Risk: Star Wars Edition Original Trilogy

Risk: Star Wars Edition

Review by Sonny Go
(Independent Game Reviewer)

Risk-Star-Wars-Original-Trilogy-Box

Risk: Star Wars – With renewed vigor, the Star Wars franchise has re-entered modern pop culture. Star Wars merchandise is now hotter than ever with greater mainstream appeal due to its legendary status in pop culture. Perhaps it’s because of that, it’s worth looking at Risk: Star Wars Edition, a variant of Risk that takes place in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

If you’re in the mood for some Star Wars action after re-watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens for yet another time on Blu-ray and perhaps played a Star Wars video game or two, as well as having done some sweet moves with your lightsaber replica, then perhaps you’d like to give this Risk game a try. It gives a different perspective of Star Wars through the lens of strategy.

Overview

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When Risk: Star Wars Edition came out in late 2006, the Star Wars franchise had gone through a shaky period courtesy of the prequel trilogy. However, it was still fresh enough in the minds of younger fans that a Star Wars board game wouldn’t really be amiss.

This is what happens when you combine two well-known names together, one being from science fiction and the other from strategy gaming. Both of them have since seen their own overhauls and introduced to a new generation of fans, so it seems that something with them together is a no-brainer.

Nine years later after this game came out, The Force Awakens premiered to an expectant public. That movie also rendered the extended universe no longer canon, so a good bit of the stuff you may see on this game may no longer be the “real thing.” But then again, if you’re a fan of what’s now known as the Star Wars Legends universe, then perhaps all is not lost with Risk: Star Wars Edition.

Rules and Features

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Players can choose to control the Empire, the Rebel Alliance, or the Hutts. The first two are the main factions of the Galactic Civil War, while the latter is more of a neutral faction. Think of the Hutts as more of what stirs the pot and takes the leftovers in the grand conflict.

All the Empire wants is to take out the Rebel Alliance once and for all. All the Rebel Alliance wants is to assassinate the Emperor. Meanwhile, the Hutts want 10 out of the 13 resource planets on the map, which are also important to both the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. These are their respective objectives, which indeed puts them all at blows with each other.

Unlike in classic Risk, the units in each faction are unique, so you can differentiate between factions easily. The Rebel Alliance are in warm colors, the Empire is gray, and Hutts are green. There are also two Death Stars belonging to the Empire that protects planets controlled by that faction and can destroy other planets, which gives the Empire quite an advantage.

Cards also come into play. Faction-specific cards can make or break a game for players who are either trying to run with their advantage or hoping for a miracle. For instance, there are “Fire the Death Star” cards that Empire players would definitely want to draw and use, posing the greatest threat to the Rebel Alliance.

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You can most likely figure out at this point that it’s not an even playing field. However, the objectives do serve to even things out–it does look harder to take out an entire faction than just a special target, and even easier to just take resources. This war is fought across planets, most of which should be familiar to Star Wars fans.

So the gist of it is the Empire is trying to destroy the whole Rebel Alliance, who are trying to survive while hoping against hope to kill the Emperor, all while the Hutts are just trying to get rich and be nuisances in the middle of the war. That does seem like a recipe for some good galactic fun.

Aside from having Death Stars and planets, Risk: Star Wars Edition is pretty much cast from the mold of classic Risk. For best results, make sure that you have five players to really get a galactic war going in all its strategic intricacy and diplomatic intrigue.

Conclusion

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Risk: Star Wars is not a game you can play online. None of the online Risk game website will ever get the licence to carry the Star Wars name, which may be fine since the variants of playing Risk online can certainly compete the standard board game model. Maybe you’d even think that a Star Wars board game may be more of a novelty than anything else, but Risk: Star Wars Edition does indeed play well enough. If you’re into the more strategic aspects of the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, then this game is a perfect fit for that fascination. Whether you’re a hardcore Star Wars fan or a Risk fan, you may find this game to be an interesting experience indeed.

END OF REVIEW

 

Some people ask about price, so I’ve added an Amazon link.
I’ve seen some used ones as low as $80 on Amazon if you click on the link.
Though $80 seems like a lot, even for a used game!


