Starship Troopers: Prepare
for Battle
Theme: Step on the Bugs...or
blow them sky high!
Company:
Avalon
Hill
Type:
Board
Players:2-4
Avg.
Length: 1 hour per scenario
Rating:
Ken
Says: Finally,
a wargame comes to Busco Charlie's group as Avalon Hill tries to cash in
on the "success" of recently released film. Starship Troopers comes with
two hex boards that will be used for all the scenarios. The rulebook uses
the standard AH's Programmed Instruction method. Although to be fair, the
method works best here since their really aren't that many rules and the
game is designed for a younger crowd. Plastic stand-ups of each major character
(very similar to Gladiator, although these stand-ups are photos printed
on clear plastic) and bugs in the film.
The
mechanics of the game are melded into the turn sequence. Humans move, bugs
move, humans attack, bugs attack, bug reinforcements arrive. Two simple
charts regulate what humans and bugs can do.
Movement
wise, humans are slower than most bugs, but their firepower gives them
a distinct advantage in all, but point blank ranges. There are a variety
of weapons the human player possesses, from the standard assault rifle
to carbine (more firepower, shorter range) to sniper rifle and finally
the nuclear bazooka carried by, who else, Nuke. A device which can eliminate
anything in the target hex, including the bug hole where reinforcements
arrive.
There
are a nice variety of bugs as well, from the standard workers to the high
flying hoppers (which ignore terrain movement penalties). Everyone's favorite,
the Tankers, the slow moving yet heavily armored bugs that can spit flame.
Finally there are the Plasma bugs. They have similar capabilities to the
nuclear bazooka.
Pros:This
game makes a perfect introduction to wargaming for the youngsters. The
set-ups are easy and the charts make everything clear. A real plus is the
production values (but the box itself is a bit flimsy). The quality of
the scenarios (12 in all) are good, with #2 & #6 being the stand-outs.
Cons:
Well, the only drawback to the game is the sameness of tactics that each
side uses. You will find that as the Human player, you had better mass
your groups together quickly. This allows for supporting fire, as well
as physical protection for your most valuable member, Nuke.
The
bug player will want to mass his forces as well, staying out of effective
firepower range until all his bugs can hit the human player(s) at once.
Thus, in most games, there will be two large clusters of plastic stands
colliding somewhere in the center of the board. Oftentimes, a missed die
roll can spell the difference between victory and defeat. Still, this is
a fine game for the newcomer and a fan of the movie, assuming anyone liked
the film enough to purchase the game.
