rules on the inside of the packaging, that folds out like a book is a great one, but it's a double edged sword of practically versus durability.
If it wasn't obvious enough, I loved Classified information. And this gets a firm buy or play recommendation from me!
Disclaimer: I wasn't paid for this content and views are my own, I was sent a review copy to play, which has been posted to another reviewer.
You can check out the Kickstarter here: