Nexus Ops is a game somewhere between RISK and Axis & Allies in complexity. It uses the mission mechanics of later versions of RISK and squads of varied units reminiscent of more complex games in the genre. Luck is certainly a factor in the game, though not as much as in RISK.

While the game can be played with 2-4 players, it definitely plays best with 3-4. With two players, the game develops very slowly and often goes to the first person to win a large confrontation. With four players the game can feel slightly claustrophobic, but experienced players will enjoy the longer development.

I got this one sale, and I play it with my son. He's 5 and he likes it. I have to help him some but after about 3 games he's got it down.

Nexus Ops is a lighter weight conflict game with fantastic plastic pieces (they glow in the dark no less!!). Each player has their own army pool of creatures they may purchase turn to turn and place and move on a planet landscape with varying terrain. The terrain may aid one type of unit and disadvantage another. A central 'hill' with enhanced benefits encourage the player to play 'king of the hill' as well. Highly recommended with about an hour or so playing time for 2 players. Suitable for children ages 10 or so and upwards to adult.

At first glance, the game looks like some nasty oldie from the 90s that never got anywhere because no one liked or bought it. But, it isn't. Definitely not. When I first opened the box I found bright neon colored plastic pieces in bags- and they looked very good, adding to the alien feel of the game. However, older adults may find it hard to decipher the difference between the 5 alien species available in the game (particularly the Fungoids and Crystallines). Also, instead of a plastic tray to keep the 4 multicolored armies separated, it only comes with a punch-out cardboard divider that is OK, but a plastic tray would be best. The gameplay itself excels over these flaws. In the game, you must occupy mines in order to order to make rubium (the monetary unit of the game) to buy better units to do battle. There are in total 6 different types of units. The three weaker and less combat-ready ones are essential in order to gain economy while the three stronger and expensive ones won't be making you any money. Gameplay is smooth and a few turns into the game and you'll be slugging it out on a gameboard that will never be the same- that is, the game is made of individual hexagonal tiles that make sure no game will have a similarly configured board. There are different types of terrain that will give bonuses in battle or that some units cannot set foot on. The game especially shines through with 3 or 4 players, when everyone's just slugging it out for control of the mines and the monolith- which grants you the right to draw two battle-boosting cards per turn. Games last about an hour or longer, and the rules are simple enough to learn yet complex enough to keep the game fresh and you thinking. The lowdown:

PROS

-GAMEPLAY- very smooth and balanced for all players- if you lose a battle you get to draw a card that will help you in battle later. Though Nexus Ops will not provide an hours-long epic it will easily kill an hour or two of your time. There is actually a variant where you can play with yourself that is quite a challenge (not in the manual, but on the Internet).

-VARIETY- with six different units you'll never be defeating your opponents in the same way. As always dice-rolling determines the victor and loser. The game board is also randomly configured each game.

-SETUP- unlike Risk, it takes only a few minutes.

-delves a little bit into managing money effectively: since buying units is virtually the only way to obtain any, your child will learn that just massing rubium dragons and lava leapers (the two strongest units in the game) will not win game.

CONS

-the box should come with a plastic divider tray rather than a punch-out cardboard divider

-the monolith, a raised piece in the center of the board, won't last too long being made of flimsy cardboard, and also obscures the view of the hexagons around it. However, don't worry; the rest of the game is made from thick, durable cardboard.

-as I have mentioned before, the map is different each time you play. However, this changes absolutely nothing gameplay-wise. So the game may get repetitive map-wise.

-the plastic playing pieces are rather small, and adults may have difficulty distinguishing between some alien races (especially two particular ones; the rest are easily distinguishable).

-the game must be played on a level surface, maybe only at home rather than on a plane or monorail. Since the tiles and therefore the board is not all in one piece, they can easily slide away from each other.

-others have complained about the stench, and so shall I. The inside of the box smelled like old cardboard (like the toilet paper tubes), but nothing so overwhelming that you'll want to quarantine it. The pieces also smell like new plastic, but this scent was more subtle.

Nexus Ops is a little Risk-like though not as epic as Risk can sometimes be. The small board and funky looking pieces make things happen right away. Every time you lose a battle, you get a card with a special ability. This is a fun way to keep one player from dominating too quickly.

Amanda Hamm, author of Zero Station: A Science Fiction Novella