Pyramid Pick: Battle Cry (from Avalon Hill)

Pyramid Pick

Battle Cry

Published by Avalon Hill

Designed by Richard Borg

Boxed set, $44.95

Battle Cry is the first truly-original boardgame published by Avalon Hill since they were bought by Hasbro two years ago. In fact, it was under development at the old Avalon Hill under the name Command & Colors. Apparently, Hasbro liked the game enough to include it in its initial wave of game releases, which is a boon for gamers.

Battle Cry is a Civil War game for two players, but it cleverly avoids the dryness of most historical games. The components are gorgeous -- each piece is molded in plastic, and cardboard tiles are sturdy and punch out without the help of a matte knife. More importantly, the game is fast-paced (games can be finished in a half-hour), as simple as a game of Risk, and lots of fun.

Battle Cry is purely a tactical game -- there's no strategic level at all. The game includes fifteen scenarios based on historical battles. The scenarios range from the well-known (Bull Run, Gettysburg) to less recognizable ones such as New Hope Church or Brawner's Farm. They don't have to be played in any order, though it's fun to run through them all and see "who won the war."

One of Battle Cry's best features is the inclusion of over forty terrain tiles to customize each battlefield. Shiloh will be covered in forests and woodlands, while generals at Murfreesboro have to contend with a winding river. Lots of terrain types are included, such as orchards, fences, . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: June 30, 2000

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