Reviews (17)

War, anyone?
The Advanced Mission takes this familiar game to a whole new level. Here is the list of the new weapons and tactics now at your disposal: 2 exocet missles fired from your aircraft carrier; 1 tomahawk missle with a massive footprint fired from your battleship; 2 apache missles fired from your destroyer; 2 torpedoes fired from your sub; two recon airplanes for surveillance; and sonar imaging from your sub! While the older version of this game had some strategy, it was still a mostly guessing game, but with the Advanced Mission you really have to plan your attack and keep track of your available assets. One hint: have your recon planes take off from the aircraft carrier ASAP to avoid them being destroyed if the ship gets sunk. If you play this game with some strategy in mind you will find yourself doing very little guessing, which makes this game much more interesting and NEVER boring!

Very cool...But mesy
I got this toy for Christmas from my grandmother. It is pretty complicated, so I do not really agree with the age ranges. My eight year old neighbor who lives across the street from me tried to play it, and in the process she got very confused after many times of explanation. It is extremely fun, but it is also extremely mesy. What can I say. I love this game and it is definalty worth all that money. Accualy, It is worth a lot more.

Could be fun if pegs fit better
I think this game could be lots of fun. I played with my 6 year-old boy, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PEGS USED TO RECORD HITS AND MISSES EITHER FELL OUT OR WERE SO HARD TO PUT IN, WE HAD TO USE PLIERS TO PULL THEM OUT.

This pretty much ruined the fun. Maybe I got a lemon (bad quality control?). If someone reads this, please tell me if their version did not have this problem. Otherwise I can't see putting my boy (and me) through the agony again.

Fun for the whole family
There is something about hearing the noise that tells you you've score a hit- call it a Pavlovian reponse, but it's lots of fun!! We're getting this for the second generation of recipients this Christmas.

Advanced Mission could be even better..........
I bought this game for my daughter. She has the old version but cheated too much. Of course I cheated too. Believe me, you would never find my patrol boat. I'd just keep moving it around.
Advance Mission puts an end to that. You have to program in your coordinates so it's impossible to cheat. This is a good thing.
Advanced Mission has four different games to be played:
The Classic Mission - each player gets one shot apiece regardless of hit or miss.
The Salvo Mission - each player gets one shot for every ship left unsunk. I really like this one.
The Bonus Mission - each player gets one shot unless they score a hit in which case they can continue on the same turn until they miss.
The Advanced Mission - each ship has special weapons and you have two recon planes, however if you use the recon planes I will defeat you. IMO the recon planes are a bit too much. Deploying them counts as a turn and you don't get to fire a weapon. I never deploy my recon planes. I have never lost, yet.

Another thing that sets this game apart is the ability to play the computer. You don't even need any friends to have a good old fashioned war at sea.
There are also 3 different skill levels to choose from. ...
Of course the game now has sound. You hear the weapons being fired and the explosions from hits.
All that being said I still see room for improvement. On the old battleship you could adjust the top grid for better visibility, much like you would a laptop. On Advanced Mission the top grid is fixed and depending on the lighting can be hard to see.
Unless you are sitting at eye level with direct lighting you will inevitably place a peg in the wrong grid resulting in frustration and possibly a failed mission.
The makers of Advanced Mission should have gone a step further by lighting the grids, at least the top grid. It wouldn't take much to accomplish. It would look really cool and certainly be easier on the eyeballs.
The other thing is the volume, which is relatively low...
Bottomline is it's a fine game but with a few improvements it would really be something. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Scattergories is a fast-paced word game that's a real crowd pleaser. Each player takes a categorylist with 12 categories--such as vegetable, state, president, things you throw away--and must write down thename of one item that fits into each category. Sounds easy enough, but each item has to begin with aspecific letter that is determined when the 20-sided die is rolled. For instance, you roll the letter "R." Youranswer list for the above categories might look something like this: rutabaga, Rhode Island, Roosevelt,rubbish, etc. You have to think fast, because a round lasts only 3 minutes! Players score points for eachunique answer. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Years of fun!
We have had this game for probably 10 years and we still love it. It is so much fun to play because the answers are unlimited and the game is different every time depending on what letters that you get. We have almost run out of the blank sheets in some of the little boards but a blank sheet of paper works fine too. We have played this with people of all ages and it is a blast. It is easy so almost everyone gets right into it! Definitely a must for your game closet!

Party Game!!
This is our game of choice when my family gets together with our best friends. This game is especially hillarious when you make up words and try to convince the other players to let you have the point for it. For instance, one time the letter was "W" and one of the subjects on the list was "something sticky", I wrote down "Wolf's Mouth". We all about died laughing. Now, even to this day, all I have to say is "Wolf's mouth", and we all crack up. You could play this game for hours and before you know it, it's the end of the night. There is no game that is more fun then this.

