Review Circus Maximus

	Rating	Grade (1-10)
	Graphic Presentation	4
	Rules	7
	Playability	8
	Replay Value	9
	Overall Rating	7,0

PRO	Authentical chariot race feeling, multiplayer hit, astonishingly detailed
CONTRA	Extremly ugly counter design, somewhat confusing rulebook

Circus Maximus
Review #1
written by: Andreas Ludwig

Graphic Presentation Well, it is the No. 1 in a competition for the ugliest counters in the entire wargaming universe. Actually, someone has to tell you what is meant by the cryptic pictures before you are able to recognize them - they are really terrible, and this is the reason why this game should be played with miniatures as a tabletop game. The map looks somewhat abstract, but after driving around the first corner, the wargaming time machine transports you into Ancient Rome right away - the map disappears before your eyes and you are in the Circus Maximus! The rulebook's appearance isn't very attractive, either, but the rules do their job. The game looks "okay", except from the horrible counter artwork.

Rules The rules are not very long, important facts are presented in a different color. The whole rulebook is written in the characteristic small Avalon Hill font. Sometimes it is a little bit confusing when looking for a certain rule, but after a while the mechanics are understood.

Playability
You can play with basic or advanced rules - both versions differ very much. The basic rules are intended to introduce the player into the mechanics, it is much slower than the advanced game because the players are not yet accustomed to the core mechancis and spend much time with thinking, decision-making and counting the boxes on the map. They don't know which possibilities this game offers, for example there are no wracks or drivers running through the arena in the basic game. In other words: the basic rules are not the true game!

Advanced game looks somewhat complicated at first glance, but it definitely is more fun. The main point is that you don't have enough time to decide what's best for your chariot - as soon as it is your turn, your opponents start counting to 5 (which is a damned short time!) and after this, you don't have any control over your driver and he simply repeats his last turn's actions if you failed making a new decision within 5 seconds. While doing this on a straight track isn't very dangerous, full speed can be fatal while entering a curve. Advanced play is pure fun and you start to sweat once your turn begins and you listen to the "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, out!" - "no, wait, I'm far too fast" - "We are soooo sorry!" (include ugly laughter here). "My chariot will flip!" - "Yes, I'm afraid, you're right!" (even more laughter while your chariot flips and your driver dies of his serious wounds).

Replay Value No race equals another race - and after your light, fast chariot was smashed by a heavy, armored chariot with sharp blades, you want to return into the arena to take your revenge...

Creativity The first version of Circus Maximus was developed by Battleline as a rather simple game, neglecting the race factor and becoming a kind of "Destruction Derby" once the race began - it was a simple "destroy your opponents" game. Some Avalon Hill guys liked this game and suddenly Don Greenwood got the idea of redoing the game and publishing it. The race and combat aspect was revised in a more historically accurate manner and the rules were improved in the characteristic Avalon Hill way. This is why Circus Maximus is a new game and the first complex combat-racing game. Besides this, do you really have to ask for creativity and innovation when you read the name "Don Greenwood" in the credit list?!?

Simulation Value Despite the fact that CM is somewhat abstract in some aspects, this game is a simulation and quite detailed in portraying chariot races in Ancient Rome. All things which happened then can happen in this game, too.

Solitare Factor The rulebook states that the game can be played as a solitare game and this may be true. But you can also play soccer alone, if you like this - but this simply wouldn't be very entertaining. CM definitely is a multiplayer game and the more players, the better! Even 3 players are not enough to create the famous CM atmosphere!

Can be compared to There are some more games dealing with this topic, but they all are copies of the classic CM with rewritten rules - mostl of them less complex and more gamey. Circus Minimus is the only one which has its solid fanbase. Its components are nice, it looks better and its done well, but it doesn't offer the same amount of possibilities as CM.

Short Review Circus Maximus definitely is a cool game and offers multiplayer action and fun. Each player will have a good time and the game mechanic isn't too complicated to toast the brain. Some friends, a few beer and you should watch "Ben Hur" before playing to get into the right mood... one aspect is important: the game is designed as a racing game, this is why the player who reaches the target line first, wins - despite your successes in chariot-combat. You can create different chariot types and all of these types have different qualities and drive in a different way - but this isn't always an advantage, because it causes a certain problem: If you think it's cool you create an ultra heavy chariot with evil blades that smash everything in their way, this will be very cool, yes. But if all other players are looking forward to win the race, they will laugh at your heavy monster. Each player with a Speedy-Gonzales-ultra-light chariot will a) never be close to your driving killer machine and certainly not commit any combat against you, and b) reach the finish line before you even finished your first round! Of course, if they were unlucky enough to get near you, the game will be over for them soon, because a light chariot won't survive this attack. Play balance strongly depends on your choice of your chariots, which requires good planning. The campaign game with the integrated bet system is something I personally dislike, because I don't think bets to be very interesting - other players think bets are an important aspect of the game. CM with miniatures (instead of the horrible counters) and played in a tabletop fashion is something HFC will certainly try out in the near future. And then... take care for my slow-motion-orgasmatron-monster-chariot with rotating blades... maybe I won't win, but I will survive... and you won't, because I will get you... after you passed the finish line....!!!!

