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The situation of world peace is deteriorating rapidly: the renegade armies are becoming more and more powerful every day, spreading their forces over the globe, fighting bloody battles to gain each new territory.

The game of Risk is a simulation of exactly this type of situation. You must place and move your armies around 42 territories, attempting to claim as much of the globe as possible by fighting with occupying troops. All battles are decided by a selected number of dice - and forces are depleted as appropriate. Battles may be continued until a territory has been won over completely: your ultimate aim is to capture the whole globe (or a specific area depending on your selected mission).

I've never actually played the board game version of Rick before an I thought I was in for a confused hour whilst I tried to understand the instructions.

However, I was remarkably surprised at how easy the rules were to grab hold of, and I soon battled through to win the contest.

This is where the problem arises. Unless you are playing against a human, the computer may not offer a great deal of lasting challenge. Still, one thing in its favour is that you can't lose the little plastic pieces!

Well, not having played the original boardgame (yes, I'm another one), I can't really comment on whether or not this is a good conversion.

Judging it as a game in its own right, it's nothing special - the graphics are very weak (juddery scrolling is everywhere), the sound is pathetic and the presentation - once you've waded through a huge manual - is only half-decent.

The gameplay, however, just about makes up for it: the random action of the dice adds interest to what otherwise would be a very dull process of gaining and losing countries.

But be warned - there's plenty of strategy involved, and if you like your games fast and furious, you won't find what you're looking for here.

Oh, by the way - Merry Christmas.

When playing a board game that's been converted to a computer, I usually think "What's the point when you can have just as much (if not more) fun around the board with a bunch of friends?"

The thing I look to most in computer versions is how much of a challenge the computer gives in single player mode. Unfortunately, the computer player in Risk isn't that difficult to beat - I managed it with very little experience of the game; not exactly awe-inspiring!

Anyhow, it's a decent rendition of the old cardboard-based original, but I have to say that it's a lot more difficult to get six people around a computer monitor than a game-board! Try it out first.

Presentation 78%
Clear on-screen appearance and concise menu screen.

Graphics 41%
As good as they need to be, but a little more polish would have been nice.

Sound 2%
A beep when you do something wrong. That's all.

Hookability 53%
The complex rules may be confusing at first: but then, who said a board game was easy?

Lastability 64%
Mildly interesting, but needs other human players for extensive playing.

Overall 61%
Not a bad rendition of the board game, but at nearly £13 on tape it's too expensive.