Madagascar Settle for Circus hero

1 Schedule (two-sided)
1 cube
28 Tents in 4 colors
28 circus wagons in 4 colors
90 plates
4 animal cards
1 Figure "animal inspector"
1 set of instructions

---- Game History:

"Manege frei" - is the motto of this game Catan. Each player tries his circus wagon and - to place tents first on the island and thus the game to decide for themselves.

For this course you need - as with all other Catan games also - different commodities. In the game there are five different raw materials:

Popcorn
Sand
Wool
Wood
Cocktails

To get to the coveted raw materials, players must build circus wagons, because the number is rolled on whose field they built a circus car of its color, you get the coveted raw materials

If in a game situation, for example a would be 1 diced yellow player would receive 1 wood and Player violet 3 wood because it borders with three circus tents to the wooden box with the 1. Construction of Tents brings the players not only closer to the goal, to have installed all the circus tents, but simultaneously ensure that you get new raw materials in the course of the game.

The rules, as circus wagons can be built, are simple and very easy to understand for children: circus wagons and circus tent will be built always in change. Two cars behind each other can not be built. Only when the tent is, one can draw even with the car further.

Of course in this game, an adversary who wants to make life difficult for the players. If the animal inspector on site to get the players from the field, they blocked, no raw materials. Only when the next 6 is rolled, the player may move it. He then gets twice the raw material of the blocked field.

But where disaster threatens, also help is not far away. In this game, the Penguins come to the rescue. Penguins love to lie in the sand, to munch popcorn and sipping cocktails. Once you provide them these things are available, they are now helping on the spot. The small plates bring the Player ahead in the game, so it may be worth quite sacrificing raw materials. On the cards there is either the possibility for free to build a circus tent or a car, additional resources or permission to put the Tierkontrolleurein. But we must einheimsen two commodities of newly blocked field again. In addition, one must take the animal inspector before him and put a circus tent in the field of animal caretaker. In order for a tent you have placed more on the board again and came back to win a little bit closer.

If it comes times to a shortage of raw materials, but a player desperately wants to build something, then he has to different ways: It can once during his turn 1: 1 exchange with the market, or 2: 1 from the reservoir. More experienced players can also try to negotiate with their peers an exchange.

The winner is the player who has built the first all his circus tents on the game board.

---- Our impression:

Madagascar Catan has us all excited now, just by Madagascar illustration the game already was able to score. The interpretation of the theme, I find it very successful, the children can identify with both characters, as well as with the circus theme equal.

The game is similar to classic Catan Junior, but is in some respects but different. The children play without tickets but with raw flakes which they lay open before him. This has the advantage that they can keep track easier. There are also (unlike the original Catan) no obligation to deliver raw materials, if the animal control urine is rolled. This also takes the game a little "austerity" because the children can gather and decide even in the next round to build only times when resources are lacking and there is no exchange possibility. Another advantage of the platelets is that children like to help, at least according to my observations with each other. "You can a circus wagon bulge", "Why do not you just buy a card?" are not uncommon at our table.

Another big improvement is that the children can play the game for two. The Schedule is printed on both sides, even for two players and one for 3 and 4 players. My kids have tried it and confirmed that the game two just a lot of fun, like three or four. It's a nice alternative when we parents sometimes no time to play.

So our conclusion about the game is clear: enthusiasm !! And even though we actually already long the big Catan play, we had our fun with the Junior version. It's just played much faster than the base game and can therefore sometimes be inserted in between. I must confess, to me the game a lot of fun, not least because I am my children as a fan of Madagascar.

Especially for families where Catan is not played, we recommend this option as an entry game. I am sure that soon you will open yourselves to colonize the world of Catan. Because CAUTION: Once you start, you will quickly addicted !!