Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Closer to the Breaking Point



 This week we have a very simple game from 1976. Ideal's Breaking Point! Let's take a look, shall we?

The box illustration pretty much sums up the idea. You put the little balls on top of the big balls and try not to dump the little balls into the tray area. This girl seems to not quite grasp the concept, as she's apparently excited to have just lost. 


And here we have the actual game. One thing that I found interesting (because I'm easily amused) is that the colors on all of the parts are reversed from the box illustration. Apparently the illustration photo was taken in an alternate reality. I'm surprised the girl doesn't have a beard like "Mirror Spock." (Deep dive for nerds. You're welcome)


And here are the (pretty crumpled up) instructions!


The first three pages are all game description and assembly instructions! Yay!


Finally, on the last page, we get to how to play. It's very simple. In fact, when I was setting up the game to photograph it, my wife said, "It's like Jenga!" I hadn't thought about it that way, but she's right. I do like how you use the little stick to place the balls. 

So, is it fun? Yeah, it is. It's not my favorate game, but it's got some playability to it. I'll keep it sitting up on the ol' game shelves, I guess. 

I really don't remember where this one came from. I didn't have it as a kid, and I can't remember buying it. I sort of remember it being thrown in with my eBay Sub Search purchase (with that blockbuster game, Recall!) but I'm not sure.

Anyway, like I said, I'll hang onto it.

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

4 comments:

  1. I never saw this game before. As I've mentioned in the past, I must've lived under a rock, because you have sooo many games that I NEVER knew existed. Or maybe I just forgot. That's very possible.

    A little bit of setting-up to do on this game. But not as bad as setting up Mouse Trap [and hoping you did it right].

    I'll give this one a "go" on game night. Thanks, Stu, for sharing...and, in case you hadn't noticed, I just now commented on the last two posts. :o)

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    1. Hi Sue!
      I guess I just like games that are a little different, although, as I said I don't think I selected this one- it just showed up! I'm glad it's better than Recall!
      It doesn't take long to play, so we should be able to easily work it into game night!

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  2. Like Sue, I've never seen, or heard of this game before either... You sure have a way of finding odd games! It's your super-power! Or, in this case, maybe the games find you! That would make you an odd game magnet! Also a super-power!

    "I'm surprised the girl doesn't have a beard like 'Mirror Spock.'". Mirror Spock, looking quizzically as the balls fall through, "Fascinating!"

    The last page of instructions reminds me of a fondue pot, dipping your morsel-clad stick into some delicious cheesy or chocolatey sauce.

    Sue, when we used to play Mouse Trap (we still have it!), we would set up the board, then trigger the trap to see if it's gonna work when the time comes.

    Thanks for another introduction to an oddball game, Stu.

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    1. Yup, old games stick to me like glue! (Which can be a problem walking in public).
      Mirror Spock would be playing 4D Breaking Point!
      No, JB, we don't eat the plastic balls...unless they taste really really good.
      I also have Mouse Trap, but I haven't featured it since, although it's an older edition, it's not a first release and I'm a snob. And yeah, few things in life are more discouraging than cranking that handle only to have sonething go wrong halfway through. Sigh...

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