Project CIA: The Secret Formula (1973) Board Game

Project CIA: The Secret Formula is a board game released in 1973 that falls under the category of Spies/Secret Agents. Designed by Earl Doherty and featuring artwork by Waddingtons, this game is designed for 2-4 players aged 8 and above. With a runtime of 60 minutes, players are immersed in a world of espionage and intrigue as they compete to uncover the secret formula.

Game Components of Project CIA: The Secret Formula

17 envelopes, one containing the secret formula

Game board featuring a map with rooms and exits

Player tokens

Two dice

Guard token

Briefcase token

How To Setup Project CIA: The Secret Formula

To set up the game, each player chooses a token and the 17 envelopes are shuffled to ensure the briefcase with the secret formula is included. The envelopes are placed face down on designated “x” marks on the game board. Players roll the dice to determine starting positions, with the highest roll choosing their corner of the map first, followed by the other players in a clockwise order. No two players can start from the same spot.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Find the secret formula and escape through one of the exits without getting caught by other players or the guard.

Movement: Players roll two dice to determine how many spaces they can move, adhering to black-outlined squares and avoiding diagonal moves.

Entering Rooms: Players must move through door spaces to enter rooms.

Envelope Collection: Players take possession of envelopes by landing on or moving through their spaces. They can check the envelope for the secret formula, marked by red text.

Guard Mechanics: Rolling doubles in a room summons the guard. Players must roll high enough to escape the room when the guard is present, or they will be captured and lose their envelopes.

Capture and Restart: Captured players drop their envelopes, skip a turn, and re-enter through any gate (corner of the board).

Player Experience

The game is designed for players to engage in a thrilling spy adventure, but it often falls short due to its mechanics. Players need to balance searching for the secret formula while avoiding detection by other players and the guard. However, the game’s design issues, such as the large board and the significant head start for the first player to find the formula, reduce the strategic element and make the game more about luck than strategy.

Pros

Engaging Concept: The idea of searching for a secret formula while evading capture is intriguing.

Social Interaction: Players can engage in mind games to deceive others about whether they have the formula.

Simple to Learn: The basic mechanics of rolling dice and moving tokens are easy to grasp.

Cons

Luck-Driven: Success heavily depends on dice rolls and the initial placement of the secret formula.

Large Board: The spacious board reduces the likelihood of players encountering each other, making the game less interactive.

Guard Mechanics: The guard’s random activation can be frustrating and disrupt gameplay flow.

Imbalanced Starts: The first player to find the formula often has a significant advantage, making it hard for others to catch up.

Personal Thoughts on Project CIA: The Secret Formula

This game is best suited for those who enjoy light, family-friendly board games with a spy theme. However, for players seeking a more strategic and balanced experience, **Project CIA: The Secret Formula** may not fully deliver. With some tweaks to the board design and mechanics, this game could have been more engaging and required more strategic thinking. As it stands, it is a fun but somewhat flawed addition to any board game collection.

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