Crows Overkill

Taiwan based publisher, EmperorS4 pride themselves on making not only fun games, but also on providing thought provoking tabletop experiences. Their games, often rich in East-Asian culture and mysticism, are outstanding examples of minimalist design, creating absorbing game experiences with little more than a deck of cards.

Today we take a look at Crows Overkill, an intriguing addition to EmperorS4’s growing line of beautifully illustrated small box games, including Hanzi, Herbalism, and acclaimed two-player game, Hanamikoji.

So, What’s it About?

Crows Overkill pits players against each other as guests in a 19th century Japanese red-light-district, trying their best to scare away flocks of troublesome birds. The game is inspired by an old song titled, ‘Sanzen-sekai no karasu wo koroshi, nushi to asane gam shitemitai’, which roughly translates as ‘I’d kill all the crows in the world to sleep with you in the morning’.

This song, sung by one particular patron in the mid-1800s, details the obscure lengths this guest would go to in order to prolong the night’s pleasures. Or more specifically, his willingness to kill all the birds in the world to prevent the solitary cry from a crow which signals his time to leave.

That’s Ridiculous. How Does it Play?

Every turn players will draw five cards. Two from the Shamisen deck, which gives players the various tools and tricks to help scare off the birds, and three from the Bird deck. The bird cards are laid face-up in front of them, whilst the shamisen cards form their hand. The player may then play as many shamisen cards as they wish in an attempt to discard or move the birds in front of them, until they choose to pass. The basic idea is to have as few birds pestering you as possible.

The game starts with the guests arriving at the brothel at 2:00 a.m. Each time a gong card is drawn from the deck of bird cards, time advances, making it that much harder for guests to endure the night.

Birds will cry at four particular hours throughout the game, but only if certain types of bird exceed a specific number. For example, when the gong reveals the 6:00 a.m. card, each player must ensure they have less than three crows and two cocks at the end of every turn.

Using their shamisen cards, players will lash out at the winged intruders with items such as trap nets, stones, and blow darts. Some cards, such as the scarecrow and room change, affect other players, allowing you to offload birds on to your opponents. Any players exceeding the current limit of birds at the end of their turn are out of the game. The last remaining guest wins the game and presumably has a great night.

Elimination!

Being eliminated from the game sees players turning over a card representing their occupied room, revealing the words ‘Return Home’. Looking at the card’s artwork, players will curse at the squawking crow perched above their beloved hostess, before discarding their cards and witnessing the same fate shortly befall the remaining players.

Whilst player elimination is a mechanic commonly frowned upon within modern board gaming, Crows Overkill makes it work by having games be relatively short. Additionally, it can be just as fun watching the remaining players struggle after you’ve bid farewell to your own night of passion.

Interesting, But it Still Sounds Ridiculous…

Well, you’re not wrong, but this is all part of its charm. It’s fun to imagine the chaos unfurling in this quaint red-light-district. A rush of panic and feathers set to the incongruous soothing sounds of a plucked shamisen. With the right players, it is truly hilarious.

I don’t know what kind of brothels they were running back in the 1800s, but patrons certainly had access to plenty of tools to help deter troublesome onslaughts of birds.

Picture the scene: I lean in to greet my immaculately made up hostess. The night is going great. The kanzashi sticks poking out of her hair glisten in the moonlight that creeps through gaps in the shoji doors. Suddenly, two crows and a tiny warbler burst through the window, perching next to what I assumed was a decorative owl. In unison they let out a cacophonous squark, as my companion bolts for the door. I reach for a conveniently placed water gun and a handful of stones, and frantically knock two birds unconscious whilst the other two scramble into a neighbouring room.

Technically, my turn only consisted of playing a few cards, but the absurdity of the game makes it so easy to inject theme despite the lack of miniatures, meeples, or even a board.

Why Should I Play It?

Alongside boasting an original and humorous theme, Crows Overkill also offers gameplay that is fun and frantic. The good variety of shamisen cards mean birds never stay in one place for too long. As well as maintaining tension, this card variety also ensures that no player gets too far in the lead. It only takes a single card to turn a guest’s peaceful evening into a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds!

The game’s fast pace generates constant tension, as each new bird has players questioning how they will shift the fearsome flocks gathering in their room. Fortunately, it’s hugely satisfying to shift your avian mass onto another player. Believe me, it’ll be more than the birds crying at the end of a turn if you unleash a hand of particularly vicious cards!

Both the bird and shamisen cards are adorned with superb art from illustrator Amayagi-do. The muted colour palette and loving detail combine beautifully with the card’s luxurious linen finish, making each tiny piece of art a joy to hold. If you have a love of both art and nature, Amiyagi-do’s illustrations should make Crows Overkill’s modest price even more alluring.

Unfortunately there are some spelling and grammatical errors in this particular printing, in both the rulebook and on some cards. Personally this does not tarnish my opinion of the game, as the rules and gameplay are easy enough to follow despite a few translation errors.

Final Thoughts on Crows Overkill.

EmporerS4 has delivered an intriguing game here. Thanks to the art and gameplay, Your ever growing tableau of winged creatures is both enchanting and terrifying. The theme may be absurd, but it also offers a view onto an obscure moment in history that nonetheless offers interesting cultural insights.

In a similar way to art and travel books, Crows Overkill will sit nicely on your coffee table. Not only is it gorgeous and compact, but the very tale of its origins serves as a great conversation starter. You may even tempt your guests into playing! Its mature theme and reliance on player elimination may put off some players, but if you are looking for a fast, entertaining filler game with plenty of laughs, Crows Overkill certainly delivers.