"More Pigs, More Points, More Fun." If you're familiar with Pass the Pigs, the classic push-your-luck "dice" game, then you know all about rolling plastic pigs in pursuit of 100 points. Pass the Pigs: Pig Party takes that formula and stretches it to the max, providing some fun moments along the way. But how does this new party edition stack up against the original? Read on for the full review to find out.
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 15 minutes
Age: 7 to adult
Publisher: Winning Moves Games
MSRP: $16.95
Release: March, 2011
The Gameplay:
Each player receives one pair of pigs, and a deck of thirty cards is shuffled to complete the game setup. Each card in the deck contains one combination of pig positions and a corresponding number of points. Players take turns rolling their pigs in an attempt to match these positions, with the first player to do so winning the points listed on the card. Play continues until one player reaches 100 points.
As in traditional Pass the Pigs, if you ever "pig out" (that is, roll pigs that are lying on opposite sides) then you will have to sit out for the rest of the round. Also, if pigs touch after rolling it is ruled an "oinker," and the player must forfeit one of their previously earned points cards.
Some of the traditional rules are tweaked to keep the game moving, though. If a rare "leaning jowler" position is called for, the card can be skipped after one turn. This elusive position requires the pig to land while resting on their ear (which this statistical study assigns odds of less than 1%). Also, when a card calls for two positions, a player can save one of their pigs from turn to turn if its position matches one of the two on the card.
The party starts when a player successfully matches a card on their first attempt. When this occurs, that player scoops up all eight pigs at once and gives them a giant roll. A special scoring chart is used to determine how many points that player earns. The highest possible score on such a bonus roll is 25 points for either a triple "snouter" or double "leaning jowler."
The Components:
- Eight Pigs
- 30 Cards (a "pork roll")
- 1 Rules Sheet
- 1 Zippered & Printed Fabric Carrying Case
There's not much more you could ask for from a simple dice game. The pigs come in four varieties: pink, white, brown and black. The cards are of a high quality and the rules are both illustrated and well-written. The carrying case is a great touch as it has enough space in it to store not only Pass the Pigs: Pig Party but other games as well. I was able to fit the original Pass the Pigs scoring pads, a few pencils, and the cards from the Snout spin-off card game. Now you're ready for a real pig party.
Final Thoughts:
Let's be honest, this is not a game that involves any sense of strategy or tactics, which in some people's eyes makes this more of an activity than a game. There's no longer any decision point that asks players if they want to push their luck, and the plastic pigs are too random to develop any dexterous skill in rolling specific positions, so this is a valid critique. Be that as it may, Pass the Pigs: Pig Party is a fun activity that would make for a good time, particular for families with young members.
Out of the box, the game does drag a bit as it may take several turns around the table to clear a single card. A little bit of house ruling may be able to fix this, though. After a few rounds, we decided to go "every pig for themselves" and make each card a pure race. What followed was sweet, sweet chaos. People got out of their chairs, furiously rolling pig after pig in pursuit of an ever-changing series of positions.Whoever completed the card first called it out, and it was on to the next one.
When a player triggered a bonus roll, everyone in the room began chanting "ALL THE PIGS! ALL THE PIGS!" while banging their hands on the table. It was the cult of swine at its finest. This is no exaggeration, folks. Take an existing love for Pass the Pigs, multiply it by four, then speed the game up a bit and you will have a seriously raucous time.
Wired: The exhilarating feeling of getting to perform the eight pig bonus roll.
Tired: Removal of what little strategy existed in the original dice game.
