The original Bucking Broncho (Buckaroo!)

Member Name: sandemp

Product:	Buckaroo!
Date:	24/03/05 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, Three levels of difficulty , No batteries

Disadvantages: I can't really think of anything major

When I was a child one of my favourite games was buckaroo, it was just so exciting trying to get all the camping equipment on the “donkey's” back without setting it off. Now I'm older and have got children of my own, I thought I'd never get to play it again. But, one of the toys my youngest daughter bought with her birthday money was, yes you've got it, a brand new Buckaroo, and let me tell you something, it's changed a bit in the 25 years since I was a child.

~~~So what's Buckaroo?~~~

Buckaroo is a children's game described on the box as :

“The original saddle stacking game with an even moodier mule.”

Consisting of Roo, a plastic mule (apparently a horse/donkey hybrid), which fits into a similarly plastic base, along with a saddle and twelve pieces of camping equipment, the idea of the game is to put all these oddments on Roo's back without him bucking.

~~~How do I set him up?~~~

Well, setting him up couldn't be easier. You simply slot his front feet into the base, attach the blanket, chose your level of difficulty, push his bum (and tail) down until it clicks into place, and you're ready to go.

~~~What's this about levels, there never used to be levels~~~

One of the big improvements with the new Buckaroo, is that there are three levels of difficulty, which means that even younger children will be able to join in.

Level one, is the easiest level, and you have to be pretty heavy handed to make him buck on this level.

Level two, is the level my daughter has it set on, it's not so sensitive that it bucks as soon as she touches it, but is sensitive enough that she has to be careful when placing the pieces on.

Level three, this is the hardest level, and it turns Roo into one mean mule. He becomes very sensitive, and all but the gentlest touch will set him off.

~~~How many people can play?~~~

Well officially the box states that 2-4 people can play this at any one time, but Ashleigh will quite happily sit and play this on her own for at least an hour.

~~~Who can play?~~~

The box tells me that this game is suitable for children aged four and over, although with the new level settings I would say that children of a younger age might be able to join in. The pieces are pretty big, so I don't think you have to worry about them being swallowed. I can't say there's an upper limit, as we play this as a whole family.

~~~So how do you play then?~~~

Right lets start with the “official” rules :

The youngest child gets to go first and it's their job to place the saddle on Roo's back, play then continues clockwise (the person on their left), and each player has to place one item of equipment on Roo's saddle. If the item falls off or they knock another item off, then they're are OUT. Also if Roo bucks then they're out, in this case you need to re-set Roo before continuing.

Play continues until either one person is left (that would make them the winner), or every item has been placed on his back, in which case the player who put it there is the winner.

Now these, of course, are only the official rules, you can easily make up extra rules of your own, ones we've added include that each person has to put items of a particular colour on Roo's back. We also normally only declare a winner when Roo bucks, which shortens each game considerably, and means nobody is left out for most of the game.

~~~Are the children learning anything as they play?~~~

They most certainly are....

The first thing they are learning is turn taking, which I'm sure you realise is an important skill for any child. The second is that their fine motor and hand-eye co-ordination are being developed as they learn to carefully place the pieces. By changing the rules slightly you can help them develop their colour recognition skills and finally they are learning to judge weights and balance them out as they realise that if putting all the heavy items on one side will make it buck.

~~~Is it going to last?~~~

I would say so, it certainly seems much sturdier than the version I had as a child. The cardboard base has been replaced with one made of plastic, and everything feels very well made and sturdy.

~~~Where can I get one?~~~

Most toys shops will sell this with prices ranging from £6.99 to £9.99. Ashleigh actually bought hers from Asda, for the princely sum of £6.99.

~~~What does Ashleigh think?~~~

I like my Buckaroo, it's funny when it jumps and I'm getting good at it now.

~~~And what about her Mummy?~~~

Mummy thinks it brilliant, most of the time. It has of course changed a bit since I was little, but still brings back great memories of rainy days as a child. I love the fact that there are now different levels of difficulty so everyone has a chance, and the fact it doesn't take batteries. The one thing that does tend to get on my nerves when Ashleigh has a marathon session is the noise of it bucking, but that's easily made up for by the sound of her laughter.

So if you have young children this is a great traditional game for whiling away those rainy afternoons that seem only too common in this country.

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