Rhino Hero: Super Battle

Designed by: cott Frisco,Steven Strumpf

Inspired by the simple (and fun!) stacking game Rhino Hero, Rhino Hero: Super Battle takes the stacking to a new level, creating paper-based constructions two or three feet high!

Three bases showing build points are laid out on the table, and each player takes a playing piece (Super Rhino etc) as well as three floors. Each floor shows a combination of walls, and on your turn you place the wall or wall as prescribed by your chosen floor, then place the floor on top of them. If your floor also shows a monkey, you must hang a monkey off the side of it too. These don’t do much, but they do contribute to the slightly surreal vibe – and can be placed to hinder other players.

Having placed the floor you now roll a die that will tell you how many – if at all – levels your superhero can move up the growing building. If you end up on the same floor as another hero, there is a super-hero battle: both players roll a die to determine who stays, and who has to move down a level.

The highest superhero holds a superhero token (until ousted) and when the floors and walls run out, or the building collapses, the player holding the token wins – unless they collapsed the building themselves of course, in which case everyone else does!

Sam says

The madcap creation of a tower that somehow stays up despite its crazy angles and non-building-regulated construction is a blast – as tangibly enjoyable for adults as it is kids. The battle element is a little less thrilling: you’re just rolling a die, so in essence the win or lose element of Super Battle almost functions as a separate game – and an arbitrary-feeling one that may frustrate young kids. Because the building is so good, this feels disappointing. But to be fair it’s not a game where winning is really the primary focus – it’s more of an event, and as such even outdoes its popular predecessor, Rhino Hero.

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    Take That!

    A fair bit, although it's more about the luck of the roll than any malice from an opponent.

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    Fidget Factor!

    Very low. Even when it's not your turn, it's the kind of game you don't mind watching. And turns are pretty rapid.

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    Brain Burn!

    Non-existent.

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    Again Again!

    The building ensures variety and the dice ensure some randomness. It's also visually quite spectacular.