Pyramid Review
Lunar Rails
Published by Mayfair Games
Created by M. Robert Stribula
Boxed set; $38.00
Some of Mayfair Games' earliest successes were the Empire Builder series of rail games. After the initial success of Empire Builder (since re-released as North American Rails) numerous games have followed that have adapted the same enjoyable game mechanics to other regions. Thus we have had British Rails, Eurorails, Japan Rails, Australia Rails, India Rails, and even Iron Dragon, an attempt to re-locate the system to a fantasy world. After all of these locations, I was left wondering what could conceivably be covered: South American Rails, maybe, or perhaps Africa Rails. Then the thought struck me: wouldn't an adaptation of the system to the moon be interesting?
Apparently someone else had the same idea . . .
After several years in development, Lunar Rails has finally been released. It is an excellent addition to the series, with enough novelty in its execution to challenge even the experienced player of the other Mayfair rails games. Players old and new will find something to enjoy in Lunar Rails.
First, the basics. For those unfamiliar with the system, the game itself is very simple. The map is a wax-coated board with a series of dots overlaid onto the terrain. The object of the game is to make money by first building and then shipping loads along a rail system. Crayons are provided to draw line right on the board, which can be wiped clean at the end of each game; no two games are the . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: August 29, 2003
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