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Quick Look: Straight 4

Publisher: Binary Cocoa
Year Published: 2019

No. of Players: 2

Ages: 6+

Playing Time: 3-5 or 5-10 minutes.

Find more info HERE.

From the Publisher:

Meet Straight4, the pocket-sized strategy game so good, it’s likely to become your go-to travel companion! Wonderfully compact, it’s ready for adventure whenever you are. You’ll grasp the rules in about a minute, enjoy a full, engaging game in just 3-5 minutes, yet discover strategic nuances that will challenge you for a lifetime—it truly is that captivating.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided the copy of Straight 4. The opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.

Review:
 

It is a bit of a minor fluke that I am reviewing Straight 4 right now.

I happened to be in the process of admiring a new cooperative survival Kickstarter game called Shadow Brume when I reached out to Binary Cocoa to see if they had any prototypes available. And while they do indeed have one that they will hopefully be able to get to me prior to their KS ending, it was sadly not to arrive in my hands immediately. As an aside for those of you into the idea of an epic co-op horror/survival game, I invite you to check out the KS page, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/binarycocoa/shadow-brume/description 

Although bummed, I did proceed to visit Binary Cocoa’s website and came across a catalog that was noticeably different than what Shadow Brume was purporting to offer, namely fast, easy-to-learn, family-friendly games. 

“Ok”, so I thought. “A lot of other companies do this, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise”. But inevitably, I proceeded to check out the games they have published and was soon captivated. Not so much by the gameplay (more on this later), but rather the presentation of their games.

I was mesmerized.  And if interested, I invite you to check out their catalog here : https://binarycocoa.com/product-category/games/

The videos that they used to demonstrate how their games work were simply magic to my eyes, and it didn’t take long for me to inquire if they wanted any coverage of existing games in their lineup. And I was happy to say they were able to send me 5 copies to review, which is how I came to have Straight 4 up for playtime.

Now I mentioned above that the gameplay itself wasn’t necessarily what drew me into trying out a few games in the Binary Cocoa’s collection. Rather, it was utility.

As someone who spent countless years working in and managing K-8 before and after school programs, I knew a priceless commodity when I saw it. The key power of the Binary Cocoa catalog is to quickly capture the attention of a mind and draw it into a fast and fun experience. Perfect for children who lack big attention spans after a long day of school!

Now Straight 4 isn’t the type of game that will require a 20 page synopsis ; it is just too simple for that. It essentially functions as a simplified , flat-tabletop version of Connect Four , with each player having 4 beads that are first placed by turn-by-turn on a gridded board, and then moved on subsequent turns until one player can line up 4 of their pieces in a row and win. Not such a big deal, right?

The beauty of Straight 4 comes with its upgraded simplicity. It comes with a fancy neoprene mat, 4 colored beads per player, and a portable small tube where the game can easily be stored and stowed. The components themselves are great, but anyone who has worked with kids knows that it can be a chore ensuring that none of the checkers from Connect Four are lost to the oblivion of some deep, dark corner or toy bin. Having a small number of easily replaceable beads helps maintain the longevity of the experience in such a hazardous setting.

And that is pretty much it. I could go on to talk about the gameplay, but that would be needless…

The more relevant matter is how easy it is for kids to pull out Straight 4 on a whim, and without a thought, simply commence gameplay. In this capacity, it is a marvel! And I wish I had it when I had the power to purchase any game I wanted for the kids programs I used to manage back in the day…

My kids have had the game for a short time, but are already starting to turn to it reliably to pass time. Not only this ; this morning , I was almost unable to take pictures for this review because one of my daughters wanted to take it to school to play with her friends! That is perhaps the best testimony I can give.

As of this moment, I would recommend that anyone who has or works with large groups of kids to check out and buy as many of Binary Cocoa’s products as you can, as they are fantastic for creating hands-free autonomy that can occupy young minds without an adult needing to be present at all times (if you happen to have at least 2 kids to play with each other, that is!).

Adults may find this particular game best for bonding time with their kids, or maybe as a coffee shop favorite. Not to be taken too seriously, but a good way to pass time.

Now why review Straight 4 first out of all of the Binary Cocoa games I have received?

Good question! I figured I would start with the “simplest” game in their lineup. Because I have now seen and played most of what they have sent me, and while you are waiting for the next reviews I provide from Binary Cocoa’s catalog, I can promise you that based on what I have seen and experienced, the best is yet to come! Straight 4 is just the tip of the iceberg!