First wargame I bought as kid in about 1971. It was a lot of fun for such a simple game. The 1981 update was also a great game, I think it was the perfect mix of realism and playability.
This game is one of my favorite old Avalon Hill games. It has a nice feel to it and great replayability. I havent played the 1981 update, but have heard good things. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I think calling them squares was early ( 1960s) AH’s attempt to not confuse people in their then nascent hobby with too much new terminology that differed from Hanes if that era. By the 1970s, when I joined in as a gamer, hexes was universally accepted . Squares were well, square.
Anyone in doubt as to the 'greatness' of this game need only note the overview and rules are all done in ~20min. A great game does not have to be "complex" or lengthy just great fun.
I feel this is an overlooked game with all the modern wargames on the market. It is not overly complex and is not just another simple game without strategy to it. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset Hah! I think MOST of Avalon Hill's old catalog is over-looked. It also seems to me that many people today seem to think more rules and more counters are by default better when in fact it is the opposite; and if the game does not have some sort of random card-draw/holding it is "dated" entirely. Not I.
Depending on the country of manufacture there are diffrent boards. I call the spaces a square to keep the rules simple as Avalon Hill did when the game originally was released. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I played this game alot in my teens as well with my brother. I enjoyed it, but I agree that there are many better Wargames out. For what it is, I feel it still has some play merits. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset Yeah, it's a beer and pretzel game, but fun and fairly quick. I think it has stood the test of time. Sure, there are some really good N.Africa games, but some go towards the really monster catagory. SPI had one that it took a day to do a turn. Campaign of North Africa or something like that. I took mine to the local game club and it worked great for team playing, but for 2 or solo impossible.
@@GamersCloset Oops, wrong message to the wrong party. I agree it's a fun game. The Germans need to get it done early because once the American reenforcements start to show up, well it gets to be rather drole for the Germans. There are more complicated games out there, but as an intro or beer and pretzel it fits. Besides a lot of time has passed since it came out. I don't think without it the hobby would quite be the same. Avalon Hill, really, was the only true wargame company at the time. Others made games, Parker Brothers, but they had a major chance element. But, Avalon Hill minimized the chance element and enhanced the strategy element. Love the channel. Cheers.
The 81 version from what I'm told made some made some interesting improvements, but I think the original is still a solid game. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
The version that you mention as the 91 edition was not under Hasbro it was under Avalon Hill the was done for the Smithsonian to be sold at their gift shop and is referred to as the Smithsonian Edition. Also the 91 edition does not have a crt use a different system resolved combat.
I appreciate the clarification on the game, as I have not played or go through the newer edition. Currently Avalon Hill is owned by Hasbro and the Avalon Hill logo is still being placed on games. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
You just read the rule book. That is not helpful in showing me how to play. I would have loved example game play, or examples of what the heck the rule book ids saying. Thank you
A playthrough of this game is coming soon. This video was made as an introduction to this game as some copies don't have a rule book at all. Please stay tuned for the playthrough that I hope will answer any further questions you might have. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset dragged out my (deceased) brother's copy. He still had all the copies of our last PBM game. I started setting up the PM Dec 21st move, to see how bad I was doing. Got frustrated due to the wife's cat meddling... 🤣
I always enjoyed this game. I never had an issue with the German units being pink. German military uniforms used different colors to differentiate the types of military units. White was for Infantry, Red for Artillery, Pink for Panzer units, ect. Just felt it was added theming to the game. Cheers!
Not a strategy game by any stretch of the imagination. This game was designed for gaming wannabes. A 12 year old kid could play this thing. AH’s release of a second Bulge game in the 80’s was better. More intense. This first game was a joke.
Compared to games of the period, it had a lot of strategic elements to it. The advanced rules made you take the weather into account, plus the reinforcements chart made you plan out your moves in a more strategic way. Granted a 12 year old can play this, but it is a good gateway game for better and more modern strategy games. Thank you for your opinion and watching my video. Cheers!
Not really, but at the time, 1965, there really wasn't wargames per se. Even when I bought my first,1971, there wasn't any other companies. SPI was just starting and they first offered a football game. Sure, the hobby has evolved but that doesn't make one of the grandparents of the hobby is lame.
That's the very first war game I bought way back in 1970. I was 10 years old. I still have it.
It is a great game. Thank you for sharing and thank you for watching. Cheers!
Same here. I just turned 11, and wasn't sure if I was allowed to play it without permission :)
First wargame I bought as kid in about 1971. It was a lot of fun for such a simple game. The 1981 update was also a great game, I think it was the perfect mix of realism and playability.
This game is one of my favorite old Avalon Hill games. It has a nice feel to it and great replayability. I havent played the 1981 update, but have heard good things. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
The update was awesome.
Calling them squares is “square”, the hip kids call ‘em hexes.
The instructions call them square. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset exactly, good video anyways, thank you.( …but do the hip kids even play war games?)
I think calling them squares was early ( 1960s) AH’s attempt to not confuse people in their then nascent hobby with too much new terminology that differed from Hanes if that era. By the 1970s, when I joined in as a gamer, hexes was universally accepted . Squares were well, square.
