I wrote a little review, maybe it's a lot of review, hope you like it.
This game is funny, cute, charming, and good. I have not played it yet, so this is review is based on reading the rules alone. It reminds me of Sword Loser, which is similar in a few ways, except that you draw swords instead of landmarks, and it's not a linear journey like this is.
The theme is well represented. It's a game about maps, bad ones! The Goal not so much, it does not seem there are parts of the map from different ages. I mean I guess players could make up a story where that is true, but it's not implicit. So 3 stars there.
How strongly are maps integrated? The idea that the maps are bad is clever, since not everyone will have drawing ability and this makes the game stress free and inclusive. You are basically meant to spend the whole game doodling landmarks, and then charting a path between them, so that seems well integrated to me. It's a bit simple, but simple can be good! I give it 4 out of 5.
I do believe it is elegant in a way. Not in the way that blows one away with inventiveness or emergent storytelling arising from the mechanics, but from the simplicity. As I said simplicity can be good, and simplicity is part of elegance. In my definition the other part is complexity coming from simple rules. I don't know if that's entirely the nature of this game, the complexity of the experience feels relatively straightforward. But I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I am curious about the horses. They have names and a weapon of choice. Do they talk? I hope they talk. Can I be lead horse instead of lead knight? If that's what I'm meant to do, it was communicated very elegantly. 4 out of 5.
The tone of the game may be it's best quality, playful, a bit silly, fun and accessible. And you get to be silly knights! I could easily see a story similar to Monty Python and The Holy Grail coming out of this, which is definitely a good thing. Perhaps it was an inspiration. 4 out of 5
(I'm clearly having difficulty handing out 5 star ratings. I guess I am reserving that for "the best possible", whatever that means. Ratings are subjective and a bit arbitrary. I'm not looking for perfection to earn a 5, but a sense of really nailing that category, blowing it out of the water, while a four is a solid well done. Don't read too much into it.)
Oh look here, the rules are extremely easy to understand. After only a few minutes reading I feel like I could play this game from memory (though I wouldn't because I'd be depriving my players of some quality humor). 5 out of 5!
20 out of 25 overall. That's very good. This is my first review, I don't know what I'm doing really, but that's a respectable score. Well done!