Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Battle

Maxfield, either from his cousins or from his new classmates in kindergarten, has been introduced to Bakugan. I am sure if you have kids in the four to ten years of age range you most likely have heard of Bakugan. Over the past week Max has mentioned the Bakugan figures enough times to prompt me to look into them.

Bakugan is one of those Japanese cartoon anime shows that has spawned games and cards and toys that are becoming quite popular here in the States. The full name of the series is Bakugan Battle Brawlers. The game is centered around these little spring loaded balls that turn into miniature figures. A battle ensues and whoever wins the battle is the victor.

The other night I was in Wal-mart and I passed a huge Bakugan display. I looked at all the various packs and kits and whatnot and saw that a basic Bakugan figure was only four bucks. I bought a green dragon figure-ball for Max and red dragon figure-ball for Wyatt. I figured they could all learn the game together.

For all of you parents out there that want to learn about Bakugan Battle Brawler game here is a quick run down of how the game is played.

Step 1-
Kid 1- Takes his dragon figure-ball and rolls onto the card that came with the figure.
Kid 2- Takes his dragon figure-ball and rolls onto the card that came with the figure.

Step 2-
Kid 1- Realizes that Kid 2's figure is actually kind of cool looking and offers a trade of the figures.
Kid 2- Accepts trade but then after five minutes decides he would like to get his original ball back.

Step 3-
Kid 1-Refuses a re-trade.
Kid 2-Demands a re-trade.

Step 4-
Kid 1-Then takes both figures and pushes Kid 2. This is where the Battle part happens.
Kid 2- Gets up and yells "My Bakugan" and punches Kid 1.

Step 5-
Kid 1- Yells "No. My Bakugan." and shoves Kid 2.
Kid 2- Picks up a Spiderman action figure (sold separately) and wings it at Kid 1's head yelling even louder than the first time "MY BAKUGAN!"

Step 6-
Kid 1- Yells even louder "MY BAKUGAN!!"
Kid 2- is now supposed to jump on Kid 1 and try to pry the Bakugan figure out of Kid 1's hand.

The two kids commence rolling on the ground grunting and yelling and grabbing each other's faces until they are separated by a parent, who then threatens to take away all the Bakugans if the two kids cannot learn to share.

Step 7-
There is a moment of quiet.

Repeat Step 1 to continue with the game.

I am still trying to figure out why the game is so popular.

30 comments:

James said...

You left out the part where later the parent unknowingly places their bare foot directly on an open Bakugon thus beginning the real brawl.

Four dollars doesn't seem like too much to place directly in the trash can...

Anonymous said...

we have an only child so the difference with us will be the dog grabbing the Bakugon and eating it about 2 minutes after it's out of the box. I should learn how to make the dog throw up so she will be able to retrieve her toys.

Anonymous said...

"Sold Separately"

That made me laugh

SciFi Dad said...

I don't know, a little battle sounds pretty sweet when compared to hours upon hours of Disney Princesses and their anti-feminist ideals.

angie said...

Wow...we've been playing it wrong all this time. My oldest is 16, so he's not really interested in playing with his 10 yr old brother's toys, but I guess I'm going to have to make him so we can play this damn game right. I'm glad you explained it because I totally did not "get" it at all the way my youngest was playing it.

I also did not "get" Pokemon when my oldest son went through that phase.

Is there a class for this stuff or do you just have to watch and learn?

Also Bakugan vs car (when Bakugan is dropped unknowingly in the driveway): CAR FOR THE WIN! WOO!

Anonymous said...

Do your kids a favor and walk down the sporting goods aisle every now and then. Buy them a football for heavens sake and send them out back.

eclectic said...

Bakugan? It's all-Ben-Ten, all-the-time around here. Between Swamp-Fire, Heat-Blast, Humungousaur and Diamond-Head... Ben-Ten is like the Sibyl of super-characters.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how The Nanny would have handled that!? You must buy MORE for them! Your generation is crazy! It isn't even Christmas yet! Let them make creatures and "guys" with empty toilet paper rolls. Get Lauren to show them creativity. Why spend the money? for fights? Wait till Christmas. Then it will be Santa's fault.

