Rating distribution for asm
Ratings
Thu 8th Jan 20:53
Fairly standard wide-open geo map. Not sure about the choice not to fill entire territories, but Risky's sense of style dwarfs mine, so who am I to nitpick. Everything on this board image outside the map itself is amazing, as is typical of a "Riksyback" creation. I'd play this one anytime. In fact I think I'll go fire up a game of it now.
Romanian Rumble rated 
Good
Good
Fairly standard wide-open geo map. Not sure about the choice not to fill entire territories, but Risky's sense of style dwarfs mine, so who am I to nitpick. Everything on this board image outside the map itself is amazing, as is typical of a "Riksyback" creation. I'd play this one anytime. In fact I think I'll go fire up a game of it now.
Thu 8th Jan 20:51
Good idea, somewhat lacking in execution. Gameplay on this board is very boring to me. The cities don't add much; the continents don't come into play; it's really your basic stash 'n' cash board. Graphical style is about average as well.
Good idea, somewhat lacking in execution. Gameplay on this board is very boring to me. The cities don't add much; the continents don't come into play; it's really your basic stash 'n' cash board. Graphical style is about average as well.
Thu 8th Jan 20:48
Not much of an achievement here. The board plays alright but there's nothing special to recommend it from a gameplay perspective; the graphical style isn't really great; the theme adds very little; the bonus scheme isn't super balanced. Below average.
Not much of an achievement here. The board plays alright but there's nothing special to recommend it from a gameplay perspective; the graphical style isn't really great; the theme adds very little; the bonus scheme isn't super balanced. Below average.
Thu 8th Jan 20:46
Yep, looks good, plays well. Everything's easy to understand and decently balanced. Board overall has a pleasing appearance. Fun diversion. Well done smaller geo board.
Yep, looks good, plays well. Everything's easy to understand and decently balanced. Board overall has a pleasing appearance. Fun diversion. Well done smaller geo board.
Thu 8th Jan 20:42
Graphically superb. Plays very well with different group sizes. Good balance between offense and defense. Scales great from early to end game. Luck doesn't overly influence the outcome. This, really, is a top-notch larger board.
Graphically superb. Plays very well with different group sizes. Good balance between offense and defense. Scales great from early to end game. Luck doesn't overly influence the outcome. This, really, is a top-notch larger board.
Thu 8th Jan 20:40
Yup. It's Risk, alright. This board looks really, really good and plays as designed.
Yup. It's Risk, alright. This board looks really, really good and plays as designed.
Thu 8th Jan 18:36
I love love love this board and it pains me to no end to write this review.
Other players have pointed out that luck plays a huge role in this game and some bad rolls early on can doom your game. That doesn't define a board's rating to me because I can chalk that up to personal preference, and because it fits this board's theme (it SHOULDN'T be easy to survive for long in a mall full of zombies!).
But the starting positions are WILDLY imbalanced, and that I cannot forgive. If you start at the Northwest or Southwest entrance, you can give up. You can ONLY get two +1 bonuses on the first turn, and then you're blocked by 3 neutrals. In contrast, for example, Northeast has two +1s and a +2. East Parking can access three +1s and the movie theatre. Et cetera. I don't remember this imbalance from the original version of the board, but the intervening years may have clouded my memory. This version is unplayably unfair over a short sample of games.
I love love love this board and it pains me to no end to write this review.Other players have pointed out that luck plays a huge role in this game and some bad rolls early on can doom your game. That doesn't define a board's rating to me because I can chalk that up to personal preference, and because it fits this board's theme (it SHOULDN'T be easy to survive for long in a mall full of zombies!).
But the starting positions are WILDLY imbalanced, and that I cannot forgive. If you start at the Northwest or Southwest entrance, you can give up. You can ONLY get two +1 bonuses on the first turn, and then you're blocked by 3 neutrals. In contrast, for example, Northeast has two +1s and a +2. East Parking can access three +1s and the movie theatre. Et cetera. I don't remember this imbalance from the original version of the board, but the intervening years may have clouded my memory. This version is unplayably unfair over a short sample of games.
Wed 31st Dec 11:07
To his credit the designer put a lot of work into tweaking the balance for this game. I played this one a LOT in development and while it came a long way from inception to release, I just don't think it ever quite got there.
To his credit the designer put a lot of work into tweaking the balance for this game. I played this one a LOT in development and while it came a long way from inception to release, I just don't think it ever quite got there.
Wed 31st Dec 11:03
Really nice board. Some innovative ideas that haven't been explored before or since.
Really nice board. Some innovative ideas that haven't been explored before or since.
Wed 31st Dec 10:59
Antastic has never been a personal favorite of mine but at some point you can't argue with results. This board was one of the first created on Wargear and in fact it was imported from the Old Country. What's amazing is that while it may have been imitated, it has never been replaced or unseated as the most popular map of its type for going on 7 years now. And that speaks for itself.
Antastic has never been a personal favorite of mine but at some point you can't argue with results. This board was one of the first created on Wargear and in fact it was imported from the Old Country. What's amazing is that while it may have been imitated, it has never been replaced or unseated as the most popular map of its type for going on 7 years now. And that speaks for itself.
Wed 31st Dec 10:56
This is an incredibly balanced board with deceptively interesting strategy. No one approach is always right. Yes, you will have games where you get unlucky on the first turn and are immediately way behind - but with three other players balancing each other out as well, an early deficit isn't a death sentence either. I've seen it all on this board.
This is an incredibly balanced board with deceptively interesting strategy. No one approach is always right. Yes, you will have games where you get unlucky on the first turn and are immediately way behind - but with three other players balancing each other out as well, an early deficit isn't a death sentence either. I've seen it all on this board.
Tue 18th May 22:16
Brilliant. A simple concept taken to the extreme of elegance, allowing for complex and unique gameplay. Works with many different numbers of players, and the strategical and tactical complexity abounds. I have yet to figure out the best way to beat this board, which means it's an achievement.
Brilliant. A simple concept taken to the extreme of elegance, allowing for complex and unique gameplay. Works with many different numbers of players, and the strategical and tactical complexity abounds. I have yet to figure out the best way to beat this board, which means it's an achievement.
Tue 18th May 22:14
The board we all know and love. Clear graphics and the board plays as intended. Graphical flourishes push it to 6/10.
The board we all know and love. Clear graphics and the board plays as intended. Graphical flourishes push it to 6/10.
Tue 26th Jan 17:18
Yes: Average. Understandable graphics and no broken borders should be no claim to fame. In all honesty I wish I didn't have to play several dozen games on this board to try to get into the top 10 overall ranking on the site, but I do.
Yes: Average. Understandable graphics and no broken borders should be no claim to fame. In all honesty I wish I didn't have to play several dozen games on this board to try to get into the top 10 overall ranking on the site, but I do.