Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge (2010) Board Game

Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge is a fun and engaging board game that was released in 2010 by HABA. Designed by Klaus Miltenberger, this game falls under the category of action/dexterity, animals, and children’s games. The game is suitable for players aged 5 and above and can accommodate 2 to 4 players.

Game Components of Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge

Wooden animals: 25 new animals, slightly thicker than those in the original game.

Balancing bridge: A static bridge within the game box.

Game box: Divided into four quadrants with different themes (desert, river, forest, etc.).

Die: Features symbols corresponding to the quadrants and a wild card side.

Objective cards: Each player receives three cards showing combinations of three animals.

Alligator base: Acts as a central figure on the bridge.

How To Setup Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge

To set up, place the game box with its quadrants facing upwards. Distribute the wooden animals around the outside of the box according to their respective quadrants. The alligator base is placed in the middle of the balancing bridge. Each player is dealt three objective cards, which they keep secret.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roll the die: Determine which quadrant to take an animal from or use the wild card to choose any animal.

Place animals: Stack or place animals next to each other on the bridge.

Shift animals: When the bridge side of the die is rolled, shift one animal on the bridge.

Complete objectives: Players aim to get the three animals on their objective cards to touch each other on the bridge.

Knockdown penalty: If animals fall off, they land in a quadrant and the player who knocked them off must take an additional objective card.

Win the game: The first player to complete all their objective cards wins.

Player Experience

**Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge** offers a fun and interactive experience, suitable for both children and adults. The game’s simplicity makes it accessible to young players, while the dexterity required and strategic placement of animals provide enough challenge for older players. The secret objectives add a layer of excitement and unpredictability, making each game unique.

Pros

Portable and easy to set up: Ideal for quick gaming sessions.

Family-friendly: Suitable for a wide age range.

New animals and expanded gameplay: For fans of the original, this adds new variety.

Simple yet engaging mechanics: Easy to learn but challenging to master.

Cons

Potential for sabotage: Some players might intentionally knock over the animals to hinder others.

Short gameplay: Can end quickly, especially for players with good dexterity skills.

Personal Thoughts on Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge

This game is perfect for families and casual gamers looking for a light-hearted, fun experience. For fans of the original **Animal Upon Animal**, it offers a fresh twist with new animals and gameplay mechanics. It’s also a great option for introducing young children to board games due to its simple rules and engaging gameplay. However, for serious gamers or those seeking complex strategies, it might not provide enough depth.

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