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Axis & Allies
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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Over the last couple of years, Hasbro Interactive has produced a steady stream of successful game ports, translating a number of its most popular board, arcade, and parlor-game franchises to the field of interactive entertainment. Axis & Allies is its latest port, and apart from a few unsightly glitches, it successfully brings the stylized WWII-based Milton Bradley board game to the virtual battlefield.
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A&A features a wide array of animated, 3D segues and WWII stock footage, which initially helps set the mood but becomes somewhat repetitive after a few sessions. Fortunately, the animations and footage, like virtually every other feature and option in A&A, can be disabled easily to allow for smoother, uninterrupted gameplay.
Beyond the usual assortment of bells and whistles that accompanies most ports, A&A includes the all-new Third Edition rules, which incorporate several subtle yet important rule changes to the overall game system. For instance, submarines can now submerge after combat, new naval units can be placed in enemy-occupied sea zones, aircraft can retreat from an amphibious assault, and multiple AA guns can be positioned in a common territory. In addition, when an aircraft carrier succumbs to enemy attack, the aircraft onboard the carrier can attempt to retreat to friendly territory or nearby carriers. Finally, Western Canada no longer borders the Atlantic Ocean, so sly veteran players can't get away with moving friendly units from the Atlantic into the Pacific on one turn. You may use these rule modifications or, if you prefer, play based upon the older Second Edition rules.
As in the board game, you can assume command of any of the five major nations portrayed in the game-US, Great Britain, USSR, Germany, or Japan-and even take control of several nations at once, although you must adhere to the traditional turn-based format. A handy though incomplete tutorial and strategy guide are also available, which teach newcomers some of the basics. Strangely, the tutorial only covers how to move units and capture territories but fails to discuss some of the finer nuances of the game, such as how to resolve combat, the rationale behind Industrial Production Certificates (IPCs), or the justifications of weapons development.
While the AI is up to the task, veterans will likely discover that even at the toughest of the three difficulty settings, the AI tends to shy away from retaking captured capitals. In addition, the AI is somewhat predictable and can, with skillful and deliberate play, be defeated rather easily once you become familiar with the way it conducts its game turns. Hasbro has already announced plans to release an AI-enhancing patch that will likely be available on its Web site by the time you read this.
Fortunately, A&A can also be played online against up to four human opponents via the Zone (www.zone.com), over a modem, or across a LAN. While I never experienced problems, there have been numerous reports of recurring crashes and players getting disconnected from games in progress. In most instances, players can re-establish their connections and resume play, thanks to the handy autosave function.
All in all, Axis & Allies is a worthy computerized translation, one that brings all the fun and exciting gameplaying elements of the classic "beer-and-pretzels" board-game phenomenon to today's platform of choice.
