Axis and Allies Anniversary Edition (Now w/gameplay review)

PrideoftheRoyalNavy · **PrideoftheRoyalNavy**

So, today the A&A Anniversary Edition came from UPS and let me tell you it is awesome. Im pleased to know that WoTC didnt go all cheap with the material for this one and actually put a lot of work into it. Here is a review aswell as some pictures.

The Board
The game board is amazing. When WoTC said it was the biggest board to date they werent kidding. It is very detailed and looks very realistic. The map looks like a satelite photo. Instead of just making each nation's starting territories one solid color it has a very realistic look to it and is only outlined with the color, making it easily identifiable yet nice looking. The addition of a now full China is definately a plus, Im sure everyone is happy that it isnt the lame, 2 terr. China we saw in Revised. The only thing I do not like about the map is the small area in which W. Canada, W. USA and Central USA are squeezed into. It doenst really allow any room to place your troops. However, thats a small price to pay for the quality of this board.

Gameplay
The addition of national objective cards is cool. They each have a motto that resembles what that nation''s philosophy on the war was. Here is an example:

and the flip side:

Also, the way of getting technological advancements is great. Once you buy an advancement token for 5 IPCs you roll one D6 for every token you own. On a 6 you get the chance to develop. You then roll 1 more D6 (just one, doesnt matter how many 6s you got before) and whatever comes up you match up with the corresponding advancement. This allows it to be random so you cant just go for one advancement all the time until you get it.

Gameplay Order, 1941 Staring Scenario
1. Germany
2. Soviet Union
3. Japan
4. United Kingdom
5. Italy
6. Japan

Gamplay Order, 1942 Starting Scenario
1. Japan
2. Soviet Union
3. Germany
4. United Kingdom
5. Italy
6. United States

So today I played the 1941 version of this game with my friend, he was allies I was axis. We decided to play a short game with a victory condition of 13 out of the 18 victory cities. Mind you, the Allies start with 12 victory cities and the Axis with 6.
First Turn
Germany invades USSR taking the first row of USSR controlled territory, stopping short of Leningrad and Stalingrad. The German Navy also destroys the UK's BB with a sub attack. The USSR uses its turn to reinforce its territories bordering the German invaders. The USSR also attacks Manchuria but fails to take it. Japan launches its attack buy wiping out the BB at Hawaii and taking the Dutch East Indies and Borneo setting itself up for an invasion of Austalia. Japan also captures Hong Kong and the Phillipines and reinforces Manchuria and Kiangsu. The UK bulks up at Gibraltar preparing to take the Med. Sea aswell as moving its divisions from trans-jordan to Egypt. Italy attacks Gibraltar destroying the Biritish navy there. The US takes this turn to build up its Navy.

Turn 2
The Germans now move reinforcements from Germany to the front lines but dig in for the winter. In Africa, however, the Germans capture Egypt and the Suez Canal. The Russians take this time to launch a winter offensive across the entire front. After a large battle the Russians devastate the German invaders recapturing East Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States aswell as capturing Finland. Things go better for the axis in Asia as the Japanese capture australia and prepare to land in India. The UK now launches a combined air and sea assault on the Italian navy at Gibraltar destroying it completely. They try, but fail, to take Libya and Algeria. Italy now rebuilds a Battleship and moves ints forces from Libya to Algeria to defend from a US transport on its way to Africa. The US attempt to take Africa but are cut down by the Italians an a supported Me 109. In the Pacific the US attacks a IJN carrier with bombers sinking it with all crewmembers.

Turn 3
Germany attempts top regain its land by launching a tank spearhead into the Baltic states supported by infantry and artillery from Poland destroying all Russians in the area. With another spearhead of 4 tanks the Germans seize the Ukraine from the Russians. However the Russians take advantage of the German absense from Poland and attack it with their tank force, seizing Warsaw and threatening Berlin. Japan now takes India and Burma from the UK and attacks the US navy off the shore of Iwo Jima destroying it completely. The UK try for the last time to take control in the Med. but fail to do so. Italy, now being in full control of the Med. area begins a push into Persia and threatens Stalingrad from the south. The US attempts to rebuild its Navy and shifts its entire income to the Pacific, abandoning the Russians and Biritish for the rest of the game. The Chinese, in a surprise move, take Shanghai and threaten Manchuria and Hong Kong.

Turn 4
The Germans, with a now strong Luftwaffe, retake Poland and capture Leningrad and Finland and move more forces to prepare to take Stalingrad. The Russians, now on the defensive and with a crippled army, lash out at the Italian division to its south but are shockingly defeated by a much smaller Italian force. However they are succesful in taking back Leningrad at the cost of the better part of its army. The Japanese are suffer a horrible defeat at the hands of the Chinese in an attempt to retake Shanghai but begin a march through Persia towards Russia. The IJN builds up around the home islands in preparation for the eventual USN attack. The UK attempts a landing in Northwestern Europe but is slaughtered. Italy now boldly moves its navy towards a deserted Eastern United States and sends a task force down into Africa to take the lightly defended countries. The USA now moves its Navy to south-west towards the Philipines.

