Spectacular is a board game in which each player develops a wildlife park to protect endangered species. During the game, players expand their park by placing animal tiles and using dice to feed animals, encourage reproduction and activate watchtowers.
The game consists of two rounds. There are eight turns in the first round and seven turns in the second round. In each turn, each player chooses two items: one tile or dice from the general supply and one from their own personal supply. These items are then placed in the park. Tiles may be placed on any free space, without having to connect to other tiles. Dice must always be placed on a tile of the same colour. The tiles indicate the values that may be placed on them for a number of animals. For the other animals, there is no specific value, but a maximum of five. This changes if there is a watchtower; a six may now also be placed on the three adjacent tiles. A watchtower is created when three tiles with the same watchtower parts form a complete circle. At the end of each turn, players replenish their personal supply if necessary, and then the general supply moves on to the next player, with any remaining items remaining in place.
After the first round, there is an interim scoring. Players score points for groups of dice adjacent to the entrance of their park. Then the supply is refilled and round two begins. At the end of the second round, the final scoring takes place, focusing primarily on habitats. These consist of contiguous tiles of the same colour. The value of the dice in such an area only counts if there is also a breeding tile with a die present. No reproduction, no points: nature is unforgiving. In addition, watchtowers earn points and points are scored for the number of different animal species in the park. Variety pays off.
During the game, worker tokens can be used to roll dice one value higher or lower, including the classic six-to-one flip. This is useful, especially since these tokens can also be used at the end of a round to earn that extra point.
There is also a variant of the game in which three missions can be completed per player. This makes the game a lot more challenging.
What appeals to me most about Spectacular is the tile-laying mechanism. I love to fit and measure. Each placement requires careful consideration: do you go for immediate benefits or do you continue to build a longer-term strategy? That makes it interesting and ensures that no two playing sessions are the same. Apart from the strategies and playing techniques, I find the theme very important. I think it’s a great idea that Spectacular focuses on endangered species. I would have liked the artwork to stand out a bit more. It feels a bit simple now. The option to make the game more challenging with the missions is a good idea and adds more depth for the more experienced players. All in all, I think Spectacular is an excellent board game that invites you to play more often.