Risk StarCraft Strategy Game

Risk StarCraft

Review by Sonny Go
(Independent Game Reviewer)

Risk-Starcraft-Box

Risk StarCraft Strategy Game – Whether you’re an enthusiast of either board games, video games, or even addicted to playing Risk online against a different opponent everyday, the strategy game genre has pretty much been a constant throughout the years. However, it’s not often that we see a strategy game from one medium jump to another, and that’s pretty much what happened with Risk StarCraft—two world-famous franchises combined in one board game.

It’s nothing new for Risk as variations and adaptations for it are everywhere at this point. This one was released by USAopoly on October 10, 2012, to a good bit of publicity, putting together Blizzard Entertainment’s beloved StarCraft franchise with the tabletop strategy of Risk. Moreover, this combines the original game from 1998 with the newer StarCraft II of 2010, thus being a more consolidated experience fit for fans of the series.

StarCraft Transition From PC to Board Game

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Taking a computer strategy game like StarCraft and putting it into a board game format can be rather challenging, and some may even think it’s ill-advised, but it was made possible here in Risk StarCraft strategy game. This game is designed for 2 to 6 players and with three distinct gameplay modes, making for a fairly diverse gaming experience that can be shared with friends. There aren’t a lot of board games out there that have different gameplay modes, so this is a good way to try it out.

Similar to the computer game, you have a choice of three races, namely the Terran, Protoss, and Zerg. They have their own strengths and weaknesses that are familiar to the fans of Risk StarCraft strategy game. Terrans are humans with guns, tanks, and flying buildings; the Protoss are aliens with super advanced technology; the Zerg are insect-like and can multiply in great numbers to swarm their foes.

Risk StarCraft Game Pieces

 

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Upon the foundations of classic Risk are additions and changes meant to get as close to the complex and dynamic gameplay of Star Craft as possible. You have planets instead of countries and sectors instead of continents to illustrate both the lore and scale of the StarCraft universe. In some of them, you can get mineral fields for rewards to help you along.

There are two hero units for every race who are major characters in StarCraft II. For the Terrans, there’s the rebel leader Jim Raynor and the new emperor Valerian Mengsk; for the Protoss, there’s the hierarch Artanis and the old but still capable Zeratul; for the Zerg, the Queen of Blades Kerrigan and her underlying Zagara. They all have unique abilities that can help with supporting regular units and directly damaging enemy forces, furthering your struggle for dominance.

Risk StarCraft Maps

 

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There is a lot more involved in this game compared to classic Risk, which is kind of similar to the real StarCraft. Having more things to juggle all at once adds more dynamism to the gameplay, making it a more interesting experience. The selling point of being a board game in a space setting of an existing franchise isn’t the only thing going for this game, but it doesn’t hurt that it has the visual design and in-game universe that Star Craft has. This board game having the same depth in strategy would be what takes it even further.

However, it may be more than just a handful for most beginners, especially those who are not familiar with either classic Risk or StarCraft (and even so if it’s both). There are some things that some may find less than desirable in this game, like the random placement of mineral fields that can’t be planned for prior to a game. There are also some problems with unit team colors, like how Protoss pieces have yellow and orange units that seem to look alike.

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Other than that, it plays well enough as a Risk board game. While the settings are indeed different, much of the logic behind the board is fairly similar. The worlds in this game are distinct, with a different number of entry points between each and various other elements that offer more contrast. Some worlds are easier to take than others, and some have more risk in being controlled at certain times in the game.

You also have achievements and rewards to keep you busy in between world invasions and defensive actions against other players. With 6 players spread throughout the board, things can indeed get chaotic and wild, which is indeed what this game was designed for.

Risk StarCraft Real Map

 

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Overall build quality of the unit pieces is quite alright, although the colors may not be the most ideal. The design of the board and cards are well-done, sizable, and fairly comprehensible, which should save players from confusion. While big enough to be substantial, the materials aren’t too big as to take up too much space on the table. As for the visuals, they’re mostly straight out of the Star Craft game, thus they give this game a distinct look and feel that sets it apart from other Risk games, making it a good addition to any Risk and/or tabletop game library.

If you like the idea of a Risk game in a space setting, then Risk StarCraft may just be what you’re looking for. It may be a familiar setting with a lot of gamers out there, making it an attractive addition to a beloved fandom. While it’s far from perfect, it still accomplishes what its designers set out to do by combining two popular strategy game franchises into one package that can be enjoyed by a group of gamers.

END OF REVIEW

Some people asked about price, so I’ve added a link to Amazon.