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Game Info
Year
2024
Collection
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Description
It's cherry blossom season. As the beautiful sakura petals fall, a calm tranquility lingers in the air. It's the perfect calm before the storm: welcome to the Sakura Slam!
In this standalone sequel to Kabuto Sumo, players return as the wrestling Kabutomushi ("helmet bugs") and compete to knock off their opponents on an all-new square arena. The coin-pushing mechanic returns, but with a new platform, characters, pillars, and powers.
New Arena Features:
NOTCHED PUSHING PLATFORM
In Sakura Slam, you must push from the corners of the arena. That makes it harder to focus completely on defense, as you can’t always push your piece away from the edge—this means less stalemates and more body slams.
FIXED CORNERS
Four fixed corner posts loom over each match. Using these posts, can you better predict how an aggressive maneuver will play out? Alternatively, if you’re near the edge: can you “rope-a-dope” and use the post defensively?
TAGGING CORNERS
When you push from a corner you haven’t pushed from before, you place a marker, "tagging" that corner. Place one on each of the four posts to take a second push action immediately.
Will you try and activate this power every four turns? Or, will you save one corner un-tagged until you have the perfect, epic, game-winning setup created?
All but two characters are compatible with the original Kabuto Sumo.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 5 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video p3IwgN4DD-A
Tantrum House Discussion at 16:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85641 · mention_pk 220007
Click to watch at 16:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Polished and finessed mechanics
- New corner rules add depth
- Unique player powers are fun
- Excellent component quality (plushy, storage box)
- Mixes and matches with the original game
Cons
- Can be difficult to get the hang of the launching mechanic initially
- Limited player interaction in a 2-player game (better with more players)
Thematic elements
- Sumo wrestling with insect-like characters.
- Wrestling ring
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players gain control of corners on the board to earn bonus turns.
- dexterity — Players flick discs to knock other pieces off the board.
- player powers — Each player has unique abilities that alter their actions or provide advantages.
- Set Collection — Collecting certain pieces or achieving corner control can unlock bonus actions or points.
- Take That — Players can knock off opponents' pieces to win.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, in the game, uh, regardless of your player count, you're going to draw four cards off the deck each round.
- Basically, what's going to happen is if they kill if one army kills anybody from the other army, it makes our lives more difficult because we don't actually want these guys to die.
- The game features four different We've only got two of the heroes out on the board, but the game features additional he Let me just throw that on. Uh, additional heroes as well.
- On your turn you're going to be rolling dice to basically meet requirements on the planet to pass that planet and then you can continue on
- You can only have two crystals in your supply and you can spend them to do special powers.
- Basically, you just stay here. What's your What's your What's your gem do? Uh, my gem lets me keep a green and then if you fail, I can restart my turn.
- This is the Sakura Slam edition. It's uh basically everything from the original polished and finessed into this brand new crazy version.
- This game features corners this time. Don't That's not you. That's me. It's my superpower. Good. This is your superpower.
- Basically, each turn, you're going to take your launching platform and you're going to pick one of the corners of the board to come into.
- This is like a super small box game.
- Players can see the score that you're on zero. Sorry. Don't worry about it.
- If you get it correct, um, there's a certain number of points based on your goal. If you get it wrong, you lose a point.
- So, the way the game is going to work, super easy. We're each going to reveal one of our cards on the table.
- The idea is that you build a three-letter word. Can't be abbreviations. Can't be a name. Can't be a short version or or whatever.
- And all we're trying to do is find that word first? Okay? And then the player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
- This is a trick taking dice game.
- So, you have to guess how many tricks you're going to win based on the dice that you have, but you don't know what you've rolled yet because you rolled them each after each round.
- So, the scoring pad that tells you what happens with your bets. So, um, no one actually made their no one made their bet. So, no one's getting positive points.
- Basically, all the cards just stack into one deck. They fill up the whole thing.
- Whoever has the most will get four points. Whoever has the least will get negative two.
- All kinds of crazy stuff. So, it's definitely a like take that style, make connections, but there is some puzzle solving to try to be able to achieve these new ones as these come out throughout the course of the game.
- In this game, we will have some competitors and some modifiers, and we will secretly give one player the impostor card.
- It's more about the sales pitch afterwards than it is lying up front because now we're going to be like the reason I picked these two cards.
- This one you can claim. I mean, he literally should have been like, 'You guys won't believe my cards.'
- So, the other thing is we would play um eight rounds. Mhm. So, so the last round we would be rolling eight dice. If that zero bet is an 80 point, right?
- And so it's like, am I gonna spell, you know, I remember where the W is and the A and the R. Do I remember where that T is?
- I think I would be terrible at this because I don't have I don't see things in my mind.
- It's basically memory but spelling words.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _DnPgsPhAwk
Let's Table It Review at 0:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85576 · mention_pk 219602
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great combos and variability with different wrestlers
- Two expansion options (Sakura Slam and Swarm) add depth
- Accessible for 2-4 players with engaging physics
Cons
- Difficult to predict interactions between pieces and tokens
- Can become complex with expansions and new wrestlers
Thematic elements
- competition and physics-driven puzzle
- A square platform with pillars in a sumo-themed arena where players push discs to push pieces into a ring
- abstract/strategic with physical dexterity
Comparison games
- Kabuto Sumo base game
- Kabuto Sumo Beetle Brawl
- Kabuto Sumo Sakura Slam
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Corner posts and defensive positioning — Corners provide posts that can be used for defensive pushes and strategic control.
