Last modified April 21, 2025 by jarjar
Overview
Dance tower up, a game on the theme of urban planning, you are the head of an architectural firm and will try to earn as many points as possible by placing and raising buildings while being in competition with your opponents. A game all in all quite simple, family-friendly, but quite clever.
The announcement of this game's release brought Mr. Phal, the colorful creator and animator behind the Tric Trac website, out of his gaming grave. He announced his retirement from the gaming world in September 2019. He's making a comeback to present this game here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMGV49QiO7Q
First impression
Easy to pick up, with player interaction and good emergent gameplay from the first round. The game effectively creates tension between participants, each trying to be the first to achieve one of the 3 objectives (which are renewed each game). Aesthetically pleasing, especially at the end of the game, it is also very well made. It could have been designed and marketed 25 years ago, fitting perfectly into the early German Euro game models.
You'll need to be opportunistic to win. The board and decision space incorporate interesting tactics: when to build a building, when to advance with a particular color, and how to take advantage of the extra turn rule. The mix is very well done.
Extension to come
A first expansion is in the works, called Paradise Islands. After completing construction of the city, your company expands to the coastline. There seems to be construction of bridges to connect the islands, and statues? ... To be continued!
TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 3
Best player configuration: 3-4
Level: family
My best score: 64
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> Easy to use.
>> Good introductory game (gateway game).
>> Beautiful components.
>> The feeling of stacking towers is pleasant!
I liked less :
>> Long-term replayability?
>> A lot of plastic, in a more eco-responsible era?
>> Quality of the cards?
>> Why is the discard pile support different from the draw pile support?
A game with accessible rules, which conceals a surprising strategic richness and encourages constant interaction between players. The addition of variable score bonuses renews the experience with each game and influences decision-making.
FUN FACTOR 🙂🙂🙂🙂