Influence 3.4.4

Tired of playing Risk? Well, let's play something else, but not entirely. As admitted by its creators Influence is heavily influenced by the classic game but brings in some variability in the scope of keeping it fresh without resorting to constant re-theming (thanks, but no thanks, Hasbro).

Influence has no theme behind it. The purpose of the game is to explore a semi-random map and overpower the competition, by the tactical use of attacks and reinforcements. The more hexagons you control at the end of your current turn the more points/units you can recruit as your reinforcements.

The turn structure is simple. You can attack as long as you control cells bigger than 1 that are adjacent to neutral or enemy cells. Just like in Risk, you can keep attacking with the same 'force' for as many times as you want or afford. When you're done attacking, each one of your cells will produce one reinforcement, which you can distribute throughout your territory as you see fit. Most hexes can accommodate at most eight units but depending on the map, a few may hold double or more, sometimes making them important strategic locations.

You should always attack an adjacent cell from a stronger position, that unless you can make use of smaller ones that can chip away at its defenses. The game of numbers is not fixed though, and although a larger cell will most likely overpower a weaker one, sometimes the results can surprise you. That's not to say you'll ever experience failure with an overwhelming force, just when the differences are in the realm of one or two.

Graphically, Influence looks neat, albeit a bit sterile. A session can last as long as you are comfortable with, as in the beginning, you can choose the size of the map, whether it's symmetrical, as well as the number as the difficulty level of the AI opponents. You can also opt for fog-of-war, which makes a session a bit more interesting.

You can play Influence against another player, either a friend or a random opponent. The game plays a bit differently in "Duel" mode, but I didn't manage to convince anybody to try it, unfortunately.

Final Thoughts

Influence is a decent tactical game of conquest. Sessions can be fun, but it might lose its appeal eventually. Despite the random maps and stronger cells, there is a lack of variability, as these things will wear off after a while.