Spin MasterGames Stratego 50Th Anniversary

Its exactly as advertized, with fast delivery and perfect packing; however I prefered the cylindrical shape pieces much more

I purchased this version of Stratego about 9 months ago. I wanted to let my 3 boys experience the game the way I remembered it. I reviewed various sites and found that there were several changes to the game that I didn't particularly appreciate (such as that the new versions only use 30 pieces/army). I'm sure Hasbro was simply cutting costs, but I was pretty perturbed.This 50th Anniversary Stratego exceeded my expectations.Gameplay:This is a terrific game of strategy. To me this game is like a blend of chess (strategy) and memory (to recall the hidden pieces you've managed to reveal). The concepts are not hard to understand (capture the flag, lower number wins, etc.) and it plays pretty quickly. Even my 5-year son enjoys playing. Granted, he's not the best strategist yet, but he's learning very quickly how to set up his pieces to attack and defend.Quality:Before purchasing this version I had read a couple of negative reviews on this Amazon site about its lack of quality. I'm glad I purchased it anyway as I have not found any quality issues. One person wrote that the pieces were smaller than the original. That is NOT the case. My parents have the 1986 edition, which I used recently when visiting them, and there was no perceptable size difference with the pieces. Another person wrote that the plastic was thinner and they could see through them. When playing under NORMAL, 75-watt lighting condition (as opposed to possibly an interrogation light) I was not able to see through them. (Who knows, maybe s/he had x-ray vision or was telepathetic.) In any case, I could not perceive any difference in quality from the 1986 edition to this 50th Anniversary edition. The board looks exactly the same as the 1986 edition with one caveat - it folds into a quarter as opposed to a half. I have not experienced any issues with the board ripping or tearing or becoming unglued, but I haven't used it as a frisbee yet. Overall the game pieces, board and piece holder appear to be the same quality as the 1986 edition.Bonuses:This version has a few cool things that weren't in the 1986 edition. One, it comes with a divider, which allows the players to set up their pieces without the opponent being able to see. It's made of the same game board cardboard and has a nice picture on both sides. Two, the game comes with Cannons (10's) in this edition, which you simply exchange a 9 for a 10. The Cannons are actually a cool addition to the original. Cannons allow you to defeat any piece as long as you correctly guess the opponent's piece (incorrectly guess and the Cannon is captured). Yet, Cannons can be killed by any moveable piece when attacked - yes, even the Spy. Three, this version comes with a rule book. The 1986 edition had the rules printed on the inside of the box lid. The rule book contains both the original rules of play as well as variations of play. Four, the bookshelf box is pretty cool. I was concerned everything might fall out, but I haven't had any problems with it to date.Final Thoughts:Overall, this has been a great purchase. The game play is exactly as I remember it from my youth. I had no issues with the quality of the product, and it even has some bonuses that I found enhanced the game-playing experience. If you're looking for a great game the whole family can enjoy, this is a great edition (and addition) for your collection.

In high school, I spent many a weekend playing Stratego and Risk. When I saw this 50th Anniversary Edition, I thought "WOW! Got to get it" even though it costs more then twice what the regular version costs.Stratego is a GREAT game, but this is a horribly designed product.The box is beautiful, but feel flimsy.The game board is folded into quarters and feel like it will break easily - I'm trying to decide if I want to reinforce game board with tape.The game pieces do have the pictures and ranks etched into plastic - a PLUS! But I think they are smaller then original game pieces.Instruction manual looks nice, but then who is going to pay price of 50th Anniversary Edition and read manual? :)I would not mind paying this price or maybe twice as much if the pieces were larger, box was better designed and board feel like it will last.Box will look good on my bookshelf. However I think I will go to a "toy store" and get the normal version to play.

I love this game, but it was missing a piece. When I contacted the seller, they were unable to replace the game or piece---instead offered me a completely different game...but I want THIS game!

I love the game of Stratego - it is a lot of fun to play, and the board and pieces are right out of my childhood! Excellent presentation! Only issue - the quality of the board itself is not good. It looks great, but the first time folding it - it delaminated!! Low quality glue was used - making this package not worth the price. Shame, because everything else was done right.