Jaws is as popular now as it was when it was released way back in 1975, officially creating what has become known as the summer movie season. In the four decades since it swam into theaters, giving everyone a fear of the ocean, there has been plenty of memorabilia surfacing in its wake. Today, we have a look at what might be one of the best toys based on the long standing franchise with Jaws the board game. Best of all, you get to play as the shark or the heroes.
Ravensburger is behind the new game, which is now available at Target stores nationwide. The game was initially announced at Toy Fair earlier in the year, but now you can get one for yourself if they're not already sold out. The game is also available online at the official Target website and it retails for a mere $29.99.
The Jaws tabletop game is directly based on the classic 1975 movie directed by Steven Spielberg. When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.
The game can be played between two to four people, and it rolls out in a unique two-act structure that helps fans recreate some of the true excitement direct from the movie. It might also help to queue up the John Williams soundtrack while engaging in this strategic thriller. One of the players will have to fight for the chance to play Bruce the Great White Shark. Once that is decided, the other players can take on the personas of Brody, Quint or Hopper.
The game play starts with Act 1: Amity Island. The person playing as Bruce the Shark will get to swim around the island attacking swimmers and trying to avoid capture. The other players will be attempting to find the shark's exact location while also saving some of the islanders from getting eaten. It's a little bit like Battle Ship. Act 2: The Orca plays out the thrilling end chase scene between Quint's boat and the great white. The Orca will be sinking as the well-armed crew tries to locate the shark before it's too late. There is no telling where Bruce might strike next.
It has been noted that this Ravensburger game is completely original and not a repacking of a previous game. The gameplay has been tailor made for Jaws fans. And the movie is recreated with painstaking detail. Playing as Quint, you will get to launch barrels into the water. Taking on Brody requires you to look for the shark with binoculars. And when becoming Hooper, you will get to use your trusty fish-finder to help save summer swimmers from those sharp shark teeth. Playing as Bruce the Shark, you'll have to swim around and avoid detection by said binoculars or fish-finder.
- Highlights
- Innovative double-sided game board that presents two-phases to game play.
- Nostalgic illustrations capture memorable characters and scenes from the classic Jaws film.
- Asymmetric game play allows players to either play as the shark, or play cooperatively as Brody, Hooper, and Quint.
So experience Jaws as a suspenseful tabletop strategy game! One player menaces the island of Amity as the three-ton great white while the other players go on the hunt as Brody, Hooper, and Quint. Two thrilling phases of gameplay. Act 1: Amity Island and Act 2: The Orca-capture the edge-of your-seat excitement of the classic film. You can visit your Local Target or pick the game up online.
