49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guide to Attacktix - Part I, April 5, 2005
= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Star Wars Episode III: Attacktix Battle Figure Game Starter Set (Toy)
The Attacktix system is a wonderful idea of a Star Wars inspired battle game to be played in a virtual board. The best way to understand this is as a type of a chess in which the board is actually a virtual 3x3 ft. square. At each turn you move and attack your opponent to knock as many of the opponent's figures down. The rule to win is simple: "Last One Standing Wins".
The Figures
Each army is composed of multiple figures, each with its own characteristics in terms of speed, type of attack and resistance to enemy attacks. The figures are modelled after Star Wars characters and very beautifully detailed. They are truly nice even to collect and display them. Kids love to see them are very atracted to them.
Figure Characteristics
Each figure has the following characteristics associated to it:
- Speed. How far a figure can move on a given turn (measured by ticks). When you move your figure through the board it "ticks" and you move it according to its speed number (e.g. a figure with a speed of 6 can be moved six ticks in any direction).
- Defense. The larger the base, the harder it is to knock down a figure. Each figure has a defense rating, which typically goes from 10 to 40. There are some large figures called Battle Masters that are rated 70.
-It's ID Band identifies the name of the figure and the family it belongs to, which is useful for advanced game playing.
- Type of attack. In General you have figures that shoot missiles or other types of objects or figures that knock down with the swing of a saber or its arm. There is also the special figure of the emperor who can "possess" other figures (e.g. use them as your own, even if they are not).
Building your army.
You and your player should build your army to be worth 100 defense points (the sum of all defense ratings of all your individual figures). If you choose figures with high defense ratings, you end up with a small, yet powerful army; and if you choose figures with low defense ratings you can have a large, yet fragile army. For example: you can have 10 figures if each of them has a rating of 10; while your opponent can have 3 figures (2 with a rating of 30 and 1 with rating of 40).
Alternative armies:
- If you are learning to play, or you want to simplify this for your kids, you can play a fixed number of army figures (e.g. 3 vs. 3 as suggested on the Quick Start guide).
- If you want a more challenging game you can override the 100 points rule and go for 150, 200 or whatever number you'd like.
- If you are playing with a little kid, you can probably give him/her a handicap by letting him go over the 100 rule.
Playing tips
- Get a flat surface to play. It's easier and more accurate to measure the ticks and easier to move freely in the virtual board.
- Chose a table vs. using the floor. It is easier to target missiles in a table vs the floor given the more accurate perspective you have on your opponent.
- Safety tip: If you are playing with little kids ask them to avoid being in front of the shooter, when launching missiles. The missiles are launched with force (specially if you are very close to the board) and therefore is wise to avoid the kids peeking into the board when the opponent is shooting given the potential safety issue. Ask them to move to the side when the opponent is shooting.
Actual Game playing tips
- Knocking down opponents is actually more difficult than what it seems. Taking a good shot sometimes can be difficult due to the pressure you place to release the missiles. The pressure can make you shoot under or above your actual target.
- For missile launching figures, try to have some distance to your opponent, so your missile can get enough force to knock your opponent down. Half a foot to a foot are good distances, if you are too close, you might end up moving your opponents figure, but not knocking it down.
- For Laser Saber figures, you have to come close. Try to raise the Saber up so the swing knocks the opponent figure in the head. If you hit too low with the saber you will move your oponent but not knock it down.
In summary:
A great games the kids love. Forces strategic thinking given the many moves, formations and possible attack routes. The art on the figures is outstanding for the price of the set. The major flaw is the potential safety issue of the launched missiles for little kids.
What to buy to get started:
One Starter set (includes 5 figures, the four show at the photo above plus one mistery figure) plus one Booster set (includes 3 figures, all of them mistery) can get you going. Eventually you are likely to develop a taste for collecting all 35 figures plus the 2 Battle Masters.
More info:
The Starter set includes a very good CD ROM that guides you trhough the basics of the game. Also, the product website has playing demos that can give you a great idea of what to expect from the series and provide good tips on how to play it. Go to attacktix.com.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Toy!, November 14, 2005
= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Star Wars Episode III: Attacktix Battle Figure Game Starter Set (Toy)
I bought this for my 5 year old son. He loves it. It is hard to finds a toy that will keep his interest for more than a day or two. He is playing with this toy everyday for hours. He likes it because some of the figures shoot. Just becareful not to lose the bullets. I wish they would have supplies extra bullets. We spend a lot of time hunting for them.
This toy is also a game that you can play with your child. This has been fun because I can sit and battle with my son or he can just play with the toy by himself. The game is very simple and my 5 year old pick it up fast.
This starter pack also came with a serect guy and a CD. I almost threw it away because I didn't know it was there. It seemed like a lot came with this pack for the money.
Pro's:
Fun game
interactive
keep my child interest
A lot for the money
Con's:
Bullets are very easy to lose
Don't sell extra bullets
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Attacktix Review, July 28, 2005
= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Star Wars Episode III: Attacktix Battle Figure Game Starter Set (Toy)
I am a hardcore Star Wars fan, and this is the best Star Wars game I have played. It is fast-paced and exciting, and it's never the same twice. If you are at all skeptical, the missiles are EASILY capable of taking out the other battle figures.( be sure to keep your face away from the playing field .) Another great thing about it is that you don't need a board,just a smooth, flat area about 3 feet by 3 feet. The lightsaber slash and wookiee slap attacks work very well also. Overall, this is a totally AWESOME game. look for the series two Attacktix coming out this fall
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