Risk II (PC, 2000)

* Publisher: Hasbro Interactive
* Developer: Microprose
* Release Date: Available Now
* Genre: Strategy
* Number of Players:
* ESRB Rating: Everyone
* Retail Price: $29.95

Personally I prefer multiplayer games and so I'm reviewing the multiplayer features of this game.

-=CONS=-

One feature it's missing that's available in the free cross platform risk game at http://www.dominategame.com/ is the ability to play in "blind mode". The blind mode option means that you can only actually see friendly and enemy armies directly next to yours. This adds a great dimension to risk type games and it's missing from the Microprose Risk2 version.

The dominategame.com version also allows you to set how much time each player has to make a turn. Playing online against random people - it makes for quicker more interesting games to limit players to have 30-60 seconds to make their moves. This is also missing from the Microprose version.

http://www.conquerclub.co​m/ is another free version of risk that is completely browser based and uses drop down menus and buttons to make attacks & fortifications. You are allowed 24 hours between each turn to make your next turn which makes it good if you don't have a lot of spare time to invest. A unique feature in conquer club is setting up tournaments (only paying members can though). Various fortification/team/game type rules can be specified before the game starts as well. A lot of these abilities are missing from the Microprose version.

-=PROS=-
Same-Time Risk is a unique way of playing risk that alters the order/way players take their turns and the way the point system is distributed. All players make their moves at the same time and after the players moves are completed - the game reveals where everyone attacked and generates the results of the attacks. Players get more men for a larger "connected empire" - which means a body of countries connected on to each other in at least 1 spot. It's a neat variation of the classic game - one that no other risk games I've played has to offer.

Hot-Seat Style Risk allows multiplayer action just like if it were a board game. All players physically at your computer take turns using a single player. Something that none of the online versions offer (and actually forbid) because they rank players and track cheaters by ip addresses. (dominategame.com allows non-rated games if players wish to play from the same host/ip address)

The other benefit is you only pay once to own it. While the versions I enjoy above are free to use - they do have some limitations and require a $25/yr subscription to remove banner ads/etc. This version can be purchased to own for much cheaper and you own a license for life - not just one year.

-=Conclusion=-
Those are the main features that differ between this game and some of the other variations out there. Like all risk games it is very good. This version and it's a definate worthwhile asset for any Risk Fan's collection and the hotseat and same-time features make it unique. I'd actually rate it with the word "excellent" but I wouldn't say it's 5/5 since that would indicate there's no room for improvement. There are missing features which are available in other risk games and that is why I mentioned the features above that are missing. Hopefully Microprose makes a Risk3 and adds those features in!

More info available on the basics of risk type games at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R​isk_II

For those unfamiliar with this classic game, let me explain the basics. Gameplay takes place on a map of the world, which is divided into territories. Before the game starts, players are assigned (or take turns choosing) territories and then reinforce them with starting units. After this, the game begins and players take turns attacking each other’s territories. A player with 2 or more units in a territory can attack an adjacent area. Attacking and defending is done with dice, and players can use between 1 and 3 dice depending on how many units they have in an area and if they are attacking or defending. When a roll is completed, the highest numbers for the attacker pair off with the highest numbers for the defender, and the side with the higher value wins (ties go to the defender in Classic mode). A player can stop attacking whenever they want and end their turn. If they conquered a territory during their turn, they will get a Risk card. Combinations of Risk cards can be turned in to get more units. Extra units are also gained by owning entire continents and occupying lots of territories.

Along with “classic” Risk, Risk II offers a Same Time mode. Simultaneously, players issue orders to their battalions. When everyone has decided what to do, the action begins and you actually watch the battles unfold in front of you. Same Time mode is especially interesting since multiple territories can attack each other at once. Additionally, the dice are twelve sided and are biased. The stronger your army, the more the die is biased towards higher numbers. Of course, if you are losing a battle and your units are dropping like flies, your die will slowly get weaker and weaker.

Risk’s gameplay was always very simple, and the interface for Risk II does a good job of keeping things this way. Placing units and choosing attacks is as easy as pointing, clicking, and adjusting a little bar for how many units you are moving. There are also several ways to view the map, each which shows the territories in a certain color depending on your parameters. For example, viewing the map by ownership will color all the territories the same color as their owner, while viewing the map by unit strength will color strong territories red colors and weak territories blue. These options aren’t crucial for winning, but they are a nice side detail. It’s fun to watch a portion of the map turn blood red as two players build up a huge army of soldiers at their borders.

I have played the original risk for some time now and I really like the new edition. I do hope Hasbro and company come up with an even newer edition though. In this edition you can have more AI charicters to play against and can find other human players on a local network. Apparently there used to be an online feature that is no more, but can be fanagled using online vertual local networks still. My only complaint is that the game is quite a bit slower than the first version and there is no description of the strength and weakness of each AI charicter as the first risk gave. The new graphics are fun and the statistics given after the game are helpful. If Hasbro and company come up with a risk 3, I recomend easier online linking to other players, perhaps even a saved game option so players can come back later. I also recomend personalizing AI charicters so playes can build their own opponents. Finally faster play is a must. All in all, I recomend this game, it is very fun!

Risk is a classic board game I never got into because of how long it took to play. The second edition of the pc version has all the classic attraction of strategy and luck plus a whole lot more. The same time setting is intense and exciting. The fast dice settings really speed up the game and keep your interest level up. The graphics are professional and well done but not overdone. I recommend this as a great pc version of a good board game.

One of my favorite board games growing up. Some of the animations get to be a bit tedious - particularly the phase transition screens. BUT - I have to emphasize this is still lightspeed play compared to the board game.
I've played four games against the computer since I got it, and don't think that play against the virtual opponents is all that challenging.
Cool features include turn-by-turn statistic screens, which show things like how many territories each player controls, how many attacks were made, etc. And alternate map and globe views that you can select.
Some features take a bit of getting used to - I got stuck in a loop at one point when I had too many Risk cards and couldn't seem to make a playable combo. I still don't know what I did to get back to normal play...
It's a fun spin on a challenging board game. Definitely cheaper than buying the real McCoy!