Great for many types of people.
I got this for Christmas and me and my sisters (cometimes our parents join in) always play this. It never gets old!! Even if we repeat a list, we come up with new answers. I disagree with the label "12 and up" because my sisters are 10 and 11 (9 and 10 when we started playing it) and they can do it with no problem. Granted I get more than them, since I'm 15, but they still do great.

Anyway, to play Scattegories, first you choose a letter and a list. Say the letter was "G" and the list included "boy names". Well, if I put Gregory, and so did one of my sisters, neither of us would get the point. If someone repeats your answer, you don't get any points. However, say I put "Gavin", Jordan put "Gregory" and Taryn put "Guy", then we'd all get the point. You have to make sure to think outside of the box (don't put the most popular band as an answer, or the city you live in!).

Good party game
This game is a fun game to play with family or friends. It combines strategy, vocabulary, and personality. There are lists of categories such as girl's name, sport, etc. You roll the unusually shaped letter die and the two minute timer ticks down. You and your opponents then scramble to come up with words that begin with the letter on the die and match the category. You have to work quickly but strategy comes into play. Each word gives you one point, but you don't want a common answer because if two or more players guess the same answer, neither gets a point(For a fruit starting with A apple may be too obvious, but apricot is more likely to win you a point). But if you reach too much on an answer, a slightly biased jury of your peers decides on the answer's acceptabilty. The revealing of the answers is often the best part as the hilarious and far fetched answers hurriedly sketched down are revealed to your opponents. The game can be played many times, and the only downside is the limited amount of category cards. After a few plays through the game you recognize familiar categories, so this game is better when played a few times a year, so the categories seem unfamiliar. It is a good game and even has some educational value in strenghthening vocabulary.

Fun with Family and Friends
I first played Scattergories with my boss and co-workers. My boss' family always liked to play games after a quick Saturday Night dinner and this game was the favorite by far. Not as difficult and drawn out as Trivial Pursuit or as quick as Balderdash, it is fun to come up with as many words or items based on the letters you have. One of my favorites for the letter "J" was always Juicy-Juice. Interestingly some will get upset at you if you are too good so be humble when you play with apparent novices to this game.

The best way to play is couples or teams of two if you have more than 6 people. It can be fun to play in a team environment because you will come up with more ideas.

This is a fun, fast paced and exciting game that will have you laugh and even say, "hmmmmm, I never thought of that.."

Get Scattergories for the whole family. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Battleship captains plot their strategies, send out torpedoes, and as the last ship (often the smallest, two-peg patrol boat) hides in an unsuspected corner, anticipation mounts. Like many classic games, Battleship walks a fine line between strategy and luck. The goal is to conceal the location of your ships while finding and destroying your enemies' fighters. The playing arena is a notebook-size plastic board updated for '90s sensibilities: the "floor" of the board is printed with waves and the exterior vaguely resembles a laptop. The design mimics the view a submarine captain would have, complete with a glimmer of radar waves. The game is perfect entertainment to share: simple enough for children, yet gratifying enough for adults to enjoy. One design decision keeps this edition from being truly stellar: the playing boards don't lock securely, allowing the small pegs to fall out and spill from the sides if jostled. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Battle Stations, Everyone!
This is another childhood favorite that has not diminished with age. This game is as fun now as it was in grade school.

"Battleship" has a lot to do with strategy and luck. You have to strategically place your pieces on the grid so they won't get "hit" and you have to use that and a little bit of luck to do your darndest to sink your opponent's ships. It can get pretty tense when both players only have one ship left, and one wrong move (or right move depending upon your situation) can end the game.

Fun: Like I said earlier, this is a childhood favorite of mine. When it was raining outside during recess, we would always play this in the classroom. "Connect Four" tournaments and "Battleship" tournaments were the norm when I was in grade school.

Educational: "Battleship" is essentially a thinking game, although a little bit of luck plays into it, too. Both players really have to use their smarts to come out the victor in this game. Seasoned veterans know all too well how strategy can cripple a rookie opponent.

Durability: Both game pieces are like a mini-laptop in a hard plastic casing. So it is indeed very durable. The only thing that could cause a problem are the little red and white pegs with which you mark the game board. These can be a hassle to pick up if a game board is dropped and it accidently opens up, sending zillions of little pegs rolling around on the floor. These can also be a choking hazard to young people, so that needs to be taken into account as well.

If you love games that will make you think, or you are just someone looking for a fun challenge, "Battleship" is a great game to pick up. The only prerequisite: swimming lessons in case the ship you're on goes down.

