Risk: Lord of the Rings Edition
by Parker Brothers
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Our Price: $139.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $39.95 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Risk: Lord of the Rings Edition
Customer Review: A decent RISK game, but a mediocre LotR game.
Summary: 3 Stars
This version of RISK is pretty decent. It doesn't add much to the previous version of RISK over all; you can read above to see what it adds. I will say that it's a very nice looking game, well designed and graphically high-quality. But the cards they added are not nearly as interesting as those added in RISK 2210, on which I think this LotR RISK is based. The board map for RISK play is interesting but it's missing quite a bit of the Tolkien world, the least of which not being Mordor. The strongholds and "captains" are also interesting, but again, not nearly as cool as the commanders and bases in RISK 2210. One thing this game really has going for it is that if you're both a RISK fan and a LotR fan, it's that much more fun than traditional RISK because you're battling in Rivendell or guarding the passage under the mountains via Moria.Overall, good game but not nearly as interesting as RISK 2210. Plus, this RISK isn't a whole lot of fun to play if you're looking to not use the cards/strongholds/ring/commanders because the layout is sort of hard to read (i.e. where are the borders? Can I attack you from this territory?). RISK 2210, however, is laid out much like regular RISK except for the addition of water colonies and the serious changing of all country names.
Hey, I guess this turned into a promo for RISK 2210!
Customer Review: Cynical Marketing; Much Better Alternatives Available
Summary: 1 Stars
Lord of the Rings has, unlike the Harry Potter series, inspired some truly excellent games, most notably the rich and subtle cooperative game by Reiner Knizia (one of the best games available on any topic; ASIN: B00005O0F4) and the much simpler but still quite deep 2-player Stratego-like 'Confrontation' game (also by Reiner Knizia; ASIN: B00006JBPP), both of which, in addition to being excellent games in their own right, are also superbly 'themed': the Lord of the Rings feel and atmosphere comes through during play and one really feels involved in an adventure in Middle Earth. (The 'children's game', again by Knizia, is also worth a look for kids under 8.)But this game is just junk. Not only is it inherently a dull and tedious game (unless your are a die-hard Risk fan or just don't really care about the game and are looking for a beer-and-pretzels distraction), but it also has absolutely nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings. This game 'theming' at its most cynical: some (not very good) changes in art and some nonsensical rules additions (that don't even work well from a gaming perspective) are all you get with this game.
If you like Risk, stick with the original, or try the sci-fi themed version (2210); if you like Lord of the Rings, avoid this game entirely (and consider some of the superb games mentioned above).
Customer Review: Must have for LOTR fans and gamers alike
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think that I can add much more to the reviews that have already been posted, but I will say that I absolutely love this version of a great game. As said before there is much more substance to this game than the standard RISK with the introduction of cards that can completely reshape the play of the game on a turn by turn basis. Events from the books/movies occur during the game in the form of cards that are obtained through concuring your opponants territories with PLACES OF POWER such as the Gates of Moria and Rivendell. You are also given a leader who adds to your offensive and defensive power when present at a battle and he can accomplish another new twist to the game: Missions.
Many people have stated that Mordor and Gondor are not present in this game and there are only 4 armies instead of 6, but you can rest assured that they are comming in the form of an additional game board and 2 more armies giving you the larger map with all of Middle Earth and the standard 6 armies of RISK. Don't be afraid of trying something new, this game, with so much new stuff is so worth giving it a try. I would rate this game much higher than the original RISK and should appeal to RISK fans, Lord of the Rings fans and people who have always wanted to give games of this nature a try.Customer Review: A New & Improved Risk
Summary: 5 Stars
A good variation on a great classic board game. My favorite aspect is the map - the game is fun even with just regular risk rules on the new board. The rivers, bridges, and mountains combine to make it much more difficult to plan massive sweeps through the map. I think it would come out as some sort of archipelago on a regular-style risk map.The additional rules for the normal form of the game were initially difficult to figure out; we definitely did turn actions in the wrong order the first time I played, especially with regard to completing missions and collecting Adventure Cards (see the game concepts explained in other reviews). After another try, I'm pretty confident we got it right. I like Risk, and the added LotR elements add some freshness to the classic game. I'm always for adding more complex rules to games :oD. The ring token is a much better One Ring game implementation than the one that comes with the Lord of the Rings cooperative board game.
I do worry that the game might get old, but I haven't played it enough for that to happen. It is very easy to lose the small pieces, but that was a weakness of the original Risk as well, and there are always more.
Good game, yay!
Customer Review: Very good Risk variant
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, many love the Lord of the Rings and many boardgamers liked Risk (at least in the beginning)...but Risk gets boring with more and more playings, you never have enough "meat". This Risk variant cleverly combines the theme of the Tolkien epic with new Risk elements like cards, leaders and fortresses. Leaders and fortresses give you a +1 on your highest die roll, which can be decisive in smaller battles. The cards are aquired by conquering so called places of power which are spread over the map. The map itself is Middle-Earth in its glory.Two players are good powers and the other two players evil. Both armies have their own pieces portraying from 1 to 3 to 5 armies each. The fellowship moves over the map and when they leave the game is over...this is a nice timing mechanism which prevents the never-ending Risk games we often see in the old classic game.
All in all, a very worthy Risk variant and a must buy for Lord of the Rings boardgame enthusiasts. Also, followers of Risk should at least look into this variation on the theme, a good addendum for your Risk collection.