Your jeep bounces crazily as you zip along the secret path to the lost Mayan temple you discovered not two days ago. It's been a race to uncover the temple's riches, and you know that time is short. Soon your competitors will discover your find and will try to wrest control of it from you by swarming the site with workers of their own. Can you excavate the site and hold onto it long enough to claim the discovery as your own?

In Ravensburger's new game, Tikal, you play the part of an Expedition Leader looking to unearth as many riches as possible in the Mayan site named Tikal. Each player attempts to control as many treasures and temples as he can over four scoring rounds. The player best able to use his limited resources to outmaneuver his opponents is declared the winner.

Mmmmm... can you smell it? That's atmosphere, baby. Tikal's got it to burn. The whole package adds up to a game that feels nicely integrated with its theme. The board, the jungle tiles, the temple and treasure counters, the player aids -- all done up in suitably Mayan-like graphics. The bits are all gorgeous and they sure are plentiful. And the nicest part -- they all come in a box that has a tray insert that's specially designed to hold the components. Very classy.

First, there's the board. It's big and sturdy, with nice jungle graphics on it and a scoring track running around the outside of it. It has hexes overlaid on it where the jungle tiles will be placed. The lower left-hand corner has four hexes already filled in. These depict a central base camp that anyone can use to deploy workers and two temples that are up for grabs in the beginning of the game.

Next come the jungle tiles. These big hexes depict one of four things; plain jungle, temples, treasure sites, and volcanoes. On the back of each jungle hex is a letter of the alphabet -- they're in groups so that higher-numbered temples come out later in the game, and they divide the volcano tiles (Tikal's version of Wertung cards) up so that the scoring rounds are spaced evenly throughout the game. Each jungle tile can have from one to three "stepping stones" on each of its six sides -- these are used to calculate the cost to move from one hex to its neighbor.

Then we have the temple and treasure counters. The temple counters are placed on temple tiles that have been placed on the board, and represent the efforts of an expedition to uncover more of a temple, thereby finding more riches. The treasure counters are placed on the treasure tiles as they're laid on the board - each treasure tile depicts how many of the counters are placed on it when it is placed. Once all of the treasure counters have been claimed from a treasure site, that's it.

Finally, each player has a wooden base camp, a number of workers (little wooden cylinders) and one expedition leader (a big wooden cylinder). These are used for exploration, digging, treasure acquisition, and temple guarding.

To start a round, a number of jungle tiles are turned up and "auctioned" off. Each player starts with 20 points on the scoring track. The players then take turns bidding for the right to select the first jungle tile, using their victory points as "cash". Once a player wins the auction, he places his jungle tile next to any already placed jungle tile (the four filled-in hexes in the lower left-hand corner are considered 'already placed'). Thus, the board fills in from left to right. Each player then has 20 Action Points to spend on various actions.

It costs 1 AP to move a worker from your reserves to a base camp. It costs APs equal to the number of "stepping stones" a worker must cross to move a worker from one hex to the next. If there are no stepping stones in the direction the worker wishes to go, he can not cross on that hex. Thus, it can cost from one to six APs to move a worker were you want him to go. One of the keys to stymieing your opponents is the placement of jungle hexes so as to allow yourself easy access to a nice juicy treasure trove, while ensuring that the cost for them to move a worker in is prohibitive.

You may place your base camp on any clear jungle tile at a cost of 5 AP. This allows you to bring your workers in to that camp, as opposed to the camp at the lower left-hand corner of the board. Since the temple values increase as the board fills in from left to right, it soon becomes prohibitive to move a worker from your reserves to the new areas, so it's important that you establish your new base camp closer to the right side of the board.

Each temple tile depicts a partially uncovered temple with a number of the top of it. When a scoring round occurs, whoever has the majority of workers at the site scores that number of points. There are a few wrinkles added to this. First, a player may spend 2 AP to have a worker dig down to another layer of the temple. This allows the player to place a temple counter on top of the temple, increasing the number on top of it by one. The player may also place a guard on the temple at a cost of 5AP, and only if he has the majority of workers at the site. If a player opts to do this, he places one of his workers on top of the temple, and the rest of his workers at the site go back to his reserves -- which can be a serious hit, since you spent a lot of APs to get those guys where they were, so one must be careful to try and move workers off site prior to doing that if possible. Once a temple is guarded, it can only be scored by the guarding player. A player may only place two guards per game.

