I liked last year’s game better for two reasons: balance and robot diversity.
Balance:
First Frenzy had the most completely different ways to score of any game since 2001 (which was a 4 player co-op point fest, for the newer FIRST members). You could have the Human Player score small balls. You could put a mobile goal under the small ball drop to score small balls. You could cap a filled goal with a large 2X ball. You could hang off the 10ft center bar. This made a game where strategy was crucial and changed based on opponents.
This year you can only pick up and score tetras (granted there are multiple way to do that) and go home. One great thing about this year's game is the large point swing from changing rows. One problem with last year's game was a lack of good things to do in autonomous.
Robot Diversity:
With great balance comes a diverse array of competitive robots. There were small ball catchers, small ball herders, large ball handlers, climb and hangers, floor hangers, and bar blockers. All robots had one or more of these traits (and Beatty seemed to have all of them
). Building a superior robot is half the competition; the other half is executing your strategy. It is an engineering competition after all.
This year, the robots are all basically the same. I am not as interested in the Robot Showcase forum or walking around the pits as I usually am. The most notable difference in these robots is single tetra grabbers vs. multiple tetra grabbers.
Not to say that I don't like this game, I have to admit it's growing on me. I am just not ready to call it the best ever at this point. Guess I'll just have to wait till Atlanta like Dr. Joe said.