Game review 84: Forbidden Bridge
Cross the bridge. Steal the jewels. Make an idol angry. Thanks Milton Bradley!
A career in journalism and writing feels a little like crossing a jungle canyon rope bridge.
You embark on your journey, initially aware of the peril that may befall you, but also aware that this trade (metaphorically represented here by said jungle canyon rope bridge) has been standing for years ferrying weary travellers along its length a hundred metres high before you rocked up. Surely then, there won’t be an issue succeeding in your mission?
Oh, wrong. So wrong. You’ve barely stepped across the first couple of rungs of your professional adventure when trouble arises. Except here, rotten rope cords, venomous snakes and angry cult members with big knives aren’t the issue. No, rather you’re being pursued by industry nepotism, giant corporations and billionaire tech bros axing media jobs left right and centre, Google and Facebook’s penchant for hoarding all the advertising cash.
You cross one plank only to notice two fall immediately behind you. Until you find yourself careering into a cliff edge, the whole enterprise floundering, clinging for dear life on to a piece of wood marked ‘Maybe a Substack page about family board games?’
So, Forbidden Bridge, then. One of a series of retro 80s/90s games themed on ‘white guys love stealing the jewels’. Here they all are, on the box art, committing a series of terrible cultural and social crimes. However, unlike in real-life, there appear to be some consequences for their actions, justice meted down by a furious idol, who possesses the jewels in its wobbly hands, which intends to shake ‘em off of that jungle canyon rope bridge from the laborious introduction, into the croc-infested river below.
As usual in these game though, we’re playing as the bad guys. Though you can see why Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Christopher Lee and a slew of other Brit actors in Hollywood movies got a kick out of playing the part. Because it is fun.
Sure, there is the deathly dullness of the initial, lazy roll-and-move mechanic done to death in this era, as the first section of gameplay sees the tomb robber teams take a boat down the river. Limited strategy is involved as pieces climb the mountains toward the rope bridge, strategy becomes more involved. Players must decide where on the bridge looks the safest spot to settle on (none of them do). But a few hand and foot holds are in play. Players can also move opponents to a spot on the bridge they consider more dangerous.
But then we get to the part that 80s and 90s did so well. The toy appeal. If the dice flag that the idol should be activated, it comes alive, shaking the bridge and any piece on it. Some will stay on while others will fall to their doom. Not really, they get to spend one movement dusting themselves off before carrying on. If they were carrying a jewel, this either gets placed on the nearest space to where it fell, whether on the bottom board or the bridge, or, if it went in the river, it goes back to the angry idol’s hands. Players must always head in the direction of a jewel.
Players must successfully bring two jewels, carried one at a time, back to the start to win. As a result, a huge amount of luck is needed to win. Having terrible rolls? Never fear, if a jewel is dropped at your feet, then it’s an easy win.
Forbidden Bridge’s mix of basic take-that strategy, dumb luck and an excellent battery-operated temple of doom toy piece is of huge interest to E. Her laughter is infectious. And, unlike some of Milton Bradley’s games of the era, with giant movie-esque set designs, such as 13 Dead End Drive or Ghost Castle, at least this one doesn’t take a huge amount of time to build or deconstruct.
Game facts and stats
Ages
7+
Year published
1992
Publisher
Milton Bradley
Designer
John Wallis
Player count
2–4
E’s review
What do you like best about the game?
“I loved it was so fun. We push the idol and sometimes someone might fall down.”
Is it tricky?
“Sometimes. When we do fall down and we have to get the jewels.”
What would you do to improve the game?
“It could be better by putting real water in.”
101/10
My review
Set-up time
About 15 minutes at most
Cost
Milton Bradley’s 1992 original doesn’t come cheap, and you’d do well to pick up a copy for anything under £70 on eBay. However, Hasbro’s 2022 reprint, with different box and game art, but very little altered in terms of game mechanics, should be yours, new, for £45.
Practicality
A big box, even by early 1990s standards. The bridge itself looks like it could be broken easily, so you’ll want to take extra care of that piece.
Fun for parents?
You’re not going to bring it out in front of any hobby gaming pals, but, despite its obvious flaws, it strikes the right balance when played as a family, to keep everyone involved with a chance of winning. And the wonky bridge keeps everyone on their toes with a good dose of jeopardy.