Turn 5
The turn that decided the war. The Germans now boldly attack and capture both Leningrad and Stalingrad and are now in range to launch a tank assault from Leningrad and Stalingrad to Moscow on the following turn. Whats left of the Russian army retreats back towards Moscow but wont be able to make it back to defend it. Japan attacks the USN on its way to the Philipines and destroys it in the largest naval battle in the game. The UK, now on its own in Europe, tries desparetly to build a navy and landing force for one last chance at an invasion of Europe. Italy now moves its navy into the middle of the Atlantic, ready to land at the Eastern United States and take Washington D.C. on the following turn. The US, now crippled, builds a small navy in the East to defend against the Italian Navy and builds 1 BB in the Pacific.

Turn 6
With Germany in range of Moscow, Italy threatening Washington and Japan dominant in the Pacific victory seems certain for the axis. Germany now captures Moscow and marches triumphantly in the Kremlin. Also with a large Luftwaffer strike the Germans destroy the UK invasion force in the Channel. The Russians surprisngly takes back Moscow but only has a handful of men left to defend it from the main part of the German Army. Japan, having lost Manchuria and Hong Kong last turn to the Chinese, has no chance of retaking it due to the vast amount of Chinese forces along the coast of China. Japan boldy attacks the continental USA buy taking Alaska and threating an invasion of the Western United States. the UK, now completely out of options and being threatened by a possible German Invasion, begin to rebuild its land an air forces. Italy attacks the fleet of 4 cruisers on the Eastern US Coast but are destroyed. Italy takes no further major actions in the game. The USA now moves its land forces towards the West Coast and await the Japanese Invasion.

Turn 7
The Germans now attack Moscow with the full force of the Werhmacht and once again parade through the Kremlin. Russia is now out of the game. Japan lauches its invasion of the US and takes San Franscisco. The UK again builds its army in preparation. The USA builds troops in the East waiting for the Japanese to march across.

Turn 8
This turn was spent by both sides preparing for the end. The Germans build transports to take England, The Japanese build tanks in the West US to go across and take Washington and the USA and UK wait for the impending doom.

Turn 9
Germany crosses the Channel. London quickly falls for the mass amounts of ground forces and Luftwaffe strikes. Japan rolls across the USA and take Ottawa in Eastern Canada with 1 tank. The battle for Washington was fierce, the USA ultimately clung onto it with a lone Hellcat fighter left standing after the dust cleared. The Japanese also take Honolulu. At this time the Axis controlled Tokyo, Calcutta, Sydeny, Honolulu, San Franscisco, Ottawa, Manila, Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, Warsaw, Berlin, Rome, Paris and London with the Allies controlling only Hong Kong and Shainghai. The Axis had clearly won by taking 16 victory cities with only needing to take 13.

After Action Thoughts
After playing the game I have to say it is the best board game Axis and Allies has put on the market. Italy really is a great addition, it allows Germany to concentrate on Russia while it takes the Med. Italy should not be underestimated by any means, as you can see, as it even almost took Washington. The US really has it hard because with only 40$ it cant keep Japan under control and help the UK in Europe at the same time. After turn 5 the Japanese were actually out producing everyone. The USA, in my opinion, has to spend all its money from turn 1 on the Pacific, if the USA does not have control of the Pacific there is no hope of victory for the allies.. Japan is really a huge threat in this game for the Allies. It has the potential of being the strongest power on the board by turn 4 if played right. The USA really doesnt have a chance if it splits its income between East and West. The UK MUST take control of the Med. and defeat the Afrika Corps and Italy or it will not win. Without control of the Suez Canal there is no way it can send ships to help India and Australia in time. China is aslo a force not to be underestimated. By turn 5 it was the STRONGEST ALLIED POWER! It had I think 30 infantry by turn 7. Really there was no way Japan was going to take Shanghai or Hong Kong from the Chinese, it really is just one big horde of troops. If China was allowed to move out of the Chinese Territories and Manchuria/Kiangsu it would have been able to retake Moscow and possibly march on Berlin.

I Will be Adding a 1942 Review in 2 weeks when I play the 1942 Scenario

Game Pieces
The game pieces are really nice. The Germans finally got an actual fighter instead of the Stuka. Also, each nation now has its own tank model, including the Italians. Each nation gets its own little box that you can put all the pieces in aswell as the national objective/troop placement cards. The only thing I dont like about the pieces is how much they borrowed from other nations to make the Italians. They have the German fighter, all German navy ships, the Japanese bomber and the Japanese artillery. I can understand the German pieces in there, but Japanese bombers and art? I just dont get it.

