英文ゲームレビュー:モスラ対ゴジラ

Game Title : Mothra vs Godzilla

Publisher : Bandai

Game Designer : Uncredited

Game Thema : Supermonster Godzilla fights against Mothras and self-defense-force

Game Components
Double-sided game board, monster figures, paper counters, monster information cards,
Check board, dice, pen, and rulebook

Game Sequences
This game is played by game turns.
Each turn, players must complete the sequence below.
1. fire spread check
2. panic movement
3. civil counters movement
4. fairy movement
5. self-defense-force movement
6. self-defense-force attack
7. Godzilla movement and attack
8. Mothra incubation
9. Mothra movement and attack

Actually this game is 2 in one. In the first game, one player controls Godzilla and the other player controls Mothra and self-defense-force.
Godzilla will win the game if either of below is established.
1: Godzilla eliminate the fairy before Turn 8.
2: Godzilla eliminate the egg of Mothra before it hatches.
3: Godzilla eliminates the Mothras.
The other player wins if he eliminates Godzilla.

Basically, the game is played by regular movement and attack sequence by each side. But, self-defense-force and Mothra has a different sequence, so that they cannot attack together against Godzilla.
Also, there are civil counters who must escape from Godzilla’s attack. And in some conditions, they must move panic movement.
If attack succeeds, it will reduce Godzilla’s or Mothra’s endurance. If it reaches to zero, that monster is eliminated.
Based on the story of original movie, Mothra’s egg is not hatched yet when Godzilla appears on Tokyo bay. So, each turn Mothra’s player must roll one die and add the result until it reaches to 13 when Mothra finally hatches.
There are several special rules based on the episodes of the movie. For example, Mothra player can secretly set up High voltage barricade line on the map. If Godzilla enters one of those hexes, it is heavily damaged. But, this is one time weapon.
The combat system between monsters is somewhat innovative. The monster can attack during its movement. If one monster has intention to attack other monsters during its movement, he must announce the intention. At that time, the target monster secretly chooses one of his defense cards, which enable the monster to move one hex or turn one hexside. Then, attacking monster complete its movement to attack into one of target’s adjacent hex. In this game, there’s direction bonus if he can attack enemy monster’s side or back. So, attacker will usually move into target’s side or back. But, then the target can reveal his defense card and conduct the movement described. So, if defender has good forecast, he can defend on his front.

Another game is cutthroat by many monsters on small island. Each player will control 1 or 2 monsters to eliminate other monsters. There are many Toho-movie monsters in this game, such as Anghiras, King-gidra, Guigan, Radon, Mecha-Godzilla.
Though this is a simpler game, the play is exciting enough due to the unique combat system.
I think this one is the most successful game among Bandai’s IF series games.