Anyone in doubt as to the 'greatness' of this game need only note the overview and rules are all done in ~20min. A great game does not have to be "complex" or lengthy just great fun.
I feel this is an overlooked game with all the modern wargames on the market. It is not overly complex and is not just another simple game without strategy to it. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset Hah! I think MOST of Avalon Hill's old catalog is over-looked. It also seems to me that many people today seem to think more rules and more counters are by default better when in fact it is the opposite; and if the game does not have some sort of random card-draw/holding it is "dated" entirely. Not I.
I used to break this game out every time the movie was on, or on Dec 16.
Playing the game with Panzer Lied in the background makes for an epic game night. thanks for sharing and watching. Cheers!
Lily Marlene would be good too.
Cool vintage war game
Well done! I enjoyed your extensive review.
It is nice to hear that my work has brought someone else enjoyment and is appreciated. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
Why would you call a hexagon a square? 😆
Depending on the country of manufacture there are diffrent boards. I call the spaces a square to keep the rules simple as Avalon Hill did when the game originally was released. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Bought this game around 74, I was 14, but I didn't care for it. Bought my first a few years earlier and it was AH's Kriegspiel.
I played this game alot in my teens as well with my brother. I enjoyed it, but I agree that there are many better Wargames out. For what it is, I feel it still has some play merits. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset Yeah, it's a beer and pretzel game, but fun and fairly quick. I think it has stood the test of time. Sure, there are some really good N.Africa games, but some go towards the really monster catagory. SPI had one that it took a day to do a turn. Campaign of North Africa or something like that. I took mine to the local game club and it worked great for team playing, but for 2 or solo impossible.
@@GamersCloset Oops, wrong message to the wrong party. I agree it's a fun game. The Germans need to get it done early because once the American reenforcements start to show up, well it gets to be rather drole for the Germans. There are more complicated games out there, but as an intro or beer and pretzel it fits. Besides a lot of time has passed since it came out. I don't think without it the hobby would quite be the same. Avalon Hill, really, was the only true wargame company at the time. Others made games, Parker Brothers, but they had a major chance element. But, Avalon Hill minimized the chance element and enhanced the strategy element. Love the channel. Cheers.
I had the 81 version.
The 81 version from what I'm told made some made some interesting improvements, but I think the original is still a solid game. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
good vid!
I am glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
Love love love this game. Blitzkrieg by AH is my most favorite though. Pink Germans, lol…
It is an interesting game. I played it as a teenager with my dad. Blitzkrieg is coming out in April of next year. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Many German units that were available at the Bulge are not represented, for instance: the 10SS & 11 panzer divisions
Wrong 10ss was in Alcase offensive. 11th pz wasn't in BoB.
The version that you mention as the 91 edition was not under Hasbro it was under Avalon Hill the was done for the Smithsonian to be sold at their gift shop and is referred to as the Smithsonian Edition. Also the 91 edition does not have a crt use a different system resolved combat.
I appreciate the clarification on the game, as I have not played or go through the newer edition. Currently Avalon Hill is owned by Hasbro and the Avalon Hill logo is still being placed on games. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset no problem I own that edition and Hasbro did not but Avalon hill until 1998
You just read the rule book. That is not helpful in showing me how to play. I would have loved example game play, or examples of what the heck the rule book ids saying. Thank you
A playthrough of this game is coming soon. This video was made as an introduction to this game as some copies don't have a rule book at all. Please stay tuned for the playthrough that I hope will answer any further questions you might have. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
Haven't played it since 1972! LOL
It's a good game. I like to pull this game off every so often and have a good time with it. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@GamersCloset dragged out my (deceased) brother's copy. He still had all the copies of our last PBM game. I started setting up the PM Dec 21st move, to see how bad I was doing. Got frustrated due to the wife's cat meddling... 🤣
Hmmm....American strategy: Block the roads. 🤔
Well.....It works.... Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Thank you for the video great game,nice an simple
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
My first wargame ever. . . probably around 1970. . . I always hated the Germans were pink.
I always enjoyed this game. I never had an issue with the German units being pink. German military uniforms used different colors to differentiate the types of military units. White was for Infantry, Red for Artillery, Pink for Panzer units, ect. Just felt it was added theming to the game. Cheers!
The cold gave them pinked cheeks.
Not a strategy game by any stretch of the imagination. This game was designed for gaming wannabes. A 12 year old kid could play this thing. AH’s release of a second Bulge game in the 80’s was better. More intense. This first game was a joke.
Compared to games of the period, it had a lot of strategic elements to it. The advanced rules made you take the weather into account, plus the reinforcements chart made you plan out your moves in a more strategic way. Granted a 12 year old can play this, but it is a good gateway game for better and more modern strategy games. Thank you for your opinion and watching my video. Cheers!
Not really, but at the time, 1965, there really wasn't wargames per se. Even when I bought my first,1971, there wasn't any other companies. SPI was just starting and they first offered a football game. Sure, the hobby has evolved but that doesn't make one of the grandparents of the hobby is lame.
spi alamo