Geistes Blitz & Geistes Blitz 2.0

 

Geistes Blitz & Geistes Blitz 2.0

Designer	Jacques Zeimet
Publisher	Zoch Verlag
Age rating	8+
Time	20-30 min
Players	2-8
Fun	4/5
Complexity	3/5

 

Geistes blitz, also known as Ghostblitz, is a game where you have to identify the object in a spooky, haunted room. The only thing that will scare you, however, is how addictive this game can be.

The game consists of cards and five items per game, a ghost, a mouse, a chair, a bottle and a book. The second game introduces a frog, a towel, a brush, and a bathtub. The ghost is replaced by a ghostess. These items are small and sturdy, and they should be, as in the course of the game they might come flying off the table. The cards are cute and clearly represent the objects and beings.

The gameplay is a bit complicated when explained for the first time, but as in many other games, with practice it becomes easy and quick. The goal is to grab the correct item, or say its name, based on the drawn card. There are conditions, of course.  If one object is colored correctly, you need to grab that object. If both objects are colored incorrectly, then you need to grab the object and color not found on the card. There is also another variant, in which you have to shout out the name of the correct object if there is a book on the card. I prefer the other one. Even though it might be a bit more complicated, it makes for a more engaging game.

The second game follows the same rules, but with one other crazy variant. If the card shows a frog, you shout out the name, as you would for the book. However, as the frog is bilingual, you have to use a foreign language if the frog or another object is in the original color. You can choose which language to use, but the rulebook comes equipped with German, English, French and Italian words for the items. So you can also learn a few new words apart from having fun.

There is also a third variant, using items from both games, but this room jumping proved to be too much for me. I have found a single game to have enough playability on its own.

Depending on your deducting skills and reflexes, you might come into a spot of frustration during the course of the game. As long as you learn to accept a few losses and pick up the pace quick enough, this shouldn’t present a large problem. It is also not a rare case that your mind blocks from all the colors, objects, grabbing, and shouting.

The premise of the game is the following: the cards are actually photos, taken by the titular ghost, who goes by the name Balduin. The old camera that he found, however, is faulty, and distorts colors, which is why some objects appear different. Your goal is to help him remember what the objects really looked like, and even what he looked like.  If this sounds silly, it’s because it is silly. But if you cannot afford a bit of silliness from time to time, then what are games for anyway?

The drawing of the cards requires a bit of positioning of hands, so that both players see the card at the same time, in order to make the game fair. This might be a challenge to the less dexterous, but nothing that would ruin the game completely. You will also clash often when you reach for the same object, no doubt. I have only played this game in two player mode, and I can only imagine the shenanigans that occur when four or eight hands go for the poor little mouse.

Overall, Ghost blitz is a quick little game that requires not just fast thinking, but also fast hand movement. It could also be used as a teaching tool, not just to help children recognize colors and patterns, but also to induce critical thinking and deduction. So play Ghost blitz, get the second one as well for even more craziness, and help the friendly ghost Balduin in his adventure.