Louis XIV is a game I picked up solely because of the author, Rudiger Dorn. My gaming group continually revisits his classic games Goa and Traders of Genoa (I can't tell you how much I enjoy those two games). My wife and I played Louis through as a two player game, and left the table thinking it was okay but not stellar. Add two more players to the table and everyone was ready to play it again immediately.

This is definitely a heavy game using strategic placement of pieces to out-maneuver your opponents. The rewards for your efforts are different each game, and you have to adjust your strategy as you go.

Another review says the theme is too dry, but most "influence" games are. I rather enjoy the different special abilities that add up throughout the game. (Special abilities are bought with power tokens won by out- influencing others.) I always feel like the game ends too soon.

Give it a try, it gets better and better the more you play it.

My playing group and I really enjoy this game, for me it is one of the best games to come out since Puerto Rico.

Each game is different and you should never feel that a solid lead in round 3 is enough to give you the victory.

You have to adapt your game all the time because you have to react to what the other palyers are doing.

Lots of fun, buy and enjoy.

Eric Gauffriau