Reviewed By: Pugilist

Game Name: You've Been Sentenced!
Publisher: McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds
Game Type: Family Card Game, non collectible
Number of Players: 3
Solo Play Ability: High
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 8
Game Cost: $24.95
Game Score: 87.9% / 100%

When I first were made aware of the McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds game, You've Been Sentenced! I knew, even without having it in front of me that I would like it.  It's a game in the spirit of Apples to Apples in that it involves social interaction between the players and an open invitation to let your creativity run amok.  I could probably let that stand as my review but I have a reputation of wordiness to maintain so I'll go into detail. 

Let's start with a basic description of the game contents.  The game comes in a pentagon shaped box.  This is fortunate since the cards inside the box are pentagon shaped as well and they fit nicely in the corners with everything held in place by a soft styrene, oddly enough, pentagon in the middle of the box.  Add a four (4) page rule booklet, a score pad and a three (3) minute timer and we've categorized the game contents exactly.

A side note about the cards themselves.  For my tastes they are a little thin.  The other players in our test session told me to shut the hell up and stop whining.  I still would like thicker cards but, readily admit, that if the cards were twice as thick, which would be my preference, you would get only half the cards in the box.  The box is a standard width and doubling the width would make it unwieldy, in size and weight.  If you actually had to hold the cards in your hand the thinner makeup would quickly become a problem.  But, as we'll see below, this is not a game where you worry about holding you cards, keeping them secret, etc.  Unlike a lot of games, once you draw your cards and confirm that everyone playing has the correct amount, it does not matter in the least who sees your cards or if you choose to hold them in your hands, with your toes, have trained mice parade them about the playing area, or whatever.  It's not about secrecy, it's about arranging your words in the best and most profitable way.

So, while I would prefer thicker cards, the impact on the game would be all negative so, and here's a surprise, it looks like the game designer and publisher know better than I do.  Bastiges!

Now that I've got that off of my chest, I bet you are wondering why the cards are pentagon shaped.  Is it for the "cool" factor?  No.  Was there a special rate of pentagon shaped cards?  I doubt it.  Is it part of the global conspiracy of the industrial military complex about which Eisenhower spoke so prophetically?  No.

The cards are pentagon shaped because each card contains five words, one per side. Ah, but are these just random words slapped on with no thought?  Nope.  You have several types of cards:

1. Standard word cards that have five (5) variations of one (1) word
2. Connector word cards that have, surprise, surprise, connector words like and, the, of, etc
3. Name word cards that have, can you guess, proper names on them
4. Place word cards that have, you guessed it, places on them
5. Wild cards that can be used for any word you like

Now, there are two (2) critical considerations for this game:

1. All punctuation, except the apostrophe (the ' in Pugilist's), is implied
2. The wild card can be used as any word OR the above mentioned apostrophe

Everything is clearly spelled out in the rule booklet.  I included it here for a few reasons:

1. It helps the review make sense
2. I get to try to be clever while explaining everything
3. I love to make bullet lists

But enough about me, let's get on with the game.

Game Setup:

1. Open the box, unwrap the cards, place ALL of the cards in the middle of the playing area and mix them up into a huge, unsorted, pile. 
2. Determine the teams/players.  Yes, the game can be played with teams, up to 10 of them.  While we only played with teams of one (1) I can see this game really shining with teams of two (2) to four (4) players.  Once you have the teams, come up with a name and record it on the score card.
3. Decide if you will use the timer or not.  We did not use the timer since it reduces the amount of smack talk you can give or receive.  If you want to add some pressure, by all means use the timer.
4. Each team draws a total of 10 cards from the pile.  A note of caution; make certain you do not draw 10 cards sequentially from a stack.  You will, most probably, not be happy with the results, based on my personal experience.
5. The teams will construct a comprehensible sentence using at least two (2) our as many of the 10 cards that they can or desire.
6. Knock on the table when you are done
7. Sentences are judged by the teams for comprehension value and structure and you count up your score.  Each card used is worth five (5) points unless indicated differently on the card.  The first team to finish gets an additional 10 points and, if you are able to use all of your cards, you get a 10 point bonus.  Once all teams have completed their sentences Each one is judged by the other teams with a majority rule as to if it passes muster or not. You can defend your sentence passionately but you cannot judge your own sentence. What happens if the court decides your sentence is not not grammatically correct?  Zero points baby! Get over it.  Now, if there is a tie, the sentence scores.  Live with it.
8. Set your cards aside, draw another 10.  If there are not enough cards available for all teams, mix them all back together into a huge pile and then everyone draws their cards.
9. Lather, rinse, repeat steps 4-8 until there is one or more teams scoring above 200.  The team with the highest score above 200 wins that round.  If there is a tie, play another round, flip a coin, have a push-up competition, whatever.  Use your imagination to determine a tie-breaker but I have to tell you, knife fights are strictly discouraged!

And that's it; that's how you play the game.  Of course, not captured are the truly bizarre sentences that get constructed.  From a traffic jam being defined as something that grabs shiny gassy things to Woodrow Wilson hitting the smoking monkeys to Cute Sally yellowing some one's teeth it is truly amazing what some folks will try to pass as correctly structured or comprehensible.  Not me, of course, all of my sentences were the epitome of perfection. 

I'd like to report that I won every game that I played.  I would like to do so because, of course, I deserved to win and because I am simply an amazing sentencenator (real word, trust me, don't look it up), but the sad truth is that the people who played the game with me, obviously jealous of my unprecedented ability and incredible good looks, conspired to rob me of my rightful wins.  That they did so by constructing better sentences just proves how low they will stoop.

Additionally, this game is not a one-trick pony.  Aside from the standard and turbo (played with timer) games, there are a number of different rule sets available on the website.  These can spice things up if you so desire and are great to keep people hopping. 

So, where would you play this game?

1. Family game night (You don’t have a family game night?  Establish one and inaugurate it with this game.  NOW!)
2. Parties
3. Team Building for businesses
4. The classroom

Although I saved the classroom for last, it's really the first place I thought of this game serving.  That said, this is not a "it'll be good for you" boring game that only gets played in the classroom.  Certainly if you can't read and hate words and can't understand grammar and sentence structure, you may find this game frustrating.  But that's why you play with a team.  It's like Pictionary in that aspect.  Your team is stronger with more points of view.

You've Been Sentenced! is just plain enjoyable to play.  Whether with friends or with family or by yourself as a lark.  That's when I used the timer, when I played around with the game by myself.  It's not like Trivial Pursuit, there are no secrets or answers or anything like that.  Playing solo does not mean you are cheating ahead of time if you play later with others.  Playing the game solo just means that you get a taste of the ludicrous possibilities.  Playing against the time can hone your timing a bit, but, in the end, it's all about your reactions to your current set of 10 cards.

If you're looking for a great game for the family or party, this is it.  If you are looking for a great game for the classroom to make sentence structure come alive, this is it.  If you are looking to waste your time and money and get a useless product; avoid this game.  It's a great product at a reasonable price and can be played over and over without ever losing its freshness or fun.  

If you've missed the hint, I’m telling you to buy it.

NOW!