This rating isn't for the game itself - it's specifically for the product here on OneBookshelf.

I love Bureau 13, and I own three printed copies of this book (one is my original, 1990 printing and two are later, 1992 printings). I saw the book here as an inexpensive POD product and thought I'd grab one so I could use my 30-ish-year-old copies less, thus saving them from (further) wear and tear. Forget it! The POD version is TERRIBLE - the images (including the front cover) and text are heavily pixelated, as if someone tried to use the crappy 72-dpi bootleg copy that's been floating around the internet for printing. It's readable - mostly - but certainly not easy on the eyes or pleasing to look at.

I didn't get the PDF, so I can't speak to its quality, but I'd definitely recommend steering far clear of the POD version, no matter how low the price may be.

[EDIT: As the POD version is no longer listed, I'm amending my review so as to not poorly reflect on a really fun game. It would be a four-star rating, but I'm docking a star because the PDF price is steep for such an old game, so the rating's taking the hit for the slightly lower value-to-price ratio.]

I love the mood of the game. It doesn't take itself too seriously. There are some editing issues and it could benefit from better art inside, but for what it's trying to convey it works. It reminds me of a lot of the third party publishing stuff from the late eighties/ early nineties. Your group can fly to one island and wrangle dinosaurs, then fly to another and salvage through a post-apocalyptic wasteland dodging murderous robots, and then land on another and get roped into robbing a train. All the while trying to dodge air pirates. Love it! If you are looking for a laid back setting to use for your favorite RPG system (I'm using Savage Worlds) and just want to play some pulpy, episodic, multi-genre escapades, then you should seriously give this a look. Here's to hoping that Tri Tac Games supports this more.

EZ Space could use more than a bit of editing. There are misused words and spots where the layout is rather sloppy. Reminds me of the old days of RPG's, before word processors.

It presents some elements of a setting, but not nearly enough to run a campaign without considerable work on the part of the GM. Also, it doesn't have much of an old 50's science fiction story or movie feel to it. The technology often seems more Star Trek The Next Generation in a retro box than Forbidden Planet or Destination Moon.

The setting does have Nazis and Communists for the players to butt heads with, just as vile as they always were and now with saucers and spaceships.

The few included adventure seeds are quite usable. One's more horror than space exploration, but it's good horror though incredibly gross.

There is a simple RPG system included at the end of the book. It's a percentage system, usable but nothing special. Probably would have been better to include more setting info.

Warnings #1

To all people of Faith, any Faith, prepare to be offended. The author makes no attempt to hide a complete contempt for people who believe in 'their imaginary friend in the sky'. In this future, religion has all but died out on Earth due to contact with alien beings. The religious have moved to their own, no doubt backwards, planets. Really? Don't know about anyone else, but my beliefs wouldn't be shattered or even mildly shaken by discovering other intelligent life exists in the universe. Neither of us is going to change the other's mind, so why don't we all practice a bit of polite tolerance. Really, just for purely selfish reasons you might want to practice a little civility rather than insulting buyers and potential buyers of your products.

Warning #2:

To everyone who doesn't have a rabid hate of Ronald Reagan. In this setting he was assassinated in his first term. Come on dude, the man is dead. Get over it. No one not in the Hitler, Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot league of mass murders deserves this much hate. For your own mental health, if not for common decency, move on.

Ah well. I hope this was of some help to prospective buyers.