- Dexterity-based pushing — Players push discs from corners onto a central ring to knock pieces off.
- signature moves — Each wrestler has signature moves and pieces that modify standard rules; some moves have costs.
- Token management and bonuses — Tokens on posts grant bonus actions; dropping pieces onto the ring creates opportunities to gain bonuses.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sakura Slam is similar to the base game except different bugs, a square platform with pillars on it, and it really adds some additional wrinkles to the game and applies different physics for you to try to math out in your head to try to figure out how to win.
- The combos generated with what's included in one game or the other is great, but if you have all the wrestlers combined, you can have access to some of the more hidden combos that can be fun to discover on your own.
- it's a simple, fun, and surprisingly hard to calculate actually how those tokens are going to interact with each other when you are pushing one onto the ring.
- The fixed post I feel like is the win.
- If you are a fan of handson games, then you need to check out this Kabuto Sumo game. You need it in your life.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zIbIOzBkkuM
Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Review at 0:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85551 · mention_pk 219472
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- ridiculously fun
- great all ages game
- active, social, and interactive
- unique buggy characters with signature moves
- scales with original Kabuto Sumo and promos; swarm expansion adds depth
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Bug-themed wrestlers with humorous signature moves and puns.
- A two-to-four player tabletop ring with a modular platform and corner discs; stand-up, active play.
- light-hearted, pun-filled, arcade-inspired
Comparison games
- Kabuto Sumo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dexterity placement — On a turn, you place a piece onto a corner of the platform, balancing pieces and risking falls that replenish your supply.
- edge pushing — Players can push the platform to nudge opponents toward the edge of the ring.
- Resource Management — Pieces that fall off are added to your supply; running out ends your turn and you lose if you cannot move.
- ring & corner control — Careful placement of pieces on ring corners influences turn order and available moves.
- signature moves — Each wrestler has signature move cards/pieces that grant special effects, adding variability.
- Stacking and Balancing — On a turn, you place a piece onto a corner of the platform, balancing pieces and risking falls that replenish your supply.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ridiculously fun.
- This is a great all ages game.
- it's one of those games where you're standing up, you're moving around the table, you're positioning the platform, you're hoping stuff will fall on your turn, you're hoping it won't fall on your opponents.
- I would love to know if you have played it.
- It's full of puns.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video izUPupoD95E
Let's Table It Review at 0:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84609 · mention_pk 215156
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy to teach rules (about a minute)
- high production quality (aesthetics, discs, sturdy board)
- family-friendly appeal for kids and casual gamers
- improved flow and reduced stalemates compared to the original
- strong replayability when used alongside the original Kabuto Sumo
Cons
- not a deep or highly strategic experience
- can feel repetitive in long sessions
- luck/chaos can sway outcomes
Thematic elements
- beetle wrestling with pastel cherry blossom aesthetics and chaotic dexterity
- square battleground on a table, four-corner arena
- explanatory, enthusiastic discourse on rules and feel
Comparison games
- Kabuto Sumo (original)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- automatic elimination — a player is out of the game when they run out of discs
- Beetle disc pushing — players push discs into the arena to knock opponents' discs off the edge
- Component compatibility — the game is compatible with the original Kabuto Sumo, enabling mixed teams and components
- corner placement impact on defense — placing the platform at a corner affects beetle protection and reduces stalemate potential
- Player Elimination — a player is out of the game when they run out of discs
- slam move from corners — pushing from all four corners unlocks a powerful slam that can disrupt the opposing setup
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sakura Slam takes that same foundation, but introduces some new twists.
- This fixes one of the biggest complaints about the original Kabuto Sumo
- It's incredibly familyfriendly.
- The discs feel great. The board is sturdy, and when you set this game up on the table, people notice.
- This is a fantastic choice if you play with kids, casual gamers, or anyone who likes tactile toy-like experiences at the table.
- If you already own Kabuto Sumo, it doesn't necessarily replace it, but it does sit nicely alongside it.
- This is more about the laughs, chaos, and that satisfying clatter of discs falling off the edge.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SPiSgt96BW8
The Cardboard Herald Interview at 9:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4102 · mention_pk 93004
Click to watch at 9:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Adds a standalone Kabuto Sumo experience with new mechanics
- Builds on established IP with future-proofing for expansions
Cons
- Not explicitly discussed in interview
Thematic elements
- wrestling in a ring with post-based play
- Standalone Kabuto Sumo experience with new mechanics
- thematic expansion with fresh gameplay
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- standalone game mechanics — new mechanics designed for Sakura Slam while remaining compatible with Kabuto Sumo
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we are a company that believes in game night
- Kickstarter is the platform there is no pledge management service tied to it
- all play is just going to be a better fit for the company
- we are a small company
- River Valley Glassworks... this is going to be a big product Focus
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5