Classic Warfare
I picked this game up brand new for $20. I never once have regretted it.
Support is available for up to 6 players(CPU or human) in classic mode(with standard Risk dice rules). Multi-Tap is not a requirement, you can just pass the controller(s) around. The bonus is you don't just have the standard world map to work with. That's there, but you also have maps of Asia, Europe, and North America. Not the entireties of the continents, but more than enough to be familiar with, and all of them have more territories than the standard world map. The time the game takes place in adds a new dimension to the maps, as they're all from the 1800's or earlier. You'll see many countries that no longer exist.
In Ultimate Risk mode, you can add 2 more players(CPU or human) to the lineup. It effectively is a new game. You're working with the same tools, you just have more of them. Forts and capitol cities become available. If you place a fort/capitol where an anchor is(pre-set by game. Japan for example always has one in the Asia map), you get a port. That port will allow you to send your troops half way across the map to attack a location that was least expecting it. The routes with ports are random, and max out at three once the port has stood for awhile.
You also start working with a new kind of battle system. Instead of throwing dice, you choose between three seperate, randomly given tactical cards. Variations from "Attack In Echelon" to "Attack On Left Flank" to "Concealed Ambush" are available, depending on the rank of the General commanding your army. Yes, now there are Generals too. You need them to build a force of significant size. In Ultimate Risk, you can have a maximum of 20 Batallions per territory(10 if it's rought terrain, ie: Mountains, forests, etc), unless there's a General leading the battallions to war. Then you max out at 350.
There's also rebels in Ultimate risk. Usually they only are around at the beginning of a game, but sometimes a territory will turn rebel if the random event stage that ocurrs at the end of each round of turns killed all the batallions you had in a rough terrain territory. Defeating a rebel army tends to give you those rebels during your next batallion placing phase.
When choosing what mode you want to play, there are 4 options at the title screen. Classic game, classic quick start both lead into the classic version of Risk, and are relatively self explanatory. Quick start puts you right into the game. The normal option allows you to choose a few things before getting into it. Such as how many players, whether you choose your territories or have the game choose for you. Where you put your batallions, or if they're randomly placed, etc. These options are also available for Ultimate risk, and operate under the same idea, with a few more options taking into account that it's a different set of rules you're working with.
The AI is not particularly bright, but it won't just lie down and let you destroy it either. Having a CPU opponent in a game can certainly make things interesting.
Graphics and sound are good, without anything eye catching on the one hand, or out of place on the other. Not unexpected, as it was released as a budget title to begin with.
All in all, I have to recommend this game to fans of Risk, and the odd strategy gamer. It's an older title, but it's not lost any of it's charm yet.