Axis & Allies

The usual problem with converting mainstream board games to PC is that either developers try too hard to crowbar in new features that make the original game unrecognisable or they lose the plot altogether and go for the mutimedia approach.

Basically, the aim of A&A is to win WWII. Five players - any mix of human or computer-controlled - take charge of one or more of the five major powers: Britain, Russia, Germany, Japan and the USA. Each territory yeilds different production points, which in this case can be converted to upgarding existing units or buying whatever you can afford from a range of ten different units. Some of these are better in attack than in defence, and others can move in more than one territory. Combat is resolved by rolls of the dice: if you win you take over the region.

Hard-core strategy fans will no doubt see A&A as too simplistic. It's the kind of game you can play with your dad, with PC illiterates, and with lovers of the board game original over the Internet or otherwise. The developers have thankfully stayed true to the original game. In fact in many ways it's better. The fact that it took at least six hours to play a decent game meant that 'saving' it was a case of slipping it under the bed in the hope that little Emily didn't find it and choke to death on one of the counters. Now Emily can choke on something else.