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Circus Maximus Review #1	written by: Andreas Ludwig
Graphic Presentation	Well, it is the No. 1 in a competition for the ugliest counters in the entire wargaming universe. Actually, someone has to tell you what is meant by the cryptic pictures before you are able to recognize them - they are really terrible, and this is the reason why this game should be played with miniatures as a tabletop game. The map looks somewhat abstract, but after driving around the first corner, the wargaming time machine transports you into Ancient Rome right away - the map disappears before your eyes and you are in the Circus Maximus! The rulebook's appearance isn't very attractive, either, but the rules do their job. The game looks "okay", except from the horrible counter artwork.
Rules	The rules are not very long, important facts are presented in a different color. The whole rulebook is written in the characteristic small Avalon Hill font. Sometimes it is a little bit confusing when looking for a certain rule, but after a while the mechanics are understood.
Playability	You can play with basic or advanced rules - both versions differ very much. The basic rules are intended to introduce the player into the mechanics, it is much slower than the advanced game because the players are not yet accustomed to the core mechancis and spend much time with thinking, decision-making and counting the boxes on the map. They don't know which possibilities this game offers, for example there are no wracks or drivers running through the arena in the basic game. In other words: the basic rules are not the true game! Advanced game looks somewhat complicated at first glance, but it definitely is more fun. The main point is that you don't have enough time to decide what's best for your chariot - as soon as it is your turn, your opponents start counting to 5 (which is a damned short time!) and after this, you don't have any control over your driver and he simply repeats his last turn's actions if you failed making a new decision within 5 seconds. While doing this on a straight track isn't very dangerous, full speed can be fatal while entering a curve. Advanced play is pure fun and you start to sweat once your turn begins and you listen to the "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, out!" - "no, wait, I'm far too fast" - "We are soooo sorry!" (include ugly laughter here). "My chariot will flip!" - "Yes, I'm afraid, you're right!" (even more laughter while your chariot flips and your driver dies of his serious wounds).
Replay Value	No race equals another race - and after your light, fast chariot was smashed by a heavy, armored chariot with sharp blades, you want to return into the arena to take your revenge...
Creativity	The first version of Circus Maximus was developed by Battleline as a rather simple game, neglecting the race factor and becoming a kind of "Destruction Derby" once the race began - it was a simple "destroy your opponents" game. Some Avalon Hill guys liked this game and suddenly Don Greenwood got the idea of redoing the game and publishing it. The race and combat aspect was revised in a more historically accurate manner and the rules were improved in the characteristic Avalon Hill way. This is why Circus Maximus is a new game and the first complex combat-racing game. Besides this, do you really have to ask for creativity and innovation when you read the name "Don Greenwood" in the credit list?!?
Simulation Value	Despite the fact that CM is somewhat abstract in some aspects, this game is a simulation and quite detailed in portraying chariot races in Ancient Rome. All things which happened then can happen in this game, too.
Solitare Factor	The rulebook states that the game can be played as a solitare game and this may be true. But you can also play soccer alone, if you like this - but this simply wouldn't be very entertaining. CM definitely is a multiplayer game and the more players, the better! Even 3 players are not enough to create the famous CM atmosphere!
Can be compared to	There are some more games dealing with this topic, but they all are copies of the classic CM with rewritten rules - mostl of them less complex and more gamey. Circus Minimus is the only one which has its solid fanbase. Its components are nice, it looks better and its done well, but it doesn't offer the same amount of possibilities as CM.
Short Review	Circus Maximus definitely is a cool game and offers multiplayer action and fun. Each player will have a good time and the game mechanic isn't too complicated to toast the brain. Some friends, a few beer and you should watch "Ben Hur" before playing to get into the right mood... one aspect is important: the game is designed as a racing game, this is why the player who reaches the target line first, wins - despite your successes in chariot-combat. You can create different chariot types and all of these types have different qualities and drive in a different way - but this isn't always an advantage, because it causes a certain problem: If you think it's cool you create an ultra heavy chariot with evil blades that smash everything in their way, this will be very cool, yes. But if all other players are looking forward to win the race, they will laugh at your heavy monster. Each player with a Speedy-Gonzales-ultra-light chariot will a) never be close to your driving killer machine and certainly not commit any combat against you, and b) reach the finish line before you even finished your first round! Of course, if they were unlucky enough to get near you, the game will be over for them soon, because a light chariot won't survive this attack. Play balance strongly depends on your choice of your chariots, which requires good planning. The campaign game with the integrated bet system is something I personally dislike, because I don't think bets to be very interesting - other players think bets are an important aspect of the game. CM with miniatures (instead of the horrible counters) and played in a tabletop fashion is something HFC will certainly try out in the near future. And then... take care for my slow-motion-orgasmatron-monster-chariot with rotating blades... maybe I won't win, but I will survive... and you won't, because I will get you... after you passed the finish line....!!!!