Customer Reviews

Stratego Nostalgia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The 2002 Nostalgia edition of Stratego is actually a combination of different editions that were issued since this game of European origin first appeared on American shores in 1961. The original American edition of 1961 had wooden pieces and a number system had been added to make identification easier. (European editions had no number system!).
The game features the 1962 plastic tile designs. The board is a smaller representation of the '62 issue with an '86 label and the box cover artwork is actually the 1986 revision that featured "shadow" tiles and an entirely different board.
The game, I think is aimed at the boomer generation who remembered their love for this game as they were growing up and for use to instruct their children in an "I remember when" fashion. Current Stratego editions have reversed the numbering system, as younger people now see "10" as "bigger" than "1" . With this edition in hand, a father can explain to his son why to him the Marshal will always be number "1".
The inner box lid has a small panel of original illustrations of the ranks that were a part of the Milton Bradley era, a short History of the relationship of this game to the European version of "L'Attaque" from 1908 (similar, but capture rules were very different as well as regulations for placing bombs and the flag. ), along with notations on the current reversal of numbers and how this edition returns to the original rank designations.
All things considered, a sturdy and great product! Stratego players will enjoy the wooden box and classic components. A plus in the now long line of Stratego variations.

My family bought this game in the late 1960's. This version is true to original and construction is as good or better then back then, which is saying a lot. My 13 year old daugher and 16 year old son enjoy playing the game. It is a cross between Chess and Battleship; a great "capture the flag" game. I hightly recommend this two-player game.

Stratego was introduced in the United States in the early 1960s. Offering strategic elements of chess on a familiar board game motif, it became a very popular game in American households during the 1960s and 70s. By 2000, no doubt caving to constant reports of how stupid American children were becoming, Hasbro changed the numbering system on the pieces, completely inverting the familiar 1-9 scale. Historically, the most powerful piece (Marshall) was marked "1" while the least powerful piece (Scout) was marked "9." More recent editions contain pieces marked in the opposite manner, with higher ranked (i.e., stronger) pieces displaying higher numbers. This decision was not met with universal applause, and in response (or perhaps it was planned all along to generate multiple streams of revenue?), Hasbro released a "Vintage" edition. So if you wish to own the same Stratego game you grew up playing, you are forced to find an older game or else purchase the more expensive Vintage edition. Another pitfall for would-be buyers is that Hasbro recently capitalized on the popular fantasy theme, releasing a version of Stratego which replaces the classic Napoleonic army with medieval themed pieces (i.e., dragon, dwarf, slayer). Confusingly, this version is NOT named Stratego--the D&D Battle or Stratego--the Fire and Ice Edition or any other moniker that might be helpful in distinguishing among them. Note also that this version also reduced the number of pieces from forty to thirty.

To recap, there are three current Hasbro (Milton Bradley) offerings. They are all offered on Amazon (at varying price levels) and I will cross reference the manufacturer's part numbers and also provide the relevant links to the games on Hasbro's Web site, although you cannot purchase directly there.

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Stratego Nostalgia
Hasbro Item #40836
(See Comments section below for link.)

The Vintage edition (confusingly titled "Nostalgia" by Amazon) offers the proper (in my opinion!) numbering system, and comes in a keepsake wooden box.
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Stratego-Milton Bradley Board Games
Hasbro Item #04714
(See Comments section below for link.)

The basic Stratego (post-2000) edition offers the proper number of pieces (40) but the inverted ranking system. This last and most important point is not obvious until you scrutinize the Product Details. ("This new, updated version of Stratego is slightly different than the original, though the gameplay is the same.") Plus you need to apply the stickers yourself! Ouch, Hasbro cheaped out.
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Stratego
Hasbro Item #45068
(See Comments section below for link.)

The fantasy-themed version with 30 pieces. Again, Amazon has failed to adequately label the game, simply titling it "Stratego." However the Product Features make it clear. ("Choose to lead warriors from an ancient arctic realm or a fierce army from a land of fiery molten lava.")
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Your best bet? If you simply want the same game you grew up playing, just look for a cardboard boxed set from the 70s or 80s. For example, this version (Stratego - The Classic Game of Battlefield Strategy 1986 Edition) is the same one I have. I have owned it for many years with no complaints. Finding one for yourself, however, might be trickier than you think. Unless you buy it here from a Amazon Marketplace vendor--which is not recommended, given the ridiculous prices--you are left to your own devices to find it in a used game store or at a garage sale. Alternatively, you can buy one of the currently offered versions. But as I have demonstrated, they are not all the same as one another, and indeed very few are identical to what you may have grown up playing.

P.S. After much further research, I believe either of these two sets (Stratego Vintage Wood Book Edition) or (Library Stratego Game Set) are equivalent to the Vintage edition described above, and at least one may be available inexpensively at Target.

I loved this game as a kid and bought this to play with my kids. It is still a fun game but the pieces seem a lot smaller than what they used to be. I like the wooden box to store the game in, hopefully we will be able to keep it for a long time. An enjoyable game that can be played with anyone over the age of 5.

This game is all about deception. The point of the game is to obtain your opponents flag but in order to do so you must make your way through higher ranking people, and bombs. It's all about strategy, will you place your flag with bombs surrounding it, or will you place it somewhere on it's own? I'll let you decide. The game consists of two teams of equal amount of people and a gameboard. The durability of the pieces are great I have no idea how you could possibly break one. With that being said this will be a game you can keep for a lifetime. Hope you enjoy.

I love this game, and so does my 11-yr old nephew! It's really fun for kids and adults alike, and pushes the child to develop strategy skills. I loved the game as a kid myself, and this very nice wood-boxed version is very nice. Made a great Christmas present! H.

I love this game! I am glad to have found the old style box that is wooden so it will surely be durable for years, item shipped extremely fast and arrived in perfect condition, all for a very very good price!

This is a fun, thinking game that involves strategy and memory. Fun for the entire family.

Great break from the PS2 isolation chamber. We love board games and the kids are learning strategy and critical thinking ta boot!

I have played this game with my son several times. what I like about this game is that it requires a thought and strategy. This has to go into the top list of games. It is a classic.