Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition

I am a big Axis & Allies fan. I started playing the game back when I was 12 years old, and it holds a lot of fond memories for me. My first purchase of the game was 2nd edition back in 1994. From that point on there were several battles fought in my living room. From misinterpreted upside-down rules, to impossible 1 infantry blowing up an attacking bomber; I have seen it all. And now I am happy to review the latest edition from Axis & Allies. This is Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition!

For those not familiar with the game. Axis & Allies is a World War II strategy game that uses detailed military pieces to move across a game board to do battle and conquer vital territories. Taking over territories builds up your country’s industrial capacity, and allows you to produce more military units through the exchange of Industrial Production Certificates or IPCs. Victory is determined by taking over your opponent’s world power, or by certain economic victories outlined within each version of the game. Axis & Allies has become fairly popular (mostly among men), and has been around for several decades with new versions being continuously released.

I have played most the other renditions of A&A: Europe, Asia, Revised (but not D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, or Guadalcanal), and Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition has to be the best of them all! A&A Anniversary is an unbelievable game, and yes Larry Harris and the boys at Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast have done it again! There are so many amazing elements to this game it boggles my freakin’ mind.

Europe side of the Board

Let me start out with the obvious. Italy is now its own Axis power. The game is now 2 -6 players and someone can  control the great Axis power Italy as it was in history. Only problem… it starts out with 10 IPCs. As Italy, you are in a position to take over Africa. You have land and naval units ready to attack those wacky Brits in Egypt. Can you do it? I don’t know because there are other objectives to strive for.

That’s right, “objectives”, and each national power has them. This new game of A&A now features special objectives for each national power. When you achieve a certain objective, you are given an additional IPC bonus for that round (ranging from 5-10 IPCs). These objectives encourage countries like Russia to make a few wild attacks into Bulgaria to score an additional 10 IPCs for that round.

Go for those objectives or not, but either way, you will find this new edition of Axis & Allies as one of the most developed and strategic versions of the game you will ever see. Among other major changes, this edition includes the new cruiser naval units (attack and defend at a 3) and revised rules on how submarines attack and defend. Furthermore, you will notice a new way to explore technology.

Yes, they have finally made technology something to work for, as opposed to something a novice at the game spends money on before they are mauled over. In this edition, you pay 5 IPCs for a research token. If you roll a 6, you get to choose from two charts of technological development. From there, you roll again to see which technology you developed. How is this new rule different and magical from other editions of the past? Well, if you miss getting that infamous 6 when rolling for technological development, you get to keep rolling each additional round until you finally discover a technological breakthrough. You can keep buying more tech rolls each round, but once you hit that 6, you can only develop for one technology. I believe these adjustments to the tech rules really get people going after those tech roles, even if it is just for buying at the first round; it’s worth it.

There are two scenarios in which you can start the game at: 1941 or 1942. 1942 looking more like the original Axis & Allies setup. I have played only two games of the 1941 setup and it is nothing short of amazing. As for a power that naturally has an upper hand, I feel it must go to the Allies. The British start out with a massive amount of cash, they can destroy the German navy, and build/ strengthen their navy to an immortal state on the first round (1941 setup).  Even Russia starts out with 30 IPCs! I have yet to play the 1942 scenario but I know it resembles the original A&A setup. I will post an update as soon as I play this scenario.

Where to buy: Unfortunately, Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition is already out of print. It is going for double the price at Amazon.com (Over $200!). I had to borrow it from a close friend in order play my second game. For more information go to the official Axis & Allies page.

- The Crumb

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1. 

   Octopus Grabus says:

   July 15, 2009 at 9:23 pm

   I hear there is one you cannot defeat for his power is too great…..

   [Reply]

   Mr. Crumb Reply:
   July 26th, 2009 at 11:02 am

   Your day will come, Grabus!

   [Reply]
2. 

   Mr. Crumb says:

   August 21, 2009 at 2:08 pm

   News Flash – There are 3 copies of Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition available at coolstuffinc.com.

   [Reply]

   Mr. Crumb Reply:
   August 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm

   Sold out!

   [Reply]