A player may also have his workers recover treasure. When a treasure tile is laid, a number of treasure counters equal to the icons on the tile are placed face-down on the tile. A player may move a worker there and spend 3 AP per worker to have each worker recover one treasure. Each treasure counter is worth one point. However, there are eight different types of treasure counters, and if you can get matching sets you'll do better. A pair is worth 3 points and a triplet is worth 6 points. You may at any time on your turn do a forced exchange of treasure counters with another player at a cost of 3AP. However, you may never break up another player's pairs or triplets.

When a volcano tile is chosen (not drawn) by someone, then a scoring round occurs. The player who chose the volcano tile goes first, and scoring then proceeds in a clockwise fashion. Each player gets a 'free' 10 AP to spend prior to scoring, and then that player's position is scored. Thus, the scoring round is very fluid and dynamic, and a single temple could be scored many times. Once everyone has scored, the player of the volcano places the volcano tile (now a 'dead' space, acting only as a blocker since no passage is allowed through the volcano) and takes his turn as normal. There are three scoring rounds, and after the last jungle tile is placed there is one final scoring round.

Tikal got a lot of play at this year's Gathering of Friends, and the reaction was very positive. The few negative comments I heard centered on the down time between each player's turn. The game is very fluid and a lot can change between each player's turn, so that you are somewhat forced to wait until your turn to do any serious planning. Since you only have 10 AP to spend, it can lead to 'perfect planners' going into vapor lock, staring at the board as they compute the optimal actions to take. As usual, my advice to you is to lean in, get nice and close to them, and scream 'ARE YOU DONE YET?!?' as loudly as you possibly can. Do this every three minutes until they get the hint.

Tikal has tons of flavor, allowing you to easily fall into the role of an Indian Jones-style character during play -- 'The Cross of Coranado will stay with ME, thank you very much!', said as you snatch the match to your treasure pair from another player. The bits are gorgeous and when the board is nearly finished, you can't help but admire how beautiful it is. It's got absorbing gameplay and allows you to storm in, cap off a temple your friend has been building up for turns, beat up his workers, and take control of his temple -- all the while laughing like some mad treasure-crazed fool. What more could you ask for? Recommended.

Our favorite family strategy game from last year still "tikals" our fancy. Starting from a small clearing in a corner of the board, use the hexagonal tiles to explore a jungle rich with tempting treasures and mysterious temples. You, as an underfunded explorer, need to move, hire workers, excavate temples, take treasures, add tents, and compete with other explorers. Unfortunately, your allotted 10 action points just will not suffice. Too bad. Volcano hexes erupt into scoring rounds. To obliterate any traces of randomness, try the variant in which the hexagonal tiles are auctioned off. This is a game that is beautifully produced and well-integrated with its theme.

Germany's Game of the Year is a brilliant production that fits its theme extraordinarily well. Also our choice for Best in Family Strategy, it boasts a gorgeous gameboard, attractive pieces and intense, fascinating gameplay. The board starts out as a jungle which is cleared, little by little, as members of each expedition search for and claim objects of value. Each player in turn picks and plays a hexagon, which represents a clearing.

Some hexagons have temples, which you can slowly excavate to earn extra points. Some hold treasures you can purchase. Some are clearings on which you may pitch a tent and subsequently add workers without trudging all the way from base camp. A scoring round erupts when a Volcano hex appears.

You get 10 Action Points per turn with which to pay the costs of getting treasures, excavating temples, adding tents, bringing more workers onto the board, or just moving from hex to hex. You will quickly discover that 10 Action Points are not enough to do even half the things you want to.

This is a masterpiece that both casual and fanatic gamers will enjoy. For an even keener battle, try the Auction Variation, where players bid for one of a selection of faceup hexagons.

Tikal will bring out the inner explorer in you, and you won't even need mosquito netting or a pith helmet.

Ok, this game is a Spiel Des Jahres game of the year winner from 1999, the same year my Camaro was built, and rightfully so (the game not my Camaro). This game is AWESOME! But, it is also not for the initiate gamer, or the timid. This will make the third review I've made of a Spiel Des Jahres game of the year winner from 1999 to 2001 (CF my reviews of Torres and Carcassonne). I have a lot more to go, although I have played and reviewed Rummikub too, so you might want to go check that out as well, and I guess that makes 4 reviews! I never even knew Rummikup won up to a few weeks ago! I also have a public wish list of as many Spiel Des Jahres winners as I could find here from as early as I could go back (1978). I hope to one day offer a review for each winner. Anyway I'm getting off subject here, or am I? It occurs to me that I've given ALL the previous Spiel Des Jahres winners I've reviewed a favorable review so far, therefore I'm willing to say this much... I believe overall if YOU decide to buy ANY game that won this same award, that it's more than fair to say that THAT game will also ROCK. I really feel that the boys and girls that run the Spiel Des Jahres know what they're doing over there in Essen.