Overall I give it 2 thumbs up, great work WOTC.

As promised here are some pictures I took.

Europe/Atlantic,1941

Europe/Atlantic,1942

Asia/Pacific,1941

Asia/Pacific,1942

Close-up on Europe in 1942

All the nation's boxes packed together

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Jesse_James · **Jesse_James**

Nice, I may pick this up soon.
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Commissar_JPH · **Commissar_JPH**

I may have to go out and buy yet another edition
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Duck Crusader · **Duck Crusader**

Hmm, gotta say I wasn't too impressed when I first looked at the box, but after your review I amy have to think about it.

NeuralDream · **NeuralDream**

Are the Chinese a nation or just Americans in light green? I don't see a factory there.
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Mad Ghost/0331 · **Mad Ghost/0331**

looks nice. and since my original rules set is beat all to hell... perhaps...
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An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.
Otto von Bismarck

http://riversidegaming.myfastforum.org/forum3.php

V-Disc · **V-Disc**

Capt. Strange · **Capt. Strange**

Although, I ordered this game to complete my collection, the XENO games versions of both World at War and Europe at War are both better games by far.
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It comes for you...

Duck Crusader · **Duck Crusader**

That the one with the giant full-table map? If so I'd agree.

PantherDude3000 · **PantherDude3000**

Looks great. I plan to get it in about a month or two.
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Task Force 57 · **Task Force 57**

Arrrrrrrrgh

Its $100 retail!!!!!

Im feeling very VERY old.... I remember paying about 20pounds sterling for my 1st copy of this game, hellfire!!!!!

I didnt mind paying $45 for pacific and europe but to lay out a hundred for game I kinda have....... My wife Will Kill ME (note that I say "Will" rather then "might").

Its not as if I have any choice after all... its got Italy and cruisers so I kinda have too.

Its a far dumber thing i do then i have done before, a far worse blasting from the missus then i have ever known....

Dickens knew his Sh%$T.
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(TF57... British Pacific Fleet 1944-45)

A swordfish is for life, not just for Bismarck, Littorio, Veneto... or any poor IJN carrier that runs out of Zero's.

PrideoftheRoyalNavy · **PrideoftheRoyalNavy**

I got it for 70$ without shipping. If you like the whole-world maps better than the more detailed ones like Europe and Pacific then its well worth the price. China spawns 1 infantry for every 2 territories it controls. When the USA player goes, he moves all his USA first and then he can move China and vice versa, so its like the USA player has 2 turns. Chinese soldies cannot move out of China except into Manchuria and Kiangsu. If anyone wants any more pictures just let me know, such as close ups on the Pacific/Asia, each countries unit models and/or more of the objectives/troop placement cards.
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Angel of Death · **Angel of Death**

Thanx for the review. Can't wait to get this game. Actually, someone else in our group might get is first. But it's very tempting.

I really like the idea of Birma added in, Italy being a power on its own, China being more of a infantry-swamp, etc. It makes everything a lot closer to reality, I think. The 'crush Russia from 2 sides' tactic just became a lot harder. Since it was the dominant Axis strategy for a lot of our games here.. this new edition will change things a lot.
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There are no desperate situations, there are only desperate people.
Heinz Guderian

PrideoftheRoyalNavy · **PrideoftheRoyalNavy**

Russia is more of an Infantry swamp at the beggining then China. It has over 25inf. and only 1 tank n 2 artillery when you start in 1941. But yea I agree, taking Russia from both sides will be a lot harder now.
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Jesse_James · **Jesse_James**

In mother russia tank drives you!
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TorontoBizz · **TorontoBizz**

My meetup group is playing this game on December 14th. I'm looking forward to trying it out

general Hoth · **general Hoth**

i just bought Europe. so this one is next on my wish list.
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Scenarios?:
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/forum3.php.

V-Disc · **V-Disc**

I got "A&A50" the day it came out; performed a complete inventory of game components; gave the rule book a good read;....now I'm ready to give this a solitaire run-through.

No...wait.... I'm going to spend the weekend doing yard work and cleaning gutters Sad

Shopping....cooking...cleaning...laundry...walking the dogs....AAAARGH!

Clearly we need a new set of domestic priorities!
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Keep Swingin' Y'all

Aquarius · **Aquarius**

Two players in our group now have this game. We're set to give it a test run next Sunday.

Can't wait.
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I have to make a new sig because my old one is too wide for this new look...

PrideoftheRoyalNavy · **PrideoftheRoyalNavy**