Reviews of Some of the Many Star Wars Board Games
Nothing beats a lazy afternoon quite like a board game. Sure there’s video games, which are, for
the most part, more fun, but... board games are good too! Video games are an every day
occurrence - when you break out the board games, it’s usually something special. Often that
“something special” comes in the form of the illustrious “board game night.” While this is
always an excellent theme night, usually that’s about where the theme ends. Often you have
people playing Monopoly, Jenga, and Risk all in the same room - sure they’re all great games,
btu where’s the continuity? Where, I ask, where?! Well, I propose a themed board game night!
Yes! And that theme: Star Wars board game night! Yes! And, as a sneak peak of what anyone
who takes part in this great event (which I propose take annually on May 4th - “may the forth”...
I’m a nerd), here’s a review of some of the many games which have been Star Wars-ized for
your enjoyment that you have to choose from. To help demonstrate the playing of said games is
General Grievous.
Star Wars Stratego:
I only played Stratego for the first time about a year ago. Before then I only knew it as the game
that Mulder’s sister got kidnapped while she played it. Regardless of the threat of abduction, I
greatly love this game. For those who have never played, it’s basically a combination of chess
and mine-sweeper, where the pegs get certain movement, etc. The Star Wars adaptations of the
game are pretty much exactly the same as the regular versions, ‘cept with SW characters instead
of French Revolutionaries. There’s OT Stratego, Ep. I and Ep. II Stratego, but the set I have is
the Master series: all SW (‘cept III, as it doesn’t exist yet) in one game. Look for yer enemies
lightsaber to win!
The combatants in this game are: Republic/Rebellion VS. Imperials, with the power-hitters
being Yoda and the Emperor respectively. But all the good characters are pretty high-ranking as
well. Vader is pretty high, as is Obi-Wan, and both Fett’s. How often can you get Boba fighting
side by side with Jango? Not that often, I’d imagine.
Grievous is pissed that he’s not in this version of the game. As a result, he decides to execute a
number of Clone Troopers.
Star Wars Trivial Pursuit:
This is the game that separates the serious nerds from the regular people. If you don’t get the
basic concept of TP, then... I dunno... you suck, I guess. This version is basically the same thing,
only all SW questions, and the pie things are 4 characters from the OT. Vader, Luke, Han, and
Leia (for when girls play and don’t wanna play as Luke). While some of these questions are
pretty easy, others are staggeringly hard. There is a great sense of both pride and depression
when you know something that yer other die-hard friends don’t. There’s a similar feeling in
smacking the R2-dice thing. He beeps!
We played this game (just with the cards) while waiting in line for Ep. I tickets. The question
came up “What was the call-number of the trooper set to guard the Falcon in ‘A New Hope’ and
several blurted out “TK-421! Why aren’t you at your post?” much to the delight/shame of those
around us. Good times.
Having the entire series downloaded into his memory banks, Grievous easily takes multiple
pieces of pie. I keep telling him he only needs one set, but he just won’t listen. He’d rather
humiliate me. It’s just cuz I haven’t had a turn yet. Stupid ‘high-die’ rule... I think he rigged it.
Monopoly: Star Wars Edition:
With this one, the only one I played was the OT version. Basically, this one is EXACTLY like
the original Monopoly, only all the real estate has been Star Wars-ized, the houses/hotels were
turned into space-ships, and the money was turned into Imperial Credits. That doesn’t mean it’s
not fun. The joy of being the one who ones Boardwalk and making fun of those who owned... I
forget their names, but the crappy first 2 places, is only heightened when you own the Imperial
Palace on Corusant and you can make fun of the chump that owns Yoda’s Dagobah crap hole.
Good fun. Other than that - it’s Monopoly.
I don’t actually own this game, which angered Grievous greatly, so here’s a picture of him
destroying something I love.
Star Wars: Episode II Chess Set:
Finally we come to one of the more so basic board games. The one that most people understand,
but is almost impossible to describe to those who don’t. Yes, I’m talking about Checkers’ big
brother - Chess. The version of chess that I have is Episode II. Now, while this COULD be a lot
cooler (this is the first time the “Light side” looked cooler than the other - the “Dark Side”
pawns are those damn bug things... I hate those things) they do have some awesome figures.
Bishops are Mace Windu and Jango Fett (actually, since they’re not painted or anything, we’ll
just say that one of them is Boba), Obi-Wan is there, as is the Emperor, etc. Plus, chess is pretty
fun as is.
One downside to this game is the actual board. The 2 tones of the dark and light blocks are
almost identical in colour. This can get confusing sometimes. It’s times like those that you just
have an all out “who can throw their pieces the hardest” game of chess. Those usually end
faster, and are way more “x-treem!” Other than that, it’d be better if it wasn’t just Ep. II, or they
at least replaced those damn bug-guys with some battle-droids or something. I dunno... Ep. II
had a lot of problems.
Cornered by the Fett father-and-son team, Grievous isn’t sure he can escape. He’s nearly sure,
but not fully. They don’t even have one lightsaber between them! Tisk.
Anywho, hopefully this has been enlightening for you all, and will help the next time you are
planning to throw a party tat you really want to nerd-up. ‘Cuz playing regular board games is
actually a little bit cooler than all this stuff. May the Fourth be with you.