" Both complex enough that you can actually put some thought into it and easy enough that deterrents like extreme fatigue or alcohol won't mean you can't play. "

      Title: Button Men: Samurai by Cheapass Games

      Format: Table Top dice game

      Reviewing Monkey: Our Ape Masters

      The Hype: What likely started as a joke has exploded into one of the most popular "Hallway" games in history. Gather up your button warriors and do battle in 3 lightening rounds of dice combat.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Playability: The first time you read the instructions for Button Men, you may have a hard time understanding them…that's because the game is so blissfully simple that you'll try to over think it. In short, it's played by rolling a set of given dice that represents your characters stats and skills. Once both players roll the dice, you take turns capturing your opponents dice in what amounts to a combination of both skill and chance. Do that until someone wins 3 rounds and you've got yourself a game. Though it may sound a bit simplistic from this description, you'll have to trust me that it's actually a whole heck of a lot of fun and is both complex enough that you can actually put some thought into it and easy enough that deterrents like extreme fatigue or alcohol won't mean you can't play. I call it a "Hallway" game because I've often seen it played in hallways and waiting rooms at conventions, dorms, and other places geeks can congregate. Lots of fun. 4 out of 5

      Layout and Presentation: Given how simple the game is you might expect them to shirk on the presentation, but fortunately all the artwork in Samurai is high quality, lifelike, and very pleasant to look at. Each character, if you haven't guessed already, is actually printed onto a standard press button and is actually pretty enough that I've seen people wearing them around. I have to say; though- if you're that much of a geek you deserved to be punched in the throat. 4 out of 5

      Value vs. Cost: To play each person needs a button and a handful of gaming dice (d4, d6, d8, d12, d20). Though the dice aren't provided, a pack includes 2 buttons (enough for 2 people) and instructions and retails for under 5 bucks. That means for half what it'll cost you to get into a strip club you can actually play with someone else. Not too shabby. 4 out of 5

      The Verdict:

All in all, Button Men: Samurai is a great way to spend a quarter of an hour. Fun and simple but still managing to allow some strategy it's one of the best pocket games I've ever seen.

      The Good: Great little system incorporating some great play elements.

      The Bad: People wear them, and I assault those people, and I go to jail.

      The Overall Ugly: Everyone should have at least a couple Button Men to do battle with.

      What it's Worth: Market