From the same design team that brought us Torres, Tikal from what I understand is one of a trilogy set in Central and South America. I have not played those other games, I have played this game. And it plays very well.

It is a bit complicated in it's play, and if your familiar with Torres, then you should be able to grasp this game. The box says 2-4 players for 90 minutes, some descriptions say 20 to 30 minutes learn. Once you do that, the game becomes quicker to you each time. My friend and I have only played it three times, and we can bang a game out in about an hour, shaving 30 minutes off the box markings.

I would not however recommend this game right away to any novice gamer as stated earlier. This is a complex game, with fairly advanced parameters, and multiple levels of strategy. If you really must insist on playing this game before trying something more easy like say, Torres, you might be able to grasp this game in about a half hour, if you've either: played an RPG like D&D or you're familar with the German Style of gaming. Otherwise it could take you considerably longer to figure out.

I love building games, where one either builds with a card game (Citadels, Illuminati, Water Works), builds with tiles (Carcassonne, Rummikub, Torres) or just games in general where there's a planned progression (Chess, Pente, Dominos). This game certainly delivers all that and more. I can certainly see where there could be many expansion modules for this game. Whether you add a new set of decks or offer alternate decks, a larger board to introduce room for more tiles, and players... say 2-6 players? Or just the addition of new and different set of treasures to find, there are many avenues the manufacturer could take this game. I think the mechanics of this game are brilliant. I think the design, and layout, and especially the printing are also brilliant. I would love to see some expansions for this game, as long as it's done within reason. Who here doesn't think Hans Im Glück didn't go a bit overboard on the whole Carcassonne theme (no matter how much you love or hate Carcassonne)???? <raises hand> <loves Carcassonne too>

Now, I have not played any of the other games in this theme, but I have played Torres (CF. my review). I think that Torres makes a great jumping off platform for Tikal. Torres, to Tikal is a logical transition and, Torres is quick to learn and play, and will teach the mechanics of this game. The designers, Kiesling and Kramer, seem to know what they're doing, I will certainly keep playing their games, and looking out for new ones they create. I can't wait to own my own version of Tikal, so until then, I will just have to continue playing it at Kevin's house. But I did win the very first time I played this, and the second time too.

When the Board Game Cafe announced it was closing, I lined up to buy some of the games he had, and Tikal was top of my list. The board design and the packaging catch your eye, but the real fun comes in the actual play. It is an extremely genrous game giving each player 10 action points to play each turn and the chance to control your destiny with carefully placed markers.

The premise is that players are excavating the temples of Tikal in Guatmala and earning points from discovering treasure and uncovering and laying claim to temples. Every action taken is strategic from where you place the terrain hexagons to how well you distribute your "team" throughout the dig site.

We began the game feeling a bit overwhelmed at how much was required of us per turn, but after each of us had taken our first turns, we soon began to see the multiple levels of strategy involved and started getting competitive right away. Just when you think you have the game figured out, an unexpected volcano erupts causing players to scurry to retain and claim as many points as they can, and with 10 action points per turn, it can be a large pay-off for the keen-eyed player.

About half-way through the game, we were out of our seats hovering over the table anticipating the next moves we would be making and praying the volcano (the point at which points are scored) would delay just a bit longer until we had secured one more treasure to make a complete set or had stationed a temple guard to guarantee the value of that excavation.

Even more rewarding was the notion that any one of us could be the winner and the top excavator would not be revealed until all the points were tallied. It is not a foregone conclusion who the winner will be and that one point you manage to secure could be the one that makes the difference.

The Board Game Cafe may be gone now, but thankfully I escaped with the real treasure! Tikal is a real find.

Tikal is a unique, medium-weight strategy game. The board and overall gameplay are different every time.

You must carefully plan how to use your limited resources each turn. You have to stay on your toes or your opponent will spoil your plans. You may think you have a little area of the board carved out just for yourself, only to have your opponent plunk down a base camp right there and begin grabbing those remaining empty spaces.

Two possible negatives in this game are "analysis paralysis" and the fact that you have very little to do during other players' turns. But if all players agree to play expeditiously, these two things aren't too much problem. And if you do have slow turn- takers, you can always use a timer. But despite this, Tikal is still one of the best games I own.

I have not played the auction variant described in the rules, but I've heard it's more challenging.