For those of you looking for a board game that is a bit above the beer & pretzels level, but not as intense (rules-wise) as the hardcore battle simulation Grognard sect, boy have I got the game for you! It is a game designed by Richard Borg, along the lines of his very popular Command & Colors game system, and published by the game company Days of Wonder.
Memoir ’44
Go to
Welcome - Memoir '44 | Days of Wonder for further details.
This game came out in 2004, in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings…but it is much more than a game just dealing specifically with the landings on the beaches of Normandy. The game in fact has several scenarios that come with the core game, covering the Airborne Paratroop landings on the eve prior, and far beyond D-Day. And that’s just the core game!
The game plays on a double sided game board, one side a depiction of an ocean/beach/inland battlemap, and the other side of interior terrain. To customize each scenario, the game utilizes hexagonal “tiles” that fit over the hexagonal superimposed grid on the playing surface. Each scenario utilizes different tiles to build the terrain specific to that battle. The components are sturdy and the graphics are quite nice. The game includes miniature game pieces much like those found in the Axis & Allies boardgames, to include Infantry, Artillery, and Armor. Further, there are miniature playing pieces for obstacles, such as sandbags, hedgehogs, and barbed wire; and tiles to represent bridges, pillboxes, and other designators.
The game system is simple, and very fun to play. It is for two players, though there is a version of the game that is designed for multiple players up to 4, 6, and 8 players. Of note, and I know this personally, the game plays extremely well solitaire! This is because game action is governed by card-draw…in which a Command Deck of cards is used to determine what actions may be taken each game turn, kind of like multiple choice. You battle with specially made battle dice, of which each side is a depiction of either an Infantryman, tank, grenade (wild), star (for special purpose use), and flag (for retreating). The game system utilizes such things as Terrain Restrictions and Reductions, Line of Sight, Armor Overrun capabilities, Paratroop Airdrops, and more.
The game system has been further enhanced with the subsequent release of a Terrain Pack expansion, which introduces new terrain tiles and rules; and even more expansions sets to include battle on the Eastern Front and Pacific Theater, which introduces yet more rules, scenarios, and more playing pieces! And if that weren’t enough, their latest expansion just made available this Winter is their Air Pack expansion, which introduces airplane miniatures to the OOB, a new command card deck, playing aids, and a big booklet with tons of scenarios, both re-vamped from earlier game sets, and from scenarios designed by the fans on the on-line scenario editor on the Days of Wonder web site. And there’s more expansions and goodies to come in the future!
An interesting tangent to this game is, I am reading more and more, where this game is being used as a teaching tool by teachers in Grade Schools, and many parents wanting to give their kids a clue of what went down for the Greatest Generation. The game is simple enough for very young gamers (don’t underestimate them!), yet challenging enough for almost any adult gamer.
This game is a must have! I will review and suggest many games in upcoming posts, but if you only seriously consider one game of all my rantings and recommendations, this is the one. I would say this is very highly recommended by myself, but that would be an overwhelming understatement.
February 28th, 2008, 03:43 PM
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