In MLEM, cats are engaged in a space race to infinity and beyond. Players are in charge of one of many competing space programs and send their feline and adorable astronauts to strange new worlds in the final frontier. Who will win this space race?
Background
The year is 2075. Those who always thought cats were evil have been proven right. Cats have fought a long and slow battle against mankind. First, they made humans dumber with short Internet videos on YouTube and TikTok full of mischief. Then, when humanity was literally and figuratively asleep, the cats struck. The cats conquered the earth in a way that the primates from Planet of the Apes could learn a thing or two about.
Just after taking control of the world and using the globe as their personal scratching post, the cats – who are of course quickly bored when they get their way – have set their sights on a new dot on the horizon: ‘Space, the final frontier’! Various space programs are being established by the cats and each wants to send its astronauts to the Milky Way for a nice bowl of cream.
In the game MLEM: Space Agency, players take on the role of these furry cats … but not just any cats! In fact, players are program directors of various Space Agencies to discover the end of the universe. In this space race – which sometimes ends with a proverbial bang and sometimes with an actual bang – players choose an astronaut each round who will represent their space program aboard a spaceship that players will collectively pilot over the course of the game. Players may board this spaceship together, but they each try to earn the most points. Sometimes players will be catty, blowing at each other and getting into a lot of mischief, but at other times they will have to work together as cuddly kittens.
You may also be wondering why this game is called MLEM? MLEM is an onomatopoeia and the description of the sound a cat makes when it licks its nose. MLEM! Meow, blep, sssss, and other cat sounds you and your friends will make often while playing this game.
Setup
Just roll out the printed neoprene mat across the table like a red carpet leading you to a beautiful event. In this case, the carpet does not lead you to an event, but to the Galaxy. On the mat is a trail that your rocket will follow and the various moons and planets you will discover along the way for points. On the play mat, the wooden rocket is also placed in position 1.
Each player receives a board and all the astronauts in the chosen color. The tokens to keep track of the score are placed next to the mat in easy reach of all players. A starting player is chosen and this player receives the spaceship board and dice.
MLEM also includes several modules that experienced players can add to their game for some extra challenge and variety. I won’t go into that specifically further in this review, except that these modules add some fun new and thematic elements to the game and some new ways to earn points for an extra tactical layer.
Gameplay
With MLEM, famous game developer Reiner Knizia gives us his version of a semi-cooperative game, where players have to help each other, but can also thwart each other. If you have ever played Celestia, you are familiar with the basic concept that also underlies MLEM. Players collectively sit on a vehicle to explore worlds and earn points. One player is in charge of the vehicle, but players can get off when they safely reach a new location, but the journey is not always successful.
The commander of the spaceship rolls all the dice and sets sail for the stars. Different spots on the board show which dice roll values can be used. All dice of the same value(s) must be used. The throw also determines how many steps the spaceship may move. Used dice are discarded except for the flame dice.
After a successful roll, players can choose to exit and earn points for the moon they land on or try to capture the majority of a planet for points at the end of the game. They can also choose to continue the journey. It is also possible that there was no successful roll and then the spaceship crashes. Don’t worry. The cats who were on board have multiple lives and survive this catastrophe.
By the way, the astronauts that players choose all have a special ability. For example, there is a cat that can deploy a parachute to still land after a crash and there is also a cat that causes the spaceship to take a few steps at the beginning.
At the end of the game, players add up their points and receive points for the planets where they acquired majorities. The player with the most points wins.
Verdict
In MLEM, players have to cooperate, but they can also enjoy pouncing each other. That’s exactly what you’re looking for in a semi-cooperative game. The game play is nice and simple. There is a lot of luck involved, but even more of risk assessment. Therefore, the game is mainly about knowing when to step out. Do you act like a pussy? Do you step out of the rocket to gain points safely, or do you stay put in hopes of achieving a victory of cosmic proportions at the end of the universe?
MLEM contains many beautiful game materials and even the game box is special and made of a very cuddly material. Its simple gameplay makes it well suited for families and groups of jolly friends who want to have a good laugh with each other with a fun game that they especially don’t have to take too seriously.
