Lautapelit LAU051 Flamme Rouge, Mixed Colours

In a little bit Stronghold Games is going to release their version of this game, and I'd really recommend waiting for it... because this is a great game mired by cheap components. I am not one to normally complain about the pieces included in a game box but these actually got in the way of me enjoying the game. The biggest offender were the figs - the little plastic bicyclists - made of extremely thin plastic, 6 of 8 of the bicyclists fell off their bikes right out of the packaging and you need to those two unique figures for each team of racers. So we spent the entire game moving the racers and then delicately replacing them onto the bikes. A lesser offender are the thin cards, which you can tell aren't going to hold up to the constant shuffling that the game demands.But the gameplay itself is SO. MUCH. FUN. It's quick and intuitive, competitive without feeling mean. I would highly recommend this game and I just hope that Stronghold makes a more sturdy version of it.

I had played this game before I bought it, so I knew what I was getting. However, I love the simplicity of the gameplay. It's really easy to teach someone. The level of strategy is enough that its not all based on luck, but at the same time not so strategic that someone who doesn't like high-thinking games will be intimidated. Honestly one of my favorite games!

good job!

Once you've played Flamme Rouge, at some point you are going to try and explain to someone why a game that's basically a bicycle racing simulation is really fun, and they will probably look at you like you just said that you love the scent of your own flatulence. Keep talking until they agree to play it with you.You get two cyclists, each with its own deck of 15 cards, and each card shows a number. On your turn, you draw 4 cards for each cyclist, play one card for each, then you move your cyclists their respective numbers of spaces along the board. Keep doing it until someone reaches the finish line. See, even now, I'm doing a terrible job of explaining the game in a way that really conveys its excitement. It's the timing of the cards you choose to play, and the cramped two-lane road that make the game tense. Sometimes you get lucky, slipping into a draft that pulls you closer to the leader. Sometimes you burst ahead of the pack, but then take fatigue cards that make your deck less efficient. Sometimes you have to climb hills, or waste some of your movement because the road in front of you is too crowded. Once you play a card, you never get it back, so timing those 9-space cards for your sprinter is important.Flamme Rouge (the Red Flag in the Tour de France) succeeds both on a thematic level and as a strictly abstract racing game. The courses are like puzzle pieces that you put together in a variety of combinations for different play experiences. The simplicity of playing the game belies the strategy involved in winning. It's fantastic, and has award-winning potential.

Surprisingly simple, but realistic game. My only play thus far played out much like a real race. Someone accidentally got caught out in the wind, couldn't manage to get out of it, and ultimately paid for it. A strong rider cleared the pack around mid-race, the other riders hesitated, and couldn't reel him in before he just about exhausted himself completely. Very excited to play again and on the more advanced courses. Any gaming cyclist would appreciate this for at least a few plays and with there being so few cycling games out there, it's likely a no brainer to add to the collection

Although I do like simple games, this one felt way too simple and relies on luck way too much. The artwork is great and design very solid so i was prepped to love this but after playing it a vouple of times, i m bot ready to play again.

As fans of bicycle races we were interested in this game. After looking at the rules, I think we'll keep looking for a more realistic cycling game. There aren't many hills or mountains in this game, and in real races the curves and turns are meaningful hazards, often with crashes. In this game it seems the curves only allow the track to fit on the table ... otherwise they might as well be straight track. Road surfaces, etc., maybe we missed something, but I don't think so.

This is a really good cycle race game. I like it because you just cannot speed ahead of the field or you will be penalised with exhaustion cards which will really slow you up at the end. The track is made up of large jigsaw type pieces so you can make a variety of different shaped courses. The game is played with cards but you have to choose you strategy well to stand a chance of winning. Staying in the pack is more beneficial to you but don't let yourself fall too far behind the leader. If you play it right, you can benefit from slipstreaming the cyclist in front of you as you can gain additional moves if you are one clear space behind. A game with all the playing pieces took about 1 hour and a half but I was totally into what I was doing and the time went very quickly. This is a race game with tactics and can be quite exciting when the end approaches with several riders vying to get to the finish line first. You can play your own Tour De France or Tour of Britain if you like. A great game that is well worth checking out.

This is no ordinary racing game! The mechanics are simple and easy to learn, a pleasant change from rulebooks which stretch to twenty pages or more. Don't be fooled though by the fact that each player is basically just moving their bikes forward on a track. There is a tactical depth to Flamme Rouge demanding strategic planning from start to finish. In fact even though I know nothing about team cycling and am not a huge fan of racing games, Flamme Rouge is a sheer joy to play. The modular track system adds an extra dimension and tactics have to be precise in order to tackle hills successfully. Moreover Flamme Rouge is a game ripe for added accessories, so it could become a delight for those keen modellers who are eager to inject a scenic landscape. Will definitely be purchasing expansion versions.

What a cracking, fun game this is. The most clever feature is the way it appropriates a cycle race. The early stages are cagey, each rider jockeying for position, then, as the race progresses, the field stretches out a bit and there's a chance to make the dash for the line. Riders move up in the peleton because of slipstreaming and, likewise, if you're in front you get 'exhaustion cards' which slows your progress. Staying at the back prevents getting these cards but then you do need to manoeuvre your way around the other riders to the front at some stage. Timing is critical. There are four different courses, some including mountains which also helps with the variety.The graphic design in a 1930s style, including the cyclist pieces, is very pleasing. I do have some gripes about the production of the game, though. The different types of card are hard to tell apart and the box doesn't include places to store them so you need to rubber band them after play. Still a five star game, though.

First time opening you will be amazed at the amount of pieces and I could see, if it was a better game, the replayability would be high because of the different tracks which could be made. But unfortunately, we didn't even manage to finish the game because it was so boring. It's a simple concept which will please some people, but we felt there was not enough strategy to keep us engaged.

Was really looking forward to this, but a Spanish edition arrived, with only Spanish on the box and instructions. English, French, Swedish and possibly German the family could cope with. Is being returned.