Milton Bradley’s Stratego Review
>> Sunday, January 24, 2010
Milton Bradley's Stratego is a board game for a fan of games like Chess and Risk. My oldest daughter is coming along in liking a good game of skill and chance now and oh boy, somebody to play a game with besides my youngest two conquering Candy Land...admit it guys, you’re all thinking the same thing.
From the moment we brought home our very first family edition of Stratego she couldn’t wait to open the box. I think it had something to do with the man on the horse with the sword. It looked exciting, easy sell.
The goal of Stratego is to protect your flag. You strategically place your army and bombs around a game board similar to checkers and hope your flag can survive long enough for you to capture your opponent’s flag; or all of his men any way.
It is recommended for ages 8 and up. As the game takes a while to play it seems like one game is about the time it takes for a newbie to grasp what is going on. My daughter was about 8 at the time we purchased it and I found she was easy to beat (no I’m not competitive or anything like that…smile). The young will make a lot of common mistakes; you’ll intuitively know where the flag is…locked in the center of a bunch of bombs. I promise this isn’t a lesson on how to beat your child at Stratego, but if you need some help…
The Stratego Pros and Cons:
Pros – Stratego is fun for the whole family. It says it is for 2 to 4 players; I don’t ever remember playing as a team. I’m going to have to try that. I do know it is fun for the whole family because we had an audience. My husband couldn’t help watching on the sidelines and enjoying our daughter’s first taste of the game. Another positive is Stratego has been around since 1961; it isn’t going anywhere. You’re family will want to keep it around for years to come.
Cons – I admit it is hard to find a reason to dis it; but when we opened the board game box we found a bunch of plastic pieces and pages of stickers representing army men, bombs and flags to apply. For an 8 year old that is a no-no. Although it was worth the wait, it was annoying. I like something to go right out of the box.
Kidthusiasm says
On rating Milton Bradley's Stratego from 1 to 5 (where 5 is the best rating and 1 is the worst):
Value – 5: A great value. Although there are a few different versions you can find a basic Stratego board game for under $20.
Quality – 4: Stratego would probably get a 5 if parents and kids weren't sticking stickers to 80 pieces of plastic. I imagine they will fall off someday perhaps or wear down over time, but it is still better than the Stratego of old...cardboard pieces fraying in plastic stands.
Kidthusiasm – 5: They love it. Having to make their own decisions of where to move pieces seems more exciting than perhaps spinning a wheel or rolling the dice. Kids like to think and Stratego is a thinking game.
Parenthusiasm – 5: Parents who loved the board game Stratego as a kid are still going to love it. It will make you institute a family game night if you don’t have one.
Kidthusiasm Extra!
Stratego is available in different electronic game versions and is also another Milton Bradley game available in a number of novelty board games like Stratego: Pirates of the Caribbean.