JP said...

And you were playing the American version. Try playing the Japanese version and you would be in HUGE trouble!

Melinda said...

Well, that sounds like a lot of fun.
I wish I owned some children.

(You forgot the first rule in buying toys for brothers. Buy exactly the same thing.)

VHMPrincess said...

We actually LOVE to play the game w/our 7 year old, it is actually fun, unlike the annoying mystery that is the money-suck of Pokemon.

Each pack comes w/a rule book and it's infinitely MORE fun if you get the game board (I know, more $$). BUT - is fun! And his 3 year old brother can also play as long as someone helps him w/the math!

Carolyn said...

What Melinda said, buy the same thing...then you can play version 2 of the game, fighting over who the remaining Bakugan belongs to when they can't find the second one. :P

Anonymous said...

Ugh this is the reason I cringe when I realize that the Happy Meal toy is different for each boy.

James (SeattleDad) said...

Can't wait till Lukas is old enough to be interested in that. Yeah, that sounds fun...

Anonymous said...

Remember when you were little an LW got a B- ball and you got a comic book and there was no battle.

Anonymous said...

Remember that other time when your younger brother got a baseball glove and you got an action figure and the was no battle.

Anonymous said...

Remember that other time when your older brother got a hocjkey stick and you got an easy bake oven and there was no battle.

kalki said...

Too funny. I haven't had time to be around much the past week or so, and man have I missed you and your stories.

BKP said...

My son's friends are into this and THANK GOD he is not. Legos still rule at our house.

I think they are worse than Happy Meal toys.

I think...

@eclectic: yes, Ben10 is huge as well. The old stuff.

Melodie said...

Thank you for sharing this! My boys (age 5 and 6) are talking about Bakugan non-stop! This post confirms my continued desire to NEVER allow Bakugan or Pokemon in the house! Win-Win for me!

amelia said...

Are you sure you don't have cameras that video our house and then write the stories up? Sure sounds familiar to me!

I still don't get what the game is about.

Lowa said...

My boys do not have any of that stuff, but we DID buy some Bakugan thing for a little friend's birthday party today.

This was funny:)

doreen said...

Just wanted to say "hi" from Guam. Yup, you've officially been read in a US territory!

kimmyk said...

Times like these I am so glad my children are older and have outgrown all that.

I'm sure you can relate to this though after growing up in your household.

I don't remember fighting over toys though, but I do remember beating the shit out of my sister in the family room with a flyswatter one time cause she took my Barbie. LOL! That was a good time!

Maggie May said...

i am wrestling my kids outside

Anonymous said...

And don't forget the part when Kid 1 can't find his Bakugon and blames Kid 2 for stealing and hiding said Bakugon FOREVER, causing the end of world peace, destruction of all mankind and heavy drinking problem for remaining parent left Bakugon searching for all eternity.

Mel said...

For my 6 year old last year was Ben Ten; this year is Bakugon. He watches the episodes on Cartoon Network.com and searches the internet for toys. I always give the same answer, "Do you have the money for it?" So he uses Easter eggs and draws the characters on paper and places them in the eggs. He has taught his 3 year old sister to brawl. Imagination, I'll take it! Because next year he will be obsessed with something else.

Bogart said...

I was very worried at the begining of this post that you were raising "Comic Book Guy", but the end of the story took away all my fears. They are proper boys. You should be proud!

Unknown said...

Nathan got a set of three of these stupid little balls for a birthday present from a kid in his class. When he opened it, all the other kids went "oooooh!!" more than any of the other presents, although I had zero idea what they were and still don't GET the appeal. To me, they are just something tiny and round to be left on the floor and tripped over.

Jessie said...

I am still laughing. I have daughters-they fight over Polly Pockets. Ugh.