From: Roberto Chiavini Subject: more reviews The Creature that ate Sheboygan (SPI) A slimy creature_ nor_ a scaly monster_ oops! I see better now!! It's horrible_ it's emerging from the lake_ Oh, my God! Poor, dear Sheboygan_ It will destroy you_ One of the craziest game to "emerge" from the late SPI flood, this unusual design (but not for its author, Greg Costikyan, the maker of such jewels as the rpgs Paranoia and Toons) is a great fun to play. In this game, played on a little squared map of an imaginary American town (with a little park and a river in it), one player takes the role of an Hollywood monster, a T-Rex, a giant gorilla, a giant spider, a creepy slimy thing, or whatever he wants. The other player takes the role of the town population and of all the police and armed forces put together to resist to this unearthly menace. The monster is formed with a starting value in four different classes: Attack - Defense - Building destroy capability - Movement. The player, depending on the scenario, may decide how many of his starting points give to each of this capabilities (he may choose even among several special abilities, if you use the advanced rules - and you must use them to really enjoy the game) and doesn't have to declare to his adversary the real factors, other than the defensive one, till he come into contact with other units, and, as he may lose points for combat results as he fits better, he is not forced to tell the other player how he loses these points (until he reaches 0 in the Defense factor and dies). With a mix of soldiers, police cars, tanks, helicopters, field guns, the "good guys" player must try to avoid defeat, stopping the monster before he destroys half the town, or stomps half the population, or puts fire to half the buildings on the map. In fact, the game finishes when the monster dies or reaches his victory point conditions (scoring points for destroying building, combat units or population units). There are also rules for firemen, river crossing, and several different scenarios. A very good game, fast enough to concede repetitive play in the same evening (possibly switching sides, as playing the "monster" is usually more fun). I rate this game 7 « out of 10