Cosmic Encounter

by Avalon Hill (Hasbro)

Product Details

• Item Weight: 0.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• ASIN: B00005LL3J
• Item model number: HAS41437
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,921 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alien wars, October 16, 2001

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cosmic Encounter (Board Game)

This is an interesting strategy game that pits different alien races against one another in a quest for galactic supremacy. The aspect that makes it somewhat unusual is that each alien persona (i.e. player) has a special power. Depending on the different combinations of powers, the dynamic of the game changes and the players' strategies must change accordingly. Lots of possible combinations keeps things interesting. The ability to forge alliances between players and gang-up on common foes adds another dimension. Lots of fun and a good interactive alternative to video or computer games, especially for boys in their 'tweens. Mom and Dad like it too.

I gave this a low educational rating because there's not a lot of information/knowledge transmitted. However, it is very good for teaching strategic thinking, so perhaps it deserves more stars in that category after all.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great game with huge potential, December 2, 2004

By 

Rosemary Macedo "rosyruns" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cosmic Encounter (Board Game)

As in Risk, your goal is to grab territory, specifically to establish colonies outside your own solar system. Battles for territory combine Risk and the card game War, since you put a certain number of ships (armies) at risk as well as show a card from your deck--your strength is the combination of ships at risk plus the face value of your attack card. Plus any allies.

Unless of course you choose to negotiate.

Thanks to the Alien cards (unique powers), the strategy changes with every game, a boon to learning and fun. Macron sounds like a great power--every ship is worth 4!--until it goes up against Anti-Matter, where the lower total wins. Advanced players will want to distribute 2 powers to each player, for even more interesting games. It's a shame they only issued 20 powers in this version--the original has many more. (Why isn't there a booster pack?)

Speaking of shortchanging, why only 4 players in this version? Six (old version) is even more fun, thanks to ever-shifting alliances. And alliances really mean something--real rewards: colonization, extra cards (ammunition), and real losses (ships).

Same goal evey game, but a totally different strategy every time. It takes a few games to 'get' it, but once you do you'll never grow tired of it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's back!, September 29, 2001

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cosmic Encounter (Board Game)

I've been searching for this game for years and now it has been reworked and reprinted by Avalon Hill. Like most multiplayer games it is funner with four players. The object of the game is to get five colonies outside of your own system. Every player has one of twenty special alien powers that influence the game. These powers are definitely not balanced but they do make for interesting combinations. Once you learn the rules you can play a game in 30-60 minutes.
Hopefully Avalon hill will release expansions in the future that add more alien powers and players.