TDG: Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945 

My late grandfather was an Army truck driver in the Philippines during WW2. He rarely talked about it. He once told me, when I was about 8, that he trusted the Japanese more than he trusted the Filipinos. I learned at that young age what," fog-of-war" truly meant.

I played Stalingrad several times and got smacked everytime. I was a little taken aback at how difficult it seemed. I still preordered Manila without hesitation because I really enjoy the system and the look of this series. A day before Manila shipped to my doorstep, I read a post on BGG that was revalatory. The “event” effect (Sniper, Fanatic, etc) only take effect during the first time you reveal the defending forces. NOT EVERY TIME YOU FIGHT THE CURSED PIECE. Ha. Oh boy did that change things. Me am dumb. So my first play of Manila is now in the books and I beat it quite convincingly. (Good dice rolls are still *very much* needed during a run). Great game, great system. I’m looking forward to the next one.

Looks like another good one. I have a personal interest in this one. One of my great uncles fought in this battle. He earned a Bronze Star for his actions in the battle. Another great uncle was a POW in the Philippines. He was a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death march.

A great review. I started playing Manila and stopped because I realized I didn't know much about the battle and was just pushing cardboard around. Rampage was recommended in the game's bibliography so I checked it out from the library. Such a brilliant and harrowing book that certainly impacted my thoughts when I came back to the game.

I see you sneaking some learnin' into your game review. More, please.

I was literally just asking myself when a second entry into this series would come while clipping the first game's counters, considering it had "volume 1" printed on it.

You can see the scars from this battle along the walls of the old city of Intramuros, Manilla. My wife and I walked along the inner fortress and they stil have gun emplacements left overfrom WW2

All of Scott's books are sobering reads--excellent books. I also love Rinella's games, but im not sure I can play it after reading Rampage. I couldnt imagine it as a 2p.

I have the Stalingrad version on the table

Nice video. Great game and great game system for sure. Exposed me to part of WW2 I did not know much about (the Battle of Manila). Rampage definitely makes a great companion piece to the game (though as you note , reading about the Japanese atrocities is very disturbing). Challenging game. Different every time. Once fully understood the rules, seems to consistently take just over two hours to play - and always comes down to last turn (have yet to win but come close…). Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the game. 👍

As always, thanks for reviewing.

Interesting to see they added the values tracker and event reminder to the board, which were basically "missing" in the first game. Not sure I need another game so similar though, good as it is.

I once dated a Filipino woman who was a contortionist on the savage streets of her country's capital city...... .... ... ... ... She was a great Manila Folder.

Ordered Rampage

I wonder if we'll get the battle of Berlin eventually?

The unnecessary battle….

Good job. Are there games that were you play as a Japanese commander?

Considering the Philippines was a colony of ours, what we did there over the previous decades and what we did after the war, I’d feel the same as I would playing the Soviets in Kursk.

Wow this is alot

Not to excuse the German. But because they did hartbreaking things, but it always seemed to me the Japenese in America any way got a pass on there Atrocities. In Politics to day you see everybody that has a beef with the other side they call then Nazi's or Hitler. Witch I think is wrong anyway as the people have no clue about history. On to the game I have all the AH Area Movement games and enjoy them. So I like this idea and the really are not a lot of Japanese lang games so there a 2 pluses for me.

[comment for engagement. nothing humorous to say.]