Wizards of the Coast Axis and Allies Guadalcanal
From Wizards of the Coast
Axis and Allies: Guadalcanal challenges you to control sea zones and island groups while managing troop and supply transport and directing land, sea and air forces in one of the decisive campaigns of the Second World War's Pacific Theater. Axis and Allies: Guadalcanal incorporates crucial elements that were key factors in the historical campaign, such as air strip construction, troop and supply transport, and furious land, sea and air battles. It introduces the Cruiser unit as well as mechanics for land, sea and air combat in the South Pacific using a randomized casualties system. Features one Game Board, 172 Combat Unit Playing Pieces, 85 Plastic Chips, 20 Supply Tokens, 12 Six-Sided Dice, one Battle Box and one Rulebook.
Product Details
- Brand: Dropship Solutions
- Model: 4102519
- Dimensions: 15.75" h x 10.60" w x 3.00" l, 4.50 pounds
Features
- This is a standalone game in the popular axis and allies series
- Designed for two players and can be played in two to three hours.
- Incorporates real-life factors in this historical battle
- Introduces the cruiser unit as well as mechanics for land, sea, and air combat in the south pacific using a randomized casualty system
- Created by Larry Harris, designer of the axis and allies board games
Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
The Axis and Allies Guadalcanal challenges you to control sea zones and island groups while managing troop and supply transport and directing land, sea, and air forces in one of the decisive campaigns of the Second World War’s pacific theater. The game incorporates crucial elements that were key factors in the historical campaign, such as air strip construction, troop and supply transport, and furious land, sea, and air battles. It introduces the cruiser unit as well as mechanics for land, sea and air combat in the south pacific using a randomized casualties system. Features one game board, 172 combat unit playing pieces, 85 plastic chips, 20 supply tokens, 12 six-sided dice, one battle box, and one rulebook.
Customer Reviews
it was a gift with issues.
i gave this gift to my father for christmas and it came with the wrong pieces. he had to call the manufacturer and have them send a set of the correct pieces.
good luck... err. better luck than we had.
Great Game!!
This is a great product. My 9 year old is obsessed with the military and all the many aspects of this game keep him coming back!
A fun game for experienced wargamers
IN A NUTSHELL
This is a wargame for 2 players. Other than a visual board and game pieces it shares little with the original Axis and Allies game. The rules make for a competitive and tense game that takes around 3 hours to play. The best game of the new Axis and Allies series, better than D-Day or Battle of the Buldge but it is a game only for those that like wargames and have experience playing them and are willing to sacrifice accuracy for playablity and fun. A nice historic setting.
THE FULL REVIEW
If you are aware of the Solomon Island Campaign at all, then you are familiar with Guadalcanal. An important part of the Pacific Campaign. It is here that the USA started their offensive against Imperial Japan. Not really a turning point in WW2 (Midway would have this honour) but the first step on a long road of the defeat of Japan. Guadalcanal was the scene of bitter land fighting between the US Marines, later the Army and the Japanese. While at sea the losses on both sides were so heavy that Sealark Sound, the stretch of water between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands, became kown as Ironbottom Sound due to the amount of ships and planes that went to the bottom in a series of engagements. So historically this makes a nice setting and the reason for its educational value, but keep in mind this game is about the naval and ground action in the Solomon Islands, not only Guadalcanal.
As for the Game, this is not another Axis and Allies game, other than the models it uses very different mechanics. The scope of the game is Tactical rather than Strategic and it uses a new feature of a battle dice box, which seems like a silly concept until you actually play the game, well it still seems a little silly but I can't think of a better way for it to work. Dice put a high random factor to the game that can be offset in part by concentrarion of forces and a few special effects counters.
The board is limited, there isn't a lot of room to maneuver, especially regarding naval units, yet there is pressure all along to go for victory since the game is won on a victory point system and every turn both sides collect victory points and must break the stalemate before the other side in order to win. The victory point system is clever and works very well and reflects the actual campaign.
So even if there is little room for maneuver there are still possiblities to achive surprise and deploy tactics. Because of the constant pressure of the victory points system players must be bold and the game is tense making it a good wargame.
As for durability, this game comes in a strong box and thankfully has a plastic tray (unlike Battle of the Buldge). The board and plastic pieces are visual and of reasonbly good quality. Properly handled it will last a long time. On the other side, since this is more a game for dedicated players you probably already own other games you like to play more than this one so you won't play it that often in the end.
The game takes about 3 hours to play and is a 2 player game. If you are an Axis and Allies fan then it is better than D-Day or Buldge, the mechanics work better than in those two but it is not as good as the original or Pacific, which are both better games and you will not play this one as often. Also it is slightly complicated and requires a dedicated mindset so it is a game for wargamers, preferably experienced wargamers looking for a fun evening.
Buy Wizards of the Coast Axis and Allies Guadalcanal
From Wizards of the Coast
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