Guadalcanal: Semper Fi Series

About this board game

Guadalcanal: Semper Fi Series is a two-player Panzer Grenadier game about the intense fighting between U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers and marines in the tense weeks of 1942. With a playing time of about 360 minutes, it includes 24 scenarios and stands alone without requiring any other game in the series.

The game introduces several types of Marine units, including Marine rifle, parachute, and Raider units, along with scouts. Marines generally have very good morale, excellent leadership, and strong firepower. However, their support weapons are more limited: the Army receives first call on tanks and artillery, while the Marine versions available on Guadalcanal are not considered equal to the quality of the riflemen.

Japan fields both Army and navy units. Their firepower is low, but their morale is described as fanatically high. Japanese artillery is not especially effective, their small number of tanks can barely withstand rifle fire, and direct support weapons are scarce.

• 24 scenarios covering a wide variety of actions
• Marine rifle, parachute, Raider, and scout units
• U.S. Marine and Japanese Army and navy forces with contrasting strengths
• Maps depicting historical Guadalcanal terrain

Japanese success depends on reaching close combat with the Marines, where the Japanese warrior spirit can be used to its full advantage. This creates a sharp contrast between strong Marine leadership and firepower and Japan’s emphasis on morale and close fighting.

Often praised as some of the most beautiful maps in the Panzer Grenadier series, the Guadalcanal boards portray historical terrain rather than the generic coverage used by many other games in the series. Released in 2003, Guadalcanal: Semper Fi Series offers a substantial standalone campaign of Pacific combat for two players.