Post by masterdecoy on Jul 28, 2009 12:59:01 GMT 10
Opening thoughts:
Robo Rally was a game I played once back in the glorious days of my youth, and it left such a good impression that when I saw it in Avalon hills catalogue, I ordered it strait away. Suffice to say, after all these years, my memory had not let me down.
Game Overview:
The goal of Robo Rally is simple; Get your robot to all the flag markers, in the correct order, first. The execution however is where the challenge and skill comes into it.
Each player chooses a robot (while there are several different robots to choose from, each with their own back story, Each robot is completely identical in game terms) and puts their robot at the start location.
The play then proceeds with each player being dealt 9 movement cards. These are randomly distributed and each card will have a move order printed on it any one of, move forward 1, 2 or 3 space, rotate left and right, u turn, or back up. As the cards are random, maneuvering your robot relies on a certain amount of luck, but skillful use of the movement cards and game board can drastically improve your position.
After looking at their movement cards, all players choose 5 movement cards and place them on their allocated robot sheet. These cards will form your robots next 5 movements. It takes quite a bit of forethought about your turn, as you wont be able to change what’s happening until your robot has completed these 5 moves, and believe me, A LOT can happen in 5 moves.
Once each player has placed each of their 5 cards play continues onto the movement step. Players flip over their movement cards in order and resolve their moves, until all 5 moves have been resolved for every player, where robots paths may intersect; each movement card also has a “priority” value to determine which robot moves first. But ramming isn’t an uncommon tactic to push competitor’s way off course.
Now, if that weren’t enough, the board also has several distinct tiles on them to help muck up your plans even further. Traps such as conveyer belts (fast and slow), pits, lasers, rotating gears and walls will all wreck havoc on your carefully laid planes. After each movement has been resolved the board elements all work their magic, and finally all the robots also have a laser fitted to their front arc which will fire and damage any other robots in their path.
As your robot takes more and more damage it becomes harder and harder to program your moves, for each hit you have taken. You are dealt one less movement card next turn. If you suffer 5 hits then your last movement will be “locked in” until you repair, meaning your robot will keep performing that movement every turn. 6 hits and your last 2 moves will be locked in ect, ect. You can repair your robot by stopping on the special tiles on the map or powering down your robot and missing a turn. Powering down can be a dangerous move in itself however, as your robot is a sitting duck to everyone else’s lasers, as well as being rammed into puts ect.
Component Overview:
The game board is split into about 4 different double sided square maps that can be placed next to each other to form a bigger map; however, I have found that only one map is necessary for a tense game. Each map is made of fairly sturdy cardboard, so shouldn’t ware too quickly.
There are several tokens for various things such as health, lives, power status ect. All are of standard quality.
The game also comes with a miniature for each robot, as well as plastic flags which you have to stick the numbers on yourself, I found that the stickers didn’t quite fit properly, however this is a minor niggle.
Lastly the game comes with a movement deck of cards, and an upgrade deck of cards. They are of average quality as well, I placed mine in card slips to prevent wearing.\
All in all, all components are minimal, but very fictional. I feel however the makers could have made them slightly sturdier.
Closing thoughts:
Robo rally is an excellent game for the entire family. It is engaging enough that the more hardcore gamer will still have to use their noggin to get through, however easy enough to pick up that some of the younger crowd will still have fun.
It will have you questioning your stratergy many many times, do you just go the quickest route and hope the other robots dont blow you to kingdom come? or do you take a detour and try to catch that conveyer belt and let it take you where you need to go? The tactics are many, and all are correct.
This is defiantly a group game however, and gets a bit tedious if there are only 2 players. If you can manage to round up 8 for a game, I guarantee this to be one of the best game experiences you’ll ever have.
Components: 3/5
Game play: 4/5
Replay Potential: 5/5
Theme: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
PM me if you would like a demo game
Robo Rally was a game I played once back in the glorious days of my youth, and it left such a good impression that when I saw it in Avalon hills catalogue, I ordered it strait away. Suffice to say, after all these years, my memory had not let me down.
Game Overview:
The goal of Robo Rally is simple; Get your robot to all the flag markers, in the correct order, first. The execution however is where the challenge and skill comes into it.
Each player chooses a robot (while there are several different robots to choose from, each with their own back story, Each robot is completely identical in game terms) and puts their robot at the start location.
The play then proceeds with each player being dealt 9 movement cards. These are randomly distributed and each card will have a move order printed on it any one of, move forward 1, 2 or 3 space, rotate left and right, u turn, or back up. As the cards are random, maneuvering your robot relies on a certain amount of luck, but skillful use of the movement cards and game board can drastically improve your position.
After looking at their movement cards, all players choose 5 movement cards and place them on their allocated robot sheet. These cards will form your robots next 5 movements. It takes quite a bit of forethought about your turn, as you wont be able to change what’s happening until your robot has completed these 5 moves, and believe me, A LOT can happen in 5 moves.
Once each player has placed each of their 5 cards play continues onto the movement step. Players flip over their movement cards in order and resolve their moves, until all 5 moves have been resolved for every player, where robots paths may intersect; each movement card also has a “priority” value to determine which robot moves first. But ramming isn’t an uncommon tactic to push competitor’s way off course.
Now, if that weren’t enough, the board also has several distinct tiles on them to help muck up your plans even further. Traps such as conveyer belts (fast and slow), pits, lasers, rotating gears and walls will all wreck havoc on your carefully laid planes. After each movement has been resolved the board elements all work their magic, and finally all the robots also have a laser fitted to their front arc which will fire and damage any other robots in their path.
As your robot takes more and more damage it becomes harder and harder to program your moves, for each hit you have taken. You are dealt one less movement card next turn. If you suffer 5 hits then your last movement will be “locked in” until you repair, meaning your robot will keep performing that movement every turn. 6 hits and your last 2 moves will be locked in ect, ect. You can repair your robot by stopping on the special tiles on the map or powering down your robot and missing a turn. Powering down can be a dangerous move in itself however, as your robot is a sitting duck to everyone else’s lasers, as well as being rammed into puts ect.
Component Overview:
The game board is split into about 4 different double sided square maps that can be placed next to each other to form a bigger map; however, I have found that only one map is necessary for a tense game. Each map is made of fairly sturdy cardboard, so shouldn’t ware too quickly.
There are several tokens for various things such as health, lives, power status ect. All are of standard quality.
The game also comes with a miniature for each robot, as well as plastic flags which you have to stick the numbers on yourself, I found that the stickers didn’t quite fit properly, however this is a minor niggle.
Lastly the game comes with a movement deck of cards, and an upgrade deck of cards. They are of average quality as well, I placed mine in card slips to prevent wearing.\
All in all, all components are minimal, but very fictional. I feel however the makers could have made them slightly sturdier.
Closing thoughts:
Robo rally is an excellent game for the entire family. It is engaging enough that the more hardcore gamer will still have to use their noggin to get through, however easy enough to pick up that some of the younger crowd will still have fun.
It will have you questioning your stratergy many many times, do you just go the quickest route and hope the other robots dont blow you to kingdom come? or do you take a detour and try to catch that conveyer belt and let it take you where you need to go? The tactics are many, and all are correct.
This is defiantly a group game however, and gets a bit tedious if there are only 2 players. If you can manage to round up 8 for a game, I guarantee this to be one of the best game experiences you’ll ever have.
Components: 3/5
Game play: 4/5
Replay Potential: 5/5
Theme: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
PM me if you would like a demo game