Looney Labs isn't necessarily a household name for board games and card games, but, in my opinion, they should be. The game design studio has developed many fun party games, like Fluxx and all of its variants (Zombie Fluxx being my favorite), the time twisting Chrononauts, and has just released the fun fantasy-based (and sometimes devilish) Are You The Traitor?. These games are great with friends, around the table after dinner, and before other more intense, time consuming games. They serve as a nice, fresh splash of randomness, fun, and sometimes hilarity into what can be a pretty serious gaming night.

Looney Labs' latest release is Aquarius, a game that functions as a mix between table top card games like Fluxx and the ancient favorite Dominoes. Players start the game with 3 cards in hand and a special "Goal" card that shows them one of five elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Space). Cards can have anywhere from one to four elements on it, or it can be a wild card (can stand for all 5 of the elements).The game starts with a card already on the table, and players play cards so that at least one of the elements on the card they play has to match with the card you're playing it against. If it happens to match more than one element, you get to draw extra cards at the end of your turn. The way to win the game is to use the cards you draw to build a line of cards with your element on them. The first player who can draw a line between cards that have a connected line of their element wins.

Seems pretty simple, right? Well, that's where the Action cards come into play. In the deck, along with all the Element cards, are cards that allow you to do things. Some Actions allow you to move cards on the board or pick up a card that is on the board, while others mess with the hidden information of the game, allowing you to switch goals with an opponent (which is a great way to steal the win away from someone), force everyone to have their Goal cards rotated to the player on their right. These Actions make the game fresh and random, giving it a much needed pizazz.

As far as the materials go, the game is gorgeous. A little abstract in its composition, the cards show beautiful, loudly-colored images of the five elements, as well as different illustrations for the Action cards. The game is startlingly good looking, and it draws people towards it when played. The game has a groovy 60 and 70s feel - even the name, which reminds me of the song "Aquarius" from the musical Hair. The illustrations have a very 70s quality about them, and the player with the longest hair gets the first turn (which seems silly, but its as good a way to choose who goes first as any).The bright colors and matching make the game suitable for younger children too, and Looney Labs has graciously added rule sets for the youngest among us. The materials are solid, and the cards shuffle very well - I would expect no less from the makers of Fluxx. More cautious players may consider investing in card protecting sleeves for the deck of cards, but I think that that precaution is mostly unnecessary. The cards will last a long time, and provided they don't get mangled or have beverages spilled on them.

Playing the game is simple, but you do need a bit of table space for all the cards, especially with the more players you add to the game. A five player game can get big pretty quickly, so try to give yourself plenty of room. Three and four player games are easy to be deceptive in: by building a line of an element that isn't your goal, you can get your opponents to try and stop you from building that element. The problem is, one of your opponents may be holding that element Goal. This isn't as much of the case in a five player game, because you know that everyone has an element, so no matter what element you build up, you are helping someone.

Many more serious gamers may be put off by the simplicity of the game - it is, after all, not a new Puerto Rico, Power Grid, or Carcassone. This may explain its semi-low rating at the Board Game Geek, where players tend to be much more focused on the strategy-based European board game. I will have to respectfully disagree with their lower rating of Aquarius. Aquarius does what it intends to very well. As a party game, Aquarius shines. Its unique cards, fun, easy to learn game play, and quick turnaround time makes it ideal for people who aren't gamers, and for newbies interested in trying something new. Small, easy party games like Aquarius function well as an ice breaker in social events, and guys take note: this is a game that the ladies of the non-gaming persuasion will probably have fun playing.

Aquarius will retail for $15.00 USD and is due to be released on August 28th. The game can be preordered at the Looney Labs website ( http://store.looneylabs.com/Aquarius), or purchased at your local friendly game store. As a quick, simple, and fun party game, Aquarius ranks up in the top.