Animal Safari in the service of science: The Expedition Sumatra, players must save some endangered species from extinction from the jungle, and export to zoos and nature reserves of the civilized world.

The players each receive three-part ships with holds, in which the transported out of the forest dwellers in the jungle provided extra cages are shipped. Per occupied loading zone, the players victory points. When fully occupied parts of the vessel, there are also special points.

The board is the sumatrischen jungle and recalls in its structure a little crazy at the maze, because it will track tiles placed on the given fields, which are to be generated in the course of the game paths for the transporter.

Unlike the crazy maze before the tiles are randomly set ready not moved, but revealed their edge away. This mechanism means that the way a little arise unexpectedly and not immediately available for transport are in the best shape. In addition, this will be the hiding places of the animals revealed and special promotions triggered.

To uncover and turn the way platelets, for transport of animals from the jungle and for maneuvering the ship each player per round four actions. Then be moved in a second round stage on the game board adjacent vessels forward.

Score at least a ship to orbit the jungle back to its starting point, the game ends, if not before, the deck is exhausted from the jungle chips or the holds of a ship are sold out completely.

In order to build roads, can turn an active player lying on the plate but his place and therefore establish a connection to an adjacent path. In this way, short or long paths are created through the jungle, leading, ideally, from the site of an animal directly to their own ship, so the van can quickly put the animal in the cargo area of the ship.

The animals in the jungles of Sumatra are different in size and heavy, so our expedition team two transporters with varying loading areas are available. In the small vans can tigers, orang-utans and the very rare barking deer will recharged while required for elephants and rhinos a larger vehicle.

The hiding place was discovered of an animal, begins the transport race. The player who arrives first at the site can load the animal into his truck and bring it to his ship. Opposing players have the chance, the animal out of the van to steal before it reaches the expedition ship.

Is spiced up the game with a few special rules, for example, are triggered by face-plates. Thus, there are traps with which any animal can be caught a pair of binoculars that a player can make under two remaining hidden jungle tiles look and the storm, both the jungle and the shipping lanes messing up a little.

The middle part of the vessel forms a somewhat risky black market - Zone. Diving during the game natives (as detected platelets) that bring these to one or more animals from such loading zone, the need for the players then released then. If at the end of game animals, however, be present in the loading zone, the players can win extra points. This particularly applies to the aforementioned Muntjac, because it brings in a black market charging zone as much as 5 victory points. The Muntjac is also the wild card and can be used on a boat for any other animal, but then takes over the points value.

Expedition Sumatra has an excellent game rule, according to the "Quick Finder" - is constructed principle. The guide is folded so that important control elements can be expanded easily as in a card index system. This is not only practical but also very commendable. The rule is thus very structured way and she also has a clear, unambiguous language.

Expedition Sumatra is a beautifully designed game, it is understood, we conjure up a little tropical atmosphere on the table. Graphically and materials technology, the game is implemented excellent. As for the game depth, so one expedition Sumatra is not the most complex games, which is not a disadvantage, because it plays pleasant liquid, is well balanced and is suitable for a broad audience of casual gamers to ambitious multi player.

Extensions and variants

The website of the young authors publishing Igramoon Britta Stöckmann and Jens Jahnke have now released some extensions and variants for the game. To play this, no additional purchase of play materials is necessary. In the variant Primbumi the influence of the natives is defused by one of the only begotten tile is installed knowingly in the lower part of the draw pile.

In this mini-extension Pantai is all about the coastal region, which influences the navigability of the animal transport. The mini-expansion Alam however, attaches importance to the jungle flora and facilitates or impedes the movement.

The instructions for this mini-expansions can be downloaded from the publisher's website directly: ->> www.igramoon.de

Year: 2010
Publisher: Igramoon
Author: Britta Stöckmann and Jens Jahnke
Image: Mariusz Gandzel, Piotr Rorot, Anna Włodarska
Players: 2-4
Duration: 45 minutes
Indication of age: 8 years

Tags: igramoon