Hive- A Game Crawling With Possibilities

Its very great quality, the pieces are satisfying themselves lol. Gameplay is very simple to pick up and play, rules are very straightforward and i loved especially how they show pictures of how individual pieces move. So much more fun with the expansions as well. Perfect for someone who likes chess or someone who wants to get into those mechanics as well. Overall just a great simple and quick game to bring anywhere. Only objective is to surround the queen bee with the tiles...would 100% recommend and would buy again if needed.

This may be the best designed game I have ever seen. I mean, like the best table top game since chess. It's a little more laid back than chess and quicker, both of which are nice from an enjoyment point of view. And pieces are never taken out of the game, so it doesn't simplify as the game progresses. Further, defense is very difficult, which means that the games don't go on and on for too long. Wonderful ideas and execution. I don't consider myself real skilled at it but I'm always happy to play with my wife or one of my kids. It's simple enough for kids and interesting enough for anyone.The pieces are also very well designed and constructed. Very robust and satisfying to play with. Nice designs and colors. Overall this game is quite an accomplishment.Ok, so where's the downside? Well, if you have read any reviews you know that the makers also sell a "carbon" version, which is black and white. It's a little cheaper than this version but it comes with two expansions (which are like $10 each). So it's a lot cheaper. I thought about getting that one but decided I wanted color in my game. After playing with the base set, I was convinced that I had made the right choice. Worth spending some extra for a set with color.However, the color expansions are not as nice as the set. In particular, the mosquito is dark grey, which is very hard to see and unsightly on the black tile. And the white tiles for both the mosquito and pillbug are a different color than the main set: they are greener and a little darker. It doesn't affect gameplay but it's an eyesore. Given the cost of these expansions it's silly that they can't color match. If I had bought the carbon edition two expansions would be included and certainly match and I bet the pillbug would match too. I mean, at the end of the day we are going for aesthetics. You miss some color with the carbon, but at least everything matches. That's my only issue with this set.If you are only sticking with the base set, I'd say color is better.

This is a great game - harder than checkers, easier than chess, to quote many other reviewers. Comes in standard/full size and pocket versions, and colors or black and white. I specifically wanted a full size in colors, with the original round zippered pouch. That is what I got, but not based on the main photo! This is the most confusing purchase I have ever researched! And read a zillion reviews... The good news is that if it is shipped by AZN, and not what I was looking for, back it goes for free :)This item DISPLAYS with the red plastic cut out front, and the current seven award logos are not shown. So, not what I was hunting, I thought. BUT further down in the interior description it does show the "original second edition" white box, which has the circular zipper travel pouch. All the other newer versions have some kind of cloth pouch. The back clearly displays the batch number, full manufacturer info, and model number. So, I gambled and ordered. And yay! I got the white box with award logos.Why does it matter which mfgr and edition? Because if you want to buy the separate additional bugs, you need them to match! I did purchase the extras, in white packaging which matched the box I received. The pieces were identical in color and shape to the main set. Complaints about mismatches and poor workmanship show up in many of the lower ratings for the "other" kinds of packaging.The pieces in this box are heavy, beautifully rounded and polished, and the bugs are deeply incised, centered on the piece, and no paint outside the lines. Just as with chess pieces, I want a game to be a challenge to play and a pleasure to look at and handle. There's a reason many board gamers spend money and time to painstakingly paint the miniatures - it doesn't affect game play but does affect pleasure in the game for some players. I hope this is useful information!