Risk II is Risk Done Properly - Solitaire, Hot-Seat AND On-Line

It took a generation but somebody has finally made Risk work right on the computer. Risk II by MicroProse/Hasbro works beautifully in multi-player on-line competition (at least on MSN’s Gaming Zone). It also comes packaged with some very intelligent computer personalities who can give the solitaire/hot-seat gamers some strong competition. As if this is not enough, Risk II adds to the Risk legacy by introducing two optional rules. The first is six new territories that can be added (at the players’ discretion) to the classic map. The second rule is a simultaneous-play option that essentially marries Risk with Diplomacy to create a wild, uncertain and exciting new game.

Veteran Risk players as well as newcomers should be very happy with this product. They can now conquer the world in a simple, easy-to-learn yet endlessly challenging game – and they can do it with equal ease and fun in either solitaire or on-line mode. For those players who are new to Risk or who prefer a simultaneous Diplomacy-type game with the simplicity of a Risk environment, this product also delivers. The "Same-Time Risk" option is an entirely new game. It is played with Risk pieces on a Risk map, but it is a completely new way to play Risk and one that would be very difficult to emulate without a computer.

Start Up Note

Read the readme file. Print it out. It reminds the player and explains how to install DirectX Media 6.0 AND Direct X 7 – both of which are on the CD. Create the Risk II Icon when it offers the choice. Sometimes when booting up the game I get an error message about a DLLSETUP, but I ignore it without problems. Go to the Risk II icon and click it. The game will play fine, complete with music (the 1812 Overture) and graphics.

The opening graphics are nice to watch. They depict that portion of the battle of Waterloo that leads up to and launches the charge of the Scots Greys, the doomed British heavy cavalry assault that threw away Wellington’s cavalry but bought time for the Allied armies to win the battle.

Risk II offers new game options.

Speaking of Wellington: Smart Computer Personalities

For those who want to play solitaire or hot-seat, Risk II finally presents intelligent, distinct computer personalities to fight. The sixteen named opponents are rated (in the readme file) on a scale of one to five, with five (Wellington) being the most competent. The sixteen computer generals, moreover, have different priorities and styles of play. These are explained in single-paragraph thumbnail biographies on pages 13 and 14 of the manual. Some of the generals, such as Mackenzie, are particularly willing to deal diplomatically with human players. Marmont is more prone to taking a risk (no pun intended) than others. A few are very defensive-minded, and some, like Bonaparte (four stars) will fight viciously to take revenge on any human player who double-crosses him. The human player(s) can select their computer opponents from the menu of computer generals, and the names of these computer players will be incorporated in all reports on the screen.

The diplomatic system is simple. The player clicks on a computer general to talk to and offers him one of three levels of alliance. (The manual describes each level in depth as to what allies may or may not do to each other and still remain allies). There is also a fourth "threat" key that can be clicked on. A player can use this in one turn to attempt to make the computer player mores susceptible to his overtures on the next turn. This threat option, however, usually just seems to enrage the computer player, unless it is followed by a massive pounding. A computer player who has been threatened and pounded will often submit to an alliance offer – depending on the personality.

The computer personalities remember what humans do to them. If a player makes an alliance and then breaks it, the computer will not forget it.

These computer generals do not fall into the "get the human" default mode that so many computer games use to mask poor AI (this was a fault of previous computer Risk games). They stay in character and try to win the game. The computer generals do not appear to treat humans any differently than they do their fellow computer generals.

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