Sweep Across the Land and Secure Your Empire! It is the sixteenth century in feudal Japan, where war rages across the land. Amid the chaos and conflict, you have risen to power as one of five warlords mighty enough to conquer and control the whole empire. Your victory depends on how expertly you extend your domain while defending it from your enemies. Send your daimyo leaders, samurai, and ashigaru warriors into battle to seize new provinces and lay siege to castles. Spend your hard-won treasury on building fortifications and bolstering your forces with ronin and ninja. Prove the strength of your strategy, defeat your rivals, and earn the exalted title of Shogun. This game includes the following components: 1 rulebook, 1 game board, 1 deck of 72 Province cards, 436 durable, plastic play pieces, 12 6-sided dice, 5 reference screens and army cards, 5 planning trays, 5 turn order markers, 12 battle markers and 1 flag-label sheet.
From the Manufacturer
Sweep Across the Land and Secure Your Empire. It is the sixteenth century in feudal Japan, where war rages across the land. Amid the chaos and conflict, you have risen to power as one of five warlords mighty enough to conquer and control the whole empire. Your victory depends on how expertly you extend your domain while defending it from your enemies. Send your daimyo leaders, samurai, and ashigaru warriors into battle to seize new provinces and lay siege to castles. Spend your hard-won treasury on building fortifications and bolstering your forces with ronin and ninja. Prove the strength of your strategy, defeat your rivals, and earn the exalted title of Shogun.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Videos
Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Customers like the quality, complexity, and fun of the board game. They mention that it's worth days and days of gameplay, the pieces are very good, and that it has a moderate complexity. They also say that it makes for a fun family game.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
13 customers mention13 positive0 negative
Customers find the quality of the board game excellent. They say it's a wonderful reprint of a great game, worth days of gameplay, and the quality is very good. Customers also say it is one of the best strategy board games ever, and an excellent remaster of the original. They also say the fun pay off is well worth it, and that the game is in great condition.
"...It's a great game that is worth days and days of gameplay...." Read more
"...The game board and pieces themselves are good quality, and you feel like you're getting a lot for the price...." Read more
"...I sure do. The game setup takes a good few minutes but the fun pay off is well worth it...." Read more
"...The map and other pieces are very durable and well-printed...." Read more
5 customers mention5 positive0 negative
Customers find the board game very involved and complex. They also appreciate the detail on the pieces and depth of gameplay. Customers also mention that the game is adventuresome and involves planning in finance and strategy.
"...Highly recommended for the Gamer that wants a fun, complex war board game." Read more
"...is probably my favorite due to its nice mix of random setup and moderate complexity...." Read more
"Very involved, not for those who cant sit still for a few hours. I love the detail on the pieces and the depth of gameplay...." Read more
"Venturesome, but getting set takes so long that unlike Risk my 4 kids can only play this game on their vacation time and birthday parties." Read more
4 customers mention4 positive0 negative
Customers find the board game fun, with great graphics and simple rules. They say it's an entry-level strategy game that makes for a fun family game. Customers also mention that the game keeps them entertained for ages.
"...This would even make for a fun family game if the kids are old enough to understand Risk and Monopoly and if mom and the grand parents don't mind..." Read more
"...It's a fun entry-level strategy game in comparison to Axis & Allies (Wizards of the Coast)...." Read more
"...Highly recommended for the Gamer that wants a fun, complex war board game." Read more
"I got this as a gift and they loved it! Great graphics and looks like a ton of fun once we learn how to play...." Read more
You think you know who your friends are, till one of them assassinates your general and annihilates your entire army. You can feel the blood rushing to your face and your heart rate increase as you plot your vindication against the wretched betrayer. When you just built a fortress and you are evicted by invaders the very next round, it can be infuriating. On the flip side though, it is so gratifying to have your 1 unit of Ashigaru spearmen take a last stand against a vastly superior force and whittle away at them for multiple rounds. Ikusa is an epic board game!
If you're a hardcore table-top gamer, this is a game that is not for the faint of heart. This is the 3rd reprint of the game. It has also been produced under the title of Samurai Swords and Shogun. I consider this like the union of Risk and Axis and Allies. It's like Risk on steroids and set in feudal Japan. This is not the kind of game you setup and complete in 60-90 minutes. When we play, setup takes some time (20-30 minutes) and the actual game play can last for days. I'd suggest setting up on a table that can be designated for Ikusa for at least an overnight. A card table is a little too small, because the gameboard is so large and detailed. Another suggestion is to invest in some extra d12 dice, because this can decrease the time needed during combat sequences. I picked up x12 extra red (4), blue(4), and green(4) d12 dice to expedite combat rolls. This allows you to roll all your melee units at one time or all your ranged units at once, it also let the defender roll at the same time.
Some people think Ikusa is "just a game" but it is so much more. It's a strategy game that will compel you to obsess over how to utterly destroy your adversaries and dominate the whole of Japan. It's a great game that is worth days and days of gameplay. If you like table-top gaming and you enjoy Axis and Allies, this game is probably right up your alley. If you have not played more technical board games and enjoy playing Risk, this game will probably blow your mind, because it's in a different class of awesomeness!
This game is fantastic. Think Risk, but better! The rule book is a bit of a read and it requires more patience to learn than the usual games you'll find on your local department store shelves, but it's worth your time. The game board and pieces themselves are good quality, and you feel like you're getting a lot for the price. This was a Christmas gift for my husband and we have played it with family several times in the past month since it was gifted and everyone has had a great time. My only complaint is the slight regret I've had about not buying one of the two original versions of this game (Samurai Swords/Shogun) because while the plastic miniatures in this release are great and all, they fall over more often than I'd like and wooden cubes would just be easier, plainly put.
This was origionally released by Milton Bradley as "Samurai Swords". It was a terrific game where the goal of the player was to conquer japan or play long enough until one of your A-hole friends gains dominance over the board and someone either gets tired and leaves, quits or gets angry and starts a real life fight. Good fun for medium to advanced nerds.
Education- On the surface, this appears to teach you about numerical odds of winning combat and stategic resource management. After you have been playing for a while, you realize the true education is that of wheeling and dealing and stabing you friends in the back or forging temporary alliances. Something like risk but so much deeper strategy and combat variety. If you enjoy testing the friendship of those around you, break this out and find out exactly how much you like or hate the people with which you associate.
Fun- Compared to the likes of "Axis and Allies", this game is far more simple to understand and easier to pick up and play. One thing you will not do in this is come to blows over "land bridge" rules. The rules are very cut and dry and as far as I know, there is just the one, maybe 2 editions. If you want to bring other people into more advanced games like Axis and Allies, try starting them here first. You may even realize you like this game much more. I sure do. The game setup takes a good few minutes but the fun pay off is well worth it. Video games can take a back seat to this if I can get 3 to 5 of my friends togather on a nice winter afternoon.
Old vs. New versions of this game- While I was pleased that I didn't have to cut each peice out of a plastic mold, I was dissapointed with how soft and flimsy each part was. I did not care for the much smaller player trays the new version had to offer. I did not care for the dark red colering of some pieces while others where a nearly identical orange rust coler. The plastic swords which determine your turn order that where featured in the "Samurai Swords" version of this game are gone. They are replaced with some lame cardboard number chips in the new "Ikusa" version of this game. I personally hate them cardboard number pieces.
All and all, I think this game has proven timeless. Small gripes about the new version aside, I recommend picking this game up for your friends or kids or even friends kids. This would even make for a fun family game if the kids are old enough to understand Risk and Monopoly and if mom and the grand parents don't mind that the main theme is about samurai killing one another.