- Release Date: 1998
- Genre: Traditional
- Style: Board Game
Game Description
Long ago, things were not as neat and civilized as they are now. It was a time when hunger ruled the earth, and the only rule was "Eat, or be eaten".In this long ago land, four creatures lived. Yug Yugs ate Magmaraptors, who ate Seaosaurs, who ate Hovenboofs, who ate Yug Yugs. Your job is to try and keep each creature alive by giving it things to eat and to complete an entire food chain for points. Complete food chains (where every animal gets its favorite meal) are worth the most points.
This is the game of Food Chain by
~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Some games are easy to learn, but some games are easy to learn and hard to master. Food Chain is definitely of the second type. The object of the game is to keep all four species alive by feeding them before they starve. The species will eat their favorite foods in a predetermined "food chain".In addition, each creature has a special ability. Seaosaurs can live in water. Hovenboofs can eat grass. Magmaraptors can fly over obstacles to get to food and Yug Yugs are cannibals who will eat each other if given the chance.
You must place these creatures on a square grid. Creatures must be facing their food to notice and eat it. If a creature dies of starvation of because of the death pick, grass grows on the space where it was. If a hovenboof doesn't eat the grass before its timer runs out, the grass turns into a tree, which takes up that space. It cannot be changed or eaten.
Players are assigned random creatures which face in random directions to place on the board. At the beginning of the game, they are given one free pick, which can be used at any time. For each complete food chain they make, they are awarded another free pick.
In addition to the animals, there are five other randomly assigned "Specialty Items" that may be assigned to the player. Three of these turn a creature so that it faces a different way. The death sign kills off one creature where it stands. And the flood sign makes a pool of water on the playing field which will slowly dry up as the timer runs out.
The game ends either when one of the creatures goes extinct (there are no more of them on the board) or the board becomes over populated (there are no free spaces).
This is an extremely fun and playable game with cute graphics that make you laugh as the creatures on the board devour each other with total abandon. It is not as easy as it looks, obviously, but you will have a great time learning as you play.
~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
You'll fail quite a bit at the beginning, but you'll have incredible fun as you learn.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
Cartoonish, but cute, in a carnivorous sort of way.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The music is great, and the sounds of the creatures eating sounds like people pigging out at a luau.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
This game is addictive. You'll want to keep on playing.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
The jewel case-sized manual explains the entire game in detail and there is an in-game tutorial~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Production Credits
Game Design: John Casasanta, Karen Cyr; Programming: John Casasanta; Animation: Sean Viera; Graphic Design: Sean Viera, John Casasanta, Karen Cyr; Sound Effects: Duane Reed, Karen Cyr; Music: Duane Reed; Documentation: Karen van der Lee; Tutorial: Karen van der Lee; Special Thanks: Howie Motenko
~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
