Customer Reviews

MEMOIR '44 PACIFIC THEATRE EXPANSION

5 star:		(3)
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Lets be clear you need to have the original Memoir 44 game, before you should consider buying this. I'd also buy the terrain pack as well just to be safe. However asumming you've got these, this is a teriffic addition to the memoir series. A combination of war game and board game which is set in WW2 in the US / Japan theater.

8 new scenarios are provided which vary considerably. What always amazes me is how the creators of this game have managed with only dice and some command/tactic cards and rules, to recreate some of the characteristics of the original battles. Its very very clever. Having said that don't think this is hugely complicated. It really isn't, and the basic principals can be picked up really quickly.

When you first start setting the game up it will probably take 15 mins, and the games on average will probably last over an hour. However as you get to know the rules a game can be over much quicker than that.

Overall a superb addition, as are all the expansions I bought so far.

I really enjoy Memoir '44. The beauty of M44 game system is that when you get tired of the original scenarios in the base game, there are 3 separate army packs that can add a lot to the game. I was interested in the Pacific Theater expansion, because of family that served there. I have a great uncle who was at Iwo Jima and survived one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific. The first day I got this game, I spent a good while explaining to my six year old son, how important the sacrifice our men made to defeat the Japanese. We played 4 times that day including the Iwo Jima, "Meat Grinder", scenario in honor of Uncle George.

With this expansion, you get a full set of Japanese infantry, tanks, and artillery, along with a beautiful set of terrain geared towards island terrain. Playing the Japanese is quite fun, because they have three new abilities that really spice up the strategic choices. These three abilities really reflect the ferocious and tenacious fighting spirit of the Japanese military of that time. They must ignore the first flag (retreat) rolled against, they get to attack with an extra die when at full strength next to an enemy, and they can move an extra hex and still battle if they can move next an enemy unit. Truly a tough opponent to contend with, and you feel it when you play the Marines on the Guam Japanese Counter Attack scenario and the visibility is one hex. Did I mention the "Night Visibility" rules? Yep, this expansion comes with a special Night Visibility card where the scenario starts in darkness, and the marines have to roll 4 dice before their turn in hopes of getting a "star" to move daylight hours up on the chart to reach full visibility and bring their artillery to bear on the Japanese.

Of course, the marines aren't left in the cold either. To counteract the powerful Japanese, they get to order an extra marine every time you play a section card or certain tactic cards (like two marines for Behind Enemy Lines). This reflects the marines resourcefulness and mobility and gives them the ability to bring more units to bear on the aggressors.

The only downside of getting this expansion is that Days of Wonder has put a lot of focus on the Western and Eastern European fronts in the majority of the expansions after this one from the Campaign Book Volume 1, Battle Map series, Eastern Front, and Winter Wars. The Pacific Theater doesn't get as much love except for a few more new scenarios in the future expansions. I really really would like to see a Campaign Book Volume 2 that focuses solely on the Pacific Theater to give this part of the war the focus and honor it deserves.

I really enjoy this expansion, and it is worth adding to your collection just so you can say "Semper Fi!" or "Banzai!".

This is an add on to Memoir '44 so you will need a copy and if not you will need to start there.

If you do then this is a valuable add on. It features the battles of the Pacific Islands (not Burma or land based battles) between the Japanese and US forces, mostly Marines.

Both Marines and Japanese have nice little twists to their forces and abilities that make them quite unique and flavorable.

A very good add on and stimulant in your Memoir games. Recommended.