Game Review: Last Word

By Greg J. Schloesser
November 19, 2008

Publisher: Buffalo Games
Designers: Brian Spence, Garrett Donner and Michael Steer
Players: 2-8
Ages: 8+
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Rules Language: English
Links:

One of the most pleasant surprises in recent years in the party game genre was Faces, a delightful and often hilarious release from Buffalo Games. The game was similar to the popular Apples to Apples, but used old photos of people and animals instead of words. The game has never failed to cause peals of laughter with whomever I’ve played. Faces put Buffalo Games on my radar, and I was anxious to try other games in their line.

Last Word is one of those games, and it’s exceedingly simple in concept: Each player draws a subject card from the deck, and a letter card is revealed. The first player to shout a word beginning with the revealed letter and matching their subject card hits the timer, then all players must begin shouting words that begin with the revealed letter and match the same subject card. The last player to shout a word meeting these requirements before the timer expires wins the round and advances one space on the 18-space scoreboard. The player who began the round draws a new subject card, while all other players retain theirs. New rounds are played until one player reaches the end of the scoring track.

Basically, that’s it - other than an additional rule designed to add some variety to the proceedings. The active player can call a “Jump Start” round, which basically works the same way as a regular round, but the player does NOT play a subject card to the table prior to starting the timer, nor does he participate in the round. All other players rush to name a word based on their own subject card. If no one does this by the time the timer expires, the active player moves two spaces. If someone does successfully name a word, that player moves one space on the score track. In practice, this rule isn’t used all that often as it usually rewards another player.

In order to prevent a player from being stuck with a subject card that is too difficult for him, each player receives a “trade-in” token that he can use to switch cards. This can be done only once per game, so use it wisely.

The intended appeal of the game appears to be one of rushing to shout words before the randomized timer expires. While this can create a lot of noise – and sometimes arguments as to who actually named the last word – it fails to deliver on the fun. What happens is that the noise and chaos overshadows any fun. Further, there are times when quiet prevails, as players become stuck and are unable to dredge up words meeting their subject card and the required letter. Some subject cards are more difficult than others, and it is no fun to get stuck with several during the course of the game that you just cannot work with. Further, there is a strong tendency for players to remain silent for a while, not wanting to use the word or words they have thought of too early, lest their opponents trump them with their words, so a game that is supposed to be lively and animated is often just the opposite.

Sadly, Last Word does not live-up to the promise shown by Faces or by the slogan on the box, which proclaims the game to be “An uproarious race to have the final say!” It may be a race, but it certainly is not “uproarious”. I’ve played Last Word for the last time, but will still keep an eye out for other releases in the Buffalo Games line.

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