Rhino Hero Super Battle
Overall Rating: 8/10
Age: 5+
GLAM Age Range: 5-8
Number of Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 10-20
Publisher: HABA
Complexity: Low
Available At: Amazon.com
Quick Take: The game has a simple concept but requires a reasonable amount of dexterity and concentration. It's basically a game version of card stacking. The recommended age level of 5+ is very accurate for this game in our experience. It's not a very complex game and there really isn't that much strategy, but the novelty factor is high and dexterity games are an excellent category that appeal to a lot of kids. There are cute tokens and the building pieces are well designed and fun to look at. This game has some similarities to Jenga in terms of balance and building a structure but the game provides more interesting scenarios and options as you play.
How to Play: Your goal is to be at the highest point of the tower you create either when you run out of cards to build with or when the tower falls down. The game starts with the three base pieces placed next to each other. Players select a token to play with and then take turns playing building cards. You draw the walls illustrated on the building cards and place them on the base pieces and then continue to build a tower by playing on each other's placed pieces. Each time you place a piece you get to roll a die and see if you move up levels, remain at the same level, or move down a level. If you're on the same level as another player, you must battle for that space. Each player rolls a die, whoever gets the higher number stays on the level, whoever gets the lower number must move down a level. Some pieces require you to place a dangling monkey on your building piece, which just adds a little difficulty and care you must use while placing the piece. Eventually someone either knocks the stack over or you run out of cards to place. Whoever is at the top at this point is the Rhino Hero and winner of the game.
Variations: They provide double sided base pieces so you can alter the beginning difficulty level with more or less building spots. You have the option to take out the monkeys if they make things a little tough. And if you have a younger child who desperately wants to play you can have an adult place the wall pieces for them and let them place the building card across the top, that makes the building process significantly easier.
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