Anzio (1969)

Anzio is a small port 35 miles south of Rome. War has a way of making history in obscure places like Guadacanal, Waterloo and Anzio. This is a strategy game which makes it possible for you to recreate not only the famous invasion but the entire campaign for Italy.

Avalon Hill Complexity ratings:
Basic Game - 4
Advanced Game - 7-10

From "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Anzio (1969) Discontinued 1971, Revised 1974, Revised 1978, Revised 1980
Freelance design revised by Avalon Hill
Designed by Dave Williams
Later Design by Tom Oleson
Later Development by Don Greenwood

ANZIO was loaded with innovation and its highly colorful and functional mapboard combined with step reduction combat should have made it an instant hit. Not so. The game was soon discontinued due to disappointing sales. Handicapped by an unattractive box and confusing rules, the game never got the play it deserved. Tom Oleson, a dedicated gamer who fell in love with the game’s good points was responsible for subsequent revisions which greatly improved the play of the game and the clarity of the instructions. Only the rulebook and playing aid set is necessary to update the 1969 version although the counters have undergone slight revision and are also worth updating. The last two editions have included only minor changes to the rulebook. More important, is the new box featuring artwork of Rodger MacGowan which is hoped to improve the games still dismal sales performance.

12.8 km (8 miles) per hex, 1 week per turn. Most units represent regiments, brigades, and divisions.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.2
  • Question Box – Anzio, D-Day, Jutland
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.1
  • Anzio – “Hitting the Beaches Again - Five New Anzio Scenarios” (Scenarios) Tom Oleson
  • Anzio – “Analyzing the Gustav Line - Strategy and Tactics in the new Anzio "Gustav Line" Scenario” (Scenario Strategy) Tom Oleson
  • Design Analysis - “Anzio Designer Notes” Tom Oleson
  • Anzio – “Gustav Line, Operation Shingle, Diadem” (Insert Scenarios) Tom Oleson
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.6
  • Anzio – “Four Player Diadem Scenario - Anzio Basic Game III” (Scenarios) Tom Oleson
  • Anzio – “Diadem Scenario Order of Battle” (Insert) Tom Oleson
  • Series Replay - Anzio Antonio Barrera, Rafael Diez, Juan Carlos Duerr, Hans Duerr, Tom Oleson
  • Anzio – “Design Analysis - Anzio Designer's Notes for Diadem” (Designer's Notes) Tom Oleson

Panzerfaust Article List:

• Number 56 Nov-Dec '72
  • Anzio - "Anzio: Born 1969 - Died 1972" (Review), Tom Oleson