Picture this!
Pictureka! is another conveniently sized, affordable (`175), easy-to-carry-around game from Funskool. It has 75 picture cards, 32 mission cards, three wild cards, and four possible games that you can play with the same deck. The illustrations are stylised. The mission cards suitably generic, allowing for some width in interpretation during game play. The deck is well finished. The packaging is agreeable. Yet, there’s something about Pictureka! that seems like more posturing and passion.
In the four suggested games, winning requires either being the first to discard all your cards, or accumulating the most cards by the end of the game. The double mission cards ensure more play start points — which is good thinking to increase game longevity. Drawing ‘a toe’, I’m rapidly collecting cards of a hairy leg whose ankle is being snapped at by a crab with marvelously exaggerated claws. I argue my way to possession, pointing out the toes on the foot. And then gather up the foul-mouthed parrot, pointing to the claws. The group dubiously allowed that maybe a parrot’s claw is the equivalent of a toe!
Playing the match-two-cards variant, ‘a hairy beast’ mission card was quickly followed through by a player who grabbed a delightful cave man, and an unshaven burglar, whom she insisted had a hairy back. In another version, each round began with a random alphabet, and on dealing out four picture cards at a time, players could claim a card, if they could beat the others to establishing an unassailable link between alphabet and picture card.
Pictureka! is probably going to work well with a like-minded group curious to explore a new game, or be thoroughly enjoyed by a hysterically-‘determined-to-make-the-party-come alive’ bunch. Playing Pictureka! in a straight forward deal, match discard and pick mode, will be no joy at all. The imagination must run riot. The most unlikely connections must be made between mission and picture cards. The arguments to support the connection must be ingenious and a vivid demonstration of the unlikely leaps the mind can make. Played like this, Pictureka! can be entertaining. Anything less, will be very trying!
— The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com
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