Everyone remembers Hungry Hungry Hippos, well at least you should do as it’s still available in shops today. Produced by Hasbro under its subsidiary Milton Bradley, in 1978, the object of the game is simple. Each player has to collect as many marbles as possible with their own hippo. With 4 hippos on the game board, up to four players could play at any one time.
The game board has four colourful, plastic hippos, they are operated by the lever on the back. When the lever is pressed the hippo opens its mouth and extends its head forwards on a telescopic neck. When the lever is released the mouth closes and the neck retracts. The game continues until all the marbles are eaten. The one with most marbles at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Believe it or not the hippos all have their own names, Lizzy Hippo (purple), Henry Hippo (orange), Harry Hippo (yellow) and Homer Hippo (green). In some versions of the game Henry is blue rather than orange.
Anyone who fondly remembers Hungry Hungry Hippos will know it lasts for all of one minute before all the marbles have been eaten and the game is over. The inevitable hand pain from pressing down the lever as fast as possible was something any Hippos fan would simply have to get used to.
