Ikusa (Samurai Swords / Shogun)

[Omote]

Hasbro has re-released the classic Milton Bradley GameMaster series game formerly known as Shogun/Samurai Swords:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/ikusa

If you haven't played any of the 80s iterations of this game, it is a classic. It's a good old fashioned boardgame that is NOTHING like the current Euro boardgame trend. Armies movie across Japan and as they clash... you ROLL DICE (d12s) to determine the outcome. Remember those days?

Awesome boardgame. Perhaps my favorite.

~O

[Sir Ironside]

Thank god that they went back to the 80's version. I played the previous release a few years back, you know with those tiny wooden blocks representing armies. It was an abortion that should have never been born.

Did I mention I have the original Fortress America!

[ArgoForg]

This may be worth picking up at my local con (and would also actually give me a reason to be at the WOTC camp booth for the first time in the last 3 years). It's been a long time since I've done any of these sorts of MB games, and Shogun was by far my favorite.

Do you still draw swords to find out who goes first, I wonder?

[Omote]

Do you still draw swords to find out who goes first, I wonder?

It looks like you still "draw swords" to determine who goes in what turn order, however, by the pictures on the WOTC and BGG sites it seems that the swords were replaced by chits with numbers on them. *boo-boo lip*. I'm glad I still have my original katanas!

~O

[TheMetal1]

I'm staring at my Militon Bradley Samuari Swords game right now. Now wooden blocks to be had in my game - though this is the 1995 printing with sterofoam castles, tons of little figures, etc. and of course the samuari swords.

I picked up Eagle Games version of Conquest of the Empire, but will probably wait on getting this one. Eventually, but just now right now.

[Sir Ironside]

I'm staring at my Militon Bradley Samuari Swords game right now. Now wooden blocks to be had in my game - though this is the 1995 printing with sterofoam castles, tons of little figures, etc. and of course the samuari swords

I played it about 5 or 6 years ago, well after the 1995 version. It appears that this was not the Milton Bradley game but a Euro-game. So, I guess I was confused. I never looked to see just who made the game so technically I'm wrong. I guess what threw me was the fact that the board was almost identical to the MB game and had the same goal.

So, my bad.

[Omote]

I never looked to see just who made the game so technically I'm wrong. I guess what threw me was the fact that the board was almost identical to the MB game and had the same goal.

So, my bad.

No problem wheels. I was wondering what exactly you were referring to.

~O

[tylermo]

I have the original, but will probably check this out. I wouldn't wait years to buy this, unless your keen on paying double on Ebay when it goes out of print.

[TheMetal1]

It appears that this was not the Milton Bradley game but a Euro-game.

No worries! Thanks for posting the Board Game Geek link to this game. Didn't even know it was out there. What actually made it so horrible though?

[Sir Ironside]

Didn't even know it was out there. What actually made it so horrible though

It played a little bit more like Risk (Which I dislike that game.) and you decided battles by putting your little, tiny, square blocks into a tower, that mixed it up (You put both armies in at the same time). Some blocks would get caught in the tower, others made it through. If you made it through your army guy lives. If it gets stuck he is dead. Rinse and repeat till either army is obliterated or someone breaks off of the battle and retreats.

This random battle was way worse than any kind of die-driven system which made any kind of strategic/tactical decisions a farce. In the only game I played I defended a territory with 3 army dudes against over 20 attackers. I won. I defended it again with upping my dudes to 5 and fought an army around 15. I won that to. People just gave-up trying to take that territory.

I'm sure it appeals to gamers that don't want to have strategy as a strength of a game, but it turned me off big-time.

[Lurker]

Wow that brings back memories ... The original "Shogun", "Blood Royal", and "Axis & Allies" were the 3 board games I loved back in the day. Talk about hours and hours of time spent with friends and good times.

If this version is close to as good as the first one, I may have to get it and save it for when my girls get old enough to play it.

[finarvyn]

I bought a copy and it sat on my shelf for about 10 years still in shrink wrap before I sold it. I bought it on a whim when I heard that it was being discontinued and never got interested enough to crack open the box.

Sounds like I chose poorly to let that one go.

[Breakdaddy]

Very cool, and with FFG re-releasing Wiz-War it looks to be a good time for some nostalgia gaming!

http://fantasyflightgames.com/edge_mini ... 177&esem=1

[Omote]

On Sunday at GenCon, Ilkusa was at one booth for $40. I wanted to get it, but I already have a copy of Shogun and Samurai Swords... still should have got it. :/

As for Wiz-War, holy schneikies! That game was a blast. Haven't played in since the mid 90s or so.

~O