Go For It! (1986) Board Game

Go For It! is a board game that was released in 1986 by Parker Brothers. It is designed for 2-6 players, with a recommended age of 8 and up. The game incorporates elements of betting and bluffing, roll/spin and move, and set collection mechanics.

Game Components of Go For It!

Status Cards: Divided into four categories – House ‘n Home, Wheels, Feelin’ Good, and Goin’ Places.

Career Cards: Each player selects a career card that determines their salary and status card requirements.

News Cards: Introduce random events that can affect gameplay.

Timepiece Marker: Represents the progression of the year on the game board.

Birthday Markers: Orange pieces that mark each player’s birthday on the board.

Money: $5,000 and $1,000 bills for transactions.

How To Setup Go For It!

To set up the game, shuffle all the news cards and place them face down. Shuffle each set of status cards separately and place the top three cards from each deck face up on the corresponding spaces on the game board. Each player receives three $5,000 bills and five $1,000 bills, selects a birthday marker, and places it on the board according to their birthday. Players also select a career card and attach a clip to the 0 space at the bottom. The timepiece marker is placed on the first week of January space. Players roll the dice to determine who goes first, and play proceeds in a clockwise fashion.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective

Be the first player to collect two or three different valued status cards from all four categories by the end of a Go For It round.

Gameplay Mechanics

Moving Around the Board: Players move the timepiece marker around the board, representing a calendar year.

Buying and Selling Status Cards: Players can buy or sell status cards on certain spaces.

Rolling for Upgrades: Players can risk a status card by rolling dice to upgrade to a more expensive card.

News Cards: Random events that can gain or lose status cards.

Go For It Round: Declare on Labor Day that you are going for the win; by the next Labor Day, you must have the required status cards to win.

Salary Collection: Players collect salaries based on their career card and the number of status cards they have.

Player Experience

Go For It is a game that heavily relies on luck and strategic risk-taking. Players navigate a year on the game board, collecting status cards and managing their finances. The game’s mechanics, such as rolling for upgrades and dealing with news cards, add a layer of unpredictability that can either boost or hinder a player’s progress. The objective of accumulating the right status cards by Labor Day creates a sense of urgency and competition among players.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The option to roll for upgrades and the impact of news cards keep the game dynamic and exciting.

Strategic Depth: Players need to balance risk and strategy to achieve their goals.

Social Interaction: The birthday gift mechanism and the Go For It round declare add a social element to the game.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: Winning often relies more on luck than strategy, which can be frustrating for some players.

Materialistic Focus: The game’s emphasis on accumulating material goods might not appeal to everyone.

Average Game Length: The game can be somewhat long, especially if players are not quick to declare their Go For It round.

Personal Thoughts on Go For It!

Go For It is ideal for those who enjoy roll-and-move games with a twist of luck and strategy. It’s a game that will appeal to players who find joy in accumulating virtual wealth and status. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking games with deeper strategic layers or more meaningful gameplay objectives. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, materialistic-themed game that can be played with friends and family, Go For It could be a fun addition to your game collection.

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