Hungry Hungry Hippos

You are a hippo. You are in the African rivers, there has been a drought, you wiggle your ears, it’s hot and you have been waited for the rains. It is midday and it has been dark on the horizon for a while. Suddenly you feel a current in the warm water, the reed grass starts to stir and you feel something tickle past you.

You feel a roar, it’s your stomach, hunger.  The river swells, with it, trapped and multiplied fish, you take a breath and submerge your head. Welcome to Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Brief History

Hungry Hungry Hippos, now published by Hasbro, was first released back in 1978. The idea of the game was thought of by toy inventor Fred Kroll in 1967. The game is marketed towards children and families, and has been referenced in several pop culture shows such as The Simpsons and Toy Story 3.

Gameplay

SNAP-SNAP-SNAP! The centre of the bowl-board, is awash with white balls-fish, and you rapidly as possible press down on your hippo level to grab as many fish as you can as the lever triggers the mouth to extend, trap and return fatty, tasty fish to your reserve.

In Hungry Hungry Hippos each player chooses one of four hippos (each of a different colour) to control. You’ll then press down on your hippo level in order for it to reach out into the playing field and grab as many marbles as possible! Once the board is empty, the marbles in each hippo section is counted and the player with the most marbles is the winner of the game!

A Way to Win?

Use your fingers, less inertia. Consider slowing down a little bit, it gives the fish time to ping away then return to your gaping mouth.

Game Components

Hungry Hungry Hippos features wonderful components and overall mechanism. The only thing that will begin to fault is the lethargy in your arms from all of the rapid movement during the game.

Final Thoughts on Hungry Hungry Hippos

I love replaying this, Hungry Hungry Hippos is one of my favourites, although it can be an RSI case with too much. Interaction is limited by the nature of the fish, but if you are not eating, you are not winning.  

This is a great mechanism and you need to keep an eye on the others throughout a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos! This game, like many from Hasbro, is perfect for children and families alike.