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Mad Scientist University is an interesting card game for a minimum of 3 players.
The game is very simple to learn the rules of, and is far from a serious tactical game; more an entertaining activity. One player is designated 'TA', and turns over an objective card; the others are given an 'Unstable Element'; a random, everyday object. The aim of the game is to come up with the 'best' plan to achive a specified objective, using your 'Element' as a pivitol aspect. 'Best' is determined by the TA who chooses his category for judgement (and in a prolonged game, the categories become quite strange; from the funniest, most effective, most complex, to the fisrt, last, most effective delivery and so on). After the objective card has been awarded to the winner; the next player becomes TA, and the system begins again.
Obviously, with such discretion in the hands of the TA, the game can't be effectively played by people aiming to win at all costs. The bonus is that the game can last as long as you want; obviously to be fair it's best for every player to take a turn as TA, but after that; it's practically unending. Naturally, given the nature of the game, and the bizzare cards which appear each round, the game rapidly decends into silliness, but with the right group of people, it is an immensely fun way to spend an hour or so.
Whilst replayability may be limited eventually, the vast number of assignments and elements cards means that there is a great amount of replayability; and your are only limited by your ingenuity. The cards themselves are well-designed, giving all the (rather minimal) relevent information clearly whilst reflecting the 'University' theme.
If you're looking for a european-style game of tactics and stratergy, then I'd reccomend you look elsewhere; if you're looking for a good way to waste a few hours on occasion with good friends; this game is brilliant.
A moderate 7/10. Not the best card game out there, but far from the worst.
Rating: 7.0
Reviewed by:
ted.swalwell
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