From the Depths to the Sky!

 Last week we explored warfare in the deep with Milton Bradley's Sub Search. This week we're taking to the skies with another Milton Bradley offering, Chopper Strike!

Offered in 1976, Chopper Strike is a little less well known than Sub Search. It's still a fun game of strategy, though. Like Sun Search, Chopper Strike uses a unique 3D board. In this case the whole top level is transparent, however. Let's take a look, shall we?

The box art probaby gives the best picture of how this game sets up. The idea is that each player has six jeeps (with anti-aircraft guns) and six choppers. The first person to take out all of their opponent's jeeps or choppers wins. In that way, it's very much like Sub Search. That's about the only way, though.

On the inside of the box, you get a short run-down of the idea...

And here is my game all set up! The clear plastic parts aren't stiff, brittle plastic, but are, rather, a little rubbery. This really helps with setting up the game. It also helps with not breaking the almost fifty year old parts! The only signs of age are a very slight yellowing of the clear.

A top down view gives you a better idea of the layout.

And here are the all important instructions (printed out from the internet)

Game play is actually very interesting. There are two die which are rolled each turn. One (with only a 1,2, or 3 possible) tells a player how many pieces he can move. The other regular die tells the player how many spaces each piece must move. The choppers can move anywhere, while the jeeps can only move on spaces not occupied by a lake or a hill. 

Destroying the enemy is also interesting. Choppers destroy enemy pieces by jumping them, as in checkers, while jeeps destroy enemy pieces by landing on them, as in chess. The upper and lower levels are considered one board. In other words, if a jeep lands on a space under a space occupied by a chopper, the chopper is shot down. 

I picked this game up many years ago at a thrift store. I was lucky that all the parts are there, except for one AA gun for a jeep, one one set of rotors for a chopper. That doesn't affect game play in any way. 

I was surprised that I didn't remember this game from my youth, as it's a really good strategy game. I guess I was beginning to think about girls and rock and roll a bit too much to be bothered with a board game. Also, Chopper Strike doesn't seem to have made as big of a splash as Battleship and Sub Search ("splash" Get it?)

That being said, I'm glad I discovered it, as it's arguably the best designed game of the three. It's easy to play, but still takes quite a bit of skill to master! 

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!