Customer Reviews

RISK: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition [Original]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Contrary to some other reviewers here, I consider Risk to be the ultimate strategy game. Risk is pure strategy and diplomacy, unlike some other (good) games mentioned above like Axis and Allies, which combine some strategy with operational aspects, but no real diplomacy.

Some people complain that Risk involves so many dice rolls, that luck is a major factor. I disagree, because the sheer number of rolls makes an unfair distribution highly unlikely. To take maximum advantage of the probabilities you must carefully plan your campaigns, so that you may opt for a more limited objective if your losses have been higher than expected, and conversely, can choose a more ambitious objective if your losses have been less than expected.

The true strategic nature of the game is seen in the diplomacy generally necessary for victorious play, and the timing, force disposition, and operational skill necessary to turn your diplomacy into a winning position. When it is time to strike, you must be decisive, and bring every bit of your strength to bear.

The game's best educational point is the innate comprehension it gives to players of balance of power systems, which allows a greater understanding of history, as well as current events. Another point in it's favor is the geography lesson which children will especially benefit from.

Like Chess, Risk is a simple game which allows for very complicated situations, and thus is suitable for players of almost all ages.

This game has been treated well through it's 40 plus years, but never before has it been treated this well.

Easily the best version ever, this anniversary edition is a must for the true "Risk" fan. From the detailed mapboard, to the diecast metal pieces, to the metallic silver box... this is one of the best board games I've ever seen. Beyond the fact that "Risk" is just plain fun to play. (Fun in that annoying way.)

For fans of this game, I'd also recommend the Hasbro/Avalon Hill game "Acquire."

Risk is one of the truly great board games. There are better strategy games (Axis and Allies), but they can be a bit scary to a casual player. Risk is simple enough for people to agree to play and complex enough to be challenging.

The anniversary edition is really nice, and contains metal soldiers and a re-drawn map with a more antique feel. I really appreciate the compact box, as it allows me more space! It also contains "Secret Mission" cards for play variety.

This has been an extremely fun game for all of four players (when you get above it you just don't have a chance.) It doesn't have as much strategy as games like Axis and Allies, but it is a good game for starting strategy gamers. It's pieces are small and are easily lost (bad duribility), but overall this is a good game for older children

Teaching my 9-year-old nephew Jeremy how to play Risk got me to thinking about the literally thousands of hours of fun I had with this game when I was growing up. My best friend and I used to set the board up on a miserable cold rainy fall day, or a scorchingly hot and humid summer day, and several hours later we were immersed in our own world -- World War III that is! Back then, our objective was not so much to win (although that was always an added bonus!) as to try out variations on the rules (i.e., unlimited free moves, "swarming"), to make the game go on as long as possible (letting someone "escape" to Kamchatka was a good one!), to use up as many colors of armies as possible (and even to use the "10" army pieces!), etc.

Risk is considered a classic game for good reason. First, like many great games (Chess, for instance), it is not particularly hard to learn the basics of Risk, but getting really good at it can take years! Second, Risk is great for getting a young person curious about "weird" places like Irkutsk and Yakutsk, for getting good at judging odds (HINT to Jeremy: rolling the maximum number of dice gives you a better chance of rolling a high number!), for practicing basic math skills (figuring out how many extra armies you get is a good one for a 4th grader), and for gaining an understanding of strategic thinking. Third, learning that you can win (or lose) in Risk (and in life, for that matter!) through DIFFERENT strategies (i.e., the tortoise approach of starting in Australia and slowly working your way up through Asia, or the "hare" approach of trying to conquer a big continent -- Europe, North America, or even Asia -- and holding it) is a good lesson for anyone. Finally, Risk is a lot of fun, and it's easy to get a game going because it works really well with just 2 people (unlike another great strategy game, Diplomacy, which really requires 6 or 7 people). Have fun!

You can't tire of RISK because every game of it you play is different. My nephew travels the world, but when he comes home we always make time for a day of RISK. We argue whether Iceland is the key to conquering Europe, whether Asia is worth all the armies you need to take and defend it, and whether a South America strategy can really succeed. Is it best to spread armies out to keep the other player off balance, or to concentrate your forces and expand your holdings slowly? Inevitably, your answers reflect your personality, your character and your approach to life. But, hey, RISK also allows all of us mild-mannered types to be Napoleon and even Attila the Hun for a day and not feel a bit guilty for our aggression and ruthlessness. Conquer! Vanquish! Destroy! Enjoy!

Risk has been a passion of mine for years. It truly challenges the mind. There are millions of different strategies that you have to develop, if you want to become a true Risk master. If you liked this game, I would HIGHLY recommend Axis & Allies, a more realistic, but more complicated game.

Risk is a classic game and now they made a 40th anniversary edition which is well worth getting. Except if you are a parent getting for a young child, there are about a million small pieces (the figures) to it and they could end up lost or jammed through your foot when your walking, (It's happened to me)

BOARD: No set up at all, everything is ready to play.

PIECES: Nicely crafted, made of metal and colored differently for each team. Held in durable leather pouches.

DURABLITIY: Pieces can get easily lost if you don't pick up right after playing or you have a dog. Durablitly shoub be a 3 1/2 but that's not a opition.

CAN KIDS PLAY?: Very easy to learn. Got that chess element to it (Easy to learn, hard to master) which gives great replay value to it.

OVERALL: There is a reason people have been playing for 40 years, if you haven't played it before you will see why when you do. Highly suggest for anyone.

This version of Risk, with its metal pieces and revamped gameboard, is very nice to look at. The game is straightforward enough that even fairly young children can grasp the principles and play reasonably well. The combat system has just enough luck in it to make this a game, rather than a foregone conclusion. There are some balance problems, particularly if you go for the random start rules, but they aren't bad enough to make the game unplayable. The game provides some basic lessons on probability, planning and logistics. There's a little geography too, though not as much as in some competing games. Overall, the game is a lot of fun and this new set makes it fun to look at too!

I have played Risk since I was 9 years old. I was introduced to the game by my older summer friends.After one round of me giving advice they said shut-up and play. Ever since then I have played the game from Alaska to Kamchatka. In the recent past I have played the the computer game. I would recomend this board game to those who want to and wish to spend invaluable time with their kids. There is nothing better than saying to your parent 3 armies from Brazil to North Africa and win the game. The new C.D. version of the game is also quite good.Risk On!It's a game that stays with you forever!