Reviews

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1942

by Don Lowry


This is the first World War II game to join Game Designers' Workshop's Series 120 line of small games. It is a fairly conventional, two player, hex grid game. The 17" x 22", heavy paper mapaheet depicts the area of Japan'a initial WWII conquests, including the Philippines, most of the Dutch East Indiea (Indonesia), Malaya, Siam (Thailand), IndoChina and a bit of Burma. Each hex represents an area 85 nautical miles across.. Most unit counters represent regiments or British brigades, but some represent Filipino divisions, and there are a few battalions. Also each of the three Allied nations (Britain, Netherlands and US) has one air unit, while the Japanese have two land-based air units and two naval air units. There are no ship units.

Land units have zones of control, but attacking is completely optional. In addition to normal land movement, each side is allowed a limited amount of "naval movement" of land units from port to port or beachhead, including amphibious invasions. Air units do not move for the purpose of attacking. They have an "umbrella" extending four hexes in all directions which affects combat without the air unit actually leaving its hex.

Land-based air units do move, however, when transferring to a new location. Naval air units use naval movement. Supply is traced to any friendly city, or, for the Japanese, off the board.

Since Hong Kong is not on the map a special Hong Kong Assault Table is provided. If it goes badly the Japanese player may have to divert more units from the map to replace losses.

Victory is determined through the calculation of victory points at the end of turn 10. There is a special Japanese surprise attack turn (turn 0) before the first full turn. Each turn represents one half a month.

This is a fairly simple game with reasonable realism and GDW's usual quality components. It comes in a clear, plastic, zip-lock bag and sells for $5.00. It's available wherever wargames are sold, including Lowry Enterprises, P.O. Box 896, Fallbrook, CA 92028.

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© Copyright 1979 by Donald S. Lowry
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