Halo board game nearing release

B1 Games, makers of many fine board games, sent out a press release to remind us that the Halo board game would be available in stores soon. Thanks guys, I had tried really hard to forget that. Now you’ve ruined months of expensive therapy!

Videogames based on board games are often pretty good, in my opinion. That is not a two-way street, however. Almost every game that tries to go in the other direction winds up being either a modified version of another game (like RISK) or being so obvious a cash-grab that burning is too good for it. In fact, the only game I can think of that successfully made the transition to cardboard and plastic is the one based on Doom.

Lightning could strike twice, of course, but there’s another factor working against Halo here: It’s a DVD-based game. Now, unlike many others of its type, the DVD appears to be optional and used in lieu of dice to resolve random events. So, you could conceiveably play the game without it but the whole notion of playing a game that uses a DVD (and isn’t Atmosfear, which is awesome) just makes me bristle.

Amazon is currently listing the Halo Interactive Strategy Game for $49.99 with a release date of October 28th. A press release from B1 Games follows the jump. 

I’m probably asking a question to which I already know the answer here, but are any of you actually interested in this?

The battle for supremacy begins – NOW. Genius Products, LLC and B1 Games today announced that the first-ever board game based on Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie’s best-selling Halo property – Halo Interactive Strategy Game – has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Bringing the Halo universe to a broader audience through numerous family-friendly features, the game features a modular board that can be reconfigured to create a virtually limitless gameplay experience. The Halo Interactive Strategy Game captures the edge-of-your-seat action and storyline of the video game as it gives players the chance to control UNSC Marine and Covenant forces in strategic battles for power.

Featuring original characters from the Halo video game, as well as new characters – including Kusunagi and The Prophet of Candor – the Halo Interactive Strategy Game pulls fan-favorite elements from Halo, Halo 2, and Halo 3 along with music from the video game’s award-winning soundtrack. Additionally, the game features unseen exclusive DVD content to enhance game play.

In the game, players will command armies of three-dimensional collectible character pieces for multiple levels of play: Heroic for faster, more casual game play and Legendary for more strategic advanced gamers. Fans can follow storylines that expand the Halo experience in Campaign mode or go head-to-head in interactive battle sequences with Slayer or Capture the Flag modes. The battle options are endless with future add-ons of new adventures, vehicles, characters and weapons to expand the experience.

The Halo Interactive Strategy Game is suitable for ages 10+ and will be available at retailers nationwide.