Quality of the product first class , a firm family favourite of many years , now played with our familiar Dales locations. Very pleased with it.
This was the second deck of cards I bought from this brand, and despite my disappointment from the first deck – a Mandalorian themed one – I decided I couldn't judge an entire brand based on one product.
Now, it might just be me having the worst luck, picking the only two decks that features the same issue, but I don't think I'll be spending my money on a third deck just to confirm my hypothesis.
The design on the face of the deck is perfectly fine. Numbers 2-10 features a selection of comic book covers featuring the superhero assigned to that suit. The J-K and Aces features (for the most part) larger images of the heroes themselves, their villains, and/or their love interests. So far so good. I particularly enjoyed seeing Iron Man assigned the Hearts suit – very thematically appropriate.
My issue with the deck, which was the same issue I had with the Mandalorian one, is the backs of the cards. I did try to see if I could discern the design before I bought the deck, but alas, as the deck was wrapped in plastic inside the box, and an ad card had been placed at the end of the deck, I didn't get the opportunity. I wish I had.
Compared to the neat design of the faces, the backs are 1) boring, 2) obnoxious, and 3) dare I say, almost ugly. It's a black square with Waddingtons logo, a GIANT version of the "Number 1" part of said logo – seriously, it takes up at least 1/3 of the height of the card – and a big Marvel Comics-logo. NONE of those things are what I want to be looking at when playing cards, or playing solitaire. It really does take the enjoyment out of the deck as a whole.
My impression so far of the Waddingtons Number 1 decks is that they could have been one of my favorites – it really seems like they have good, neat ideas for designs of the card faces on themed decks – if only they'd just put some effort at all in making the backs enjoyable to look at. Because so far, the ones I've seen have been the opposite. Trying to play with these honestly just makes me feel sad and annoyed.
I really wished I could've enjoy this deck more than I am. The design of the faces of the cards are pretty, the art is original to the deck and has a common style throughout, and I absolutely adored the choice to replace the regular suits with Mandalorian helmets. It's also a plus that the numbers are placed in all four corners – it makes my left handed brother happy to be able to hold the cards in a way that is natural for him without obscuring the numbers.
The reason why I can't give this deck and design more than two stars is because of the BACK of the cards. When I bought it I didn't expect the brand name and manufacturer's name to be flaunted so large on every. Single. Card. What you see on the box is literally what it looks like inside.
It's obnoxious. It's tacky.
The Star Wars brand and the Waddington Logo should have been it's own little ad card, leaving the back of the cards to artwork. The brands makes the deck look cheap and gimmicky, even moreso than any generic gas station deck of cards.
Considering how much time is spent looking at the back if the cards, be it during card games or especially when playing solitaire, the fact that they're so ugly from that side makes playing with them feel... Not good. I keep thinking about how much better they could have looked.
I had this game as a child and still have a copy of it. It is great to play with persons affected by dementia or memory loss. I play regularly with the old gentleman in my fathers care home and it is greatly enjoyed by them