Last modified February 3, 2025 by Jarjar
FIRST IMPRESSION
As a very first article, in the first impression category, I'm going with a final discovery, the latest from the green-haired man (who is behind the excellent Powergrid), none other than Friedemann Friese, the game is called Freaky Frogs from Outaspace and it can only be played solo.
Friedemann wanted to recreate the thrill of a real pinball machine, but in card form, and he succeeded! You have to hold out as long as possible, relying on both your skill and luck. Sometimes you finish the game quickly, without exceeding 5000 points, and other times, you exceed 60 points. You can even shake the machine, and play with several balls. All that's missing are the sound effects!
Harder to grasp than Super Skill Pinball, not only because of its card-based nature, which makes it a little less intuitive, but also because the ball "physics" are more complex, leading to a somewhat logical "flowchart" of targets you can hit on a given turn. Once you get the hang of the ball's movement, it plays very well.
GAME FACTS
>> the illustrator, Maura Kalusky, tells us on her Facebook page that the theme is inspired by the pinball machines of the 70s but with a counter from the 50s (at Friedemann's request)
>> a poster of the ball machine is provided to help us visualize where the ball is located. Not necessary, but nice, and it helps set the mood
>> there is a #1 to display on the box, which implies that there could be other pinball machines, the author and illustrator respond in the BGG forums about this: "buy the game and there will be more tables."
TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 5
Level: advanced family
My best score: 64
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The neat presentation under a 70s theme.
>> The dynamics of the game which is still fast, we quickly chain the turns.
>> More thoughtful than Super-Skill pinball.
I liked less:
>> Rules that are still difficult to approach, but once assimilated, it goes well!
>> Counting certain points in the middle of a round.
There is an electronic version of the score sheet, which is very well done. here
A game with a rarely exploited theme, well brought and that we feel well. Once the rules are assimilated, it is very easy to get out!
FUN FACTOR 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