| Top Ten Board Games Since the idea farm has been struck by locusts I’ve decided to write another certain-to-be ill- received Top Ten. This time the topic is the widespread time waster of our earlier days, you know, before those “horrid” video games were introduced to our fragile psyches: Board Games. Personally, I love these things and think they deserve some recognition anyway. Here goes: Top Ten Board Games of All Time: 10. Shark Attack – The greatest children’s game of all time. Roll the colored die to get away from the shark. Classic game play and childish fun kept me coming back for more. I’d still play too, if I didn’t lose all the pieces. 9. Omega Virus – “Killing a computer virus on a space station, nothin’s better’n that,” you say. Well, apparently there are better things, but it had its high points. The selling point was getting an entourage to fight the (poor) A.I., which was cool, but killing each other was incomparable: it was almost like a Deathmatch. 8. Scrabble – For some reason a multi-player pseudo-crossword puzzle is quite engaging. 7. Jumanji – Based on the movie but better than it. Lots better. “Nuff said. 6. Castle Risk – The ill-conceived and poorly received “sequel” to the classic game of world domination actually has many strong points. For one it only takes place in Europe, the cradle of the greatest wars in history, and getting reinforcements is somewhat easier (no matching cards here). Unfortunately, those extra cards like diplomat and whatnot were really crappy. And the boat, now that really was crap, although somewhat innovative. 5. Stratego – Purists would say this ultimate strategy game should be #1, but alas, it cannot since it is really easy for anyone to win. And, at times, it can take quite long to subdue even a sub par opponent. 4. Dungeons & Dragons – The greatest paper and pencil RPG of all time. Of course, with no real story and a need for actual friends it’s been really difficult to get a game going recently. And anyway, it takes way too long to level up anywheres near where I like to be. 3. Risk – There are few better than the original game of world conquest. The ability to pick up the game in one’s first sitting and also being able to demolish the competition within few rounds (3’s my personal best) make this game great. 2. Samurai Swords – A great samurai strategy epic. It’s quite in depth with much variation (like 10 different types of units) and innovative (though a similar one is used in the #1 title) battle system with 12- sided dice. As you can probably tell it takes place in Japan. 1. Axis & Allies – The quintessential WWII strategy game, no one’s board game library is complete without it. As the Axis I never lose (well, specifically with Nazi Germany), and that’s only partly why I love it so. What makes it better than, say, Risk, would be that you actually have to manage funds (contrary to only owning lands and handing in cards) and that, again unlike Risk, with experienced players can be long or really short (which is like Risk). My personal best was 4 rounds as Germany (I wiped out the allies. Yeah, all three of ‘em) and only 2 if someone good (including myself) is controlling Japan. Don’t believe me, then why don’t we have a match? It’s quite the catalogue, is it not? Yeah. Don’t agree with some placements? Let me know. Hell, maybe I’ll care. |