Samurai Battles

Samurai Battles, from the game company Zvezda, premiered almost seven years ago. And although the game achieved some popularity for the most part the game flew under the radar of most gamers. Perhaps the blame was with the time required to assemble the 100 plus plastic Samurai figures before one could even play the game. And once assembled these plastic models, although truly fine figures, were very fragile, almost too fragile for game pieces. Finally when it was time to pack up after a game, it was extremely difficult to store them away safely.

Yet, the Samurai Battles game still gained a small following of very loyal fans. I tend to believe, many fans who were already familiar with one or more of other games that use the Commands & Colors system; Battle Cry, Memoir ’44, Commands & Colors Ancients, or Commands & Colors Napoleonics, actually brought them to the game. But after a couple of years of dwindling sales and the untimely death of Zvezda CEO Konstantin Krivenko, who was very supportive of the project, the game was phased out.

Which brings all of us, you, me and the fine folks at GMT, who also believe in Samurai Battles, to this P500 write-up for the new, improved and more robust version of Commands & Colors: Samurai Battles. Before getting into details why GMT’s Samurai Battles game is Great, first the standard overview text.

The Commands & Colors: Samurai Battles game rules allow players to portray important engagements of Japanese history. The battles, included in the scenario booklet, focus on the historical deployment of forces and important terrain features in scale with the game system. The scale of the game is flexible and varies from battle to battle. For some scenarios, an infantry unit may represent an entire clan of soldiers, while in other scenarios a unit may represent just a few brave warriors.

The Command cards drive movement and creates a “fog of war” and presents players with many interesting challenges and opportunities, while the battle dice resolve combat quickly and efficiently. The Honor & Fortune game mechanic will task players to maintain a balance between these two important game elements. The Dragon Cards add an element of suspense and surprise that can bend the rules and instantly change the course of a battle. The battlefield tactics you will need to execute to gain victory, however, conform remarkably well to the strengths and limitations of the various Japanese unit types, their weapons, battle terrain, and written history.

Battles Included in Commands and Colors: Samurai Battles:

First Samurai Skirmish

Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 (5 Scenarios)

Domyoji 1615 (2 Scenarios)

First Battle of Azukizaka 1542

Second Battle of Azukizaka 1548

Battle of Okehazama 1560 (2 Scenarios)

Arita Castle 1517 (2 Scenarios)

Koriyama Castle 1540-1541 (4 Scenarios)

Mikata-Go-Hara 1572

The Ravine Near Saigadake 1572

Okehazama 1560 (2 Scenarios)

Anegawa 1570 (2 Scenarios)

Kizahikara 1572

Nagashino 1572 (3 Scenarios)

Mimigawa 1578

Okitanawate 1584

Hitadori 1585

Suriagehara 1589

Shiroishi 1600

Sekigahara 1600 (3 Scenarios)

Imafuku 1614

Shigino 1614

Tennoji 1615 (2 Scenarios)

Components:

1 C&C Samurai Rulebook

1 Samurai Scenario Booklet (around 40 battle scenarios)

1 Battlefield Game Board

60 Terrain Tiles double-sided

30 Honor & Fortune Tokens double-sided

18 Victory Banner Counters double-sided

12 Clan Markers double-sided

60 Command Cards

40 Dragon Cards

12 Battle Dice

2 Unit Summary Sheets

2 Terrain Summary Sheets

254 Small Infantry Blocks

72 Medium Cavalry Blocks

14 Rectangular Leader Blocks

Block and Dice Label Sheets