Great way to stay close and communicate with our teenagers
Battleship has revived my youthful spirit! We pull out the game and play for several hours - and since all 8 of us want to participate, we have learned to team-up. We have also began to learn new strategies of the game - like let one side go five times, then the other side 5 times. Or, allowing a second turn after a "hit." It is not really a violent game either, you are just sinking a ship that someone is trying to hide from you - no people are on board. It is all about thinking about what the other guy is up to, planning how to avoid his guesses ,pin-pointing his strategy, ship-size plotting/protection, grid-calculations, and FUN! I really believe my children spending time playing this game that teaches so much math, communication, and strategy has helped teach them to work together better (chores)- and built in little more self-esteem [by showing them how much smarter their generation is :)]. Most importantly for summer time, taking "Battleship" on our vacation will definitely keep the travel "tension" levels low.

Loses it's luster after about 12 or 13
I remember playing this as a kid and it was fun then, but I don't think all in all it's got the classic pure gaming kind of thing going for it.
Too much of it is blind luck, unless you consider the ability to outguess your opponents ability to place his ships in some confusing fashion a skill. Not at all like Risk or Stratego, this isn't really a battle game at all, it's just a random guessing game.
Still, it has some enjoyment factor with the younger set and it's a good child/adult game in that it doesn't take much skill to play and the luck factor can give a kid the victory.

There is some logic in how you place your ships and some logic in how to attack, so I do give the game an average rating, it can be fun to play.

Educational tool masquerading as a fun game--great!
My 6 year-old son picked up the rules for this game in less than 5 minutes, but continues to develop his strategy every time we play. It is simultaneously easy and complex, and a great way to get kids to employ reason and logic, while having fun. At the same time, there is a good deal of luck involved, too, making it unpredictable and fun. It is a great way to get kids away from the TV so you can spend some quality time together.

I only awarded 4 stars for durability because small pieces are easily lost, as with any similar game, and the plastic casing and hinges can be broken rather easily.

I don't think so
Battleship deserves 2 stars but only for the idea. It's so hard to learn how to even play the game. I don't own it but have tryed it and belive me it's not the ultimate classic. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Four hippos try to eat as many marbles as they can--as fast as they can. This game is fast-paced and riotous for kids who get to take turns popping a white marble into the ring, then furiously pressing on their hippo's levered tail to catch the prize. As if that's not enough, in the advanced game, all 20 marbles are released at the same time. Utter mayhem ensues, and whoever snares the most marbles wins. If only it would get kids to clean their plates as well as those pudgy hippos do! --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Gobble them up! Noisy and Fun!
There's something deeply satisfying about this game: Is it the allure of pounding a hippo's tail as fast as you can so that your hippo will eat more balls than its opposing hippos? I leave that to the psychologists...

This games provides a great release for toddlers and adults. Because of the intensity and noisy pounding, you may want to limit your own play to about ½ hour. Educational value? Well, the game helps with hand-eye coordination, learning how to be a good sport, and simple counting. But basically it's just a good way to get in touch with your inner hippo--let the pounding begin!

VERY DISAPPOINTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MOST DEFINATLY NOT THE GAME I GREW UP WITH!!!! THIS VERSION OF HUNGRY HIPPOS IS TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTING!!!! DON'T BUY IT!!! IT WILL NOT STAY TOGETHER FOR EVEN A FEW MINUTES OF PLAY!! THE "MARBLES" ARE CHEEP HOLLLOW PLASIC BALLS AND THE HIPPOS DISCONNECT FROM THE GAME WITH EVEN HIT. IF THEY AREN'T FALLING OFF THE GAME THEN THEY WILL STICK. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PLAY A COMPLETE GAME (NOT EVEN PART OF A GAME) WITHOUT GIVING UP IN FRUSTRATION. (...)

Very dissapointed
My son received this gift for Christmas two years ago. I was very excited as I remember playing this game as a child. I was soooo disappointed!! It is definitely NOT the sturdy game I remember from my childhood days. The hippos tend to get stuck w/the handles down. For the adults...not a problem...but very frustrating for little ones. And the "marbles" don't roll around very well. Overall...not a good buy in my opinion.

Piece of Junk
I bought this game for my 5 year old son, because I remebered how much fun I had playing it when I was 5. This is not the same game that I remebered, the marbles are cheap plastic things that aren't even completely round and the whole game would fall apart after just a few seconds of play. We tried 5 or 6 times to get it to stay together, we even tried taping it. Nothing worked, it was in the garbage after just 1 day of use. Do not buy this game!

great game
the object of this game is that there is 4 or 5 hippoes and a lot of little white balls your hippoe has to eat the most of the white balls (more than your opponent). when there are no more balls that your hippoe can eat you count how many balls you have and if you have more than eveyone else, you win. im a teenager and i still like to play this. it gets your anger out.so don't listen to the age limt. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's "the game that ties you up in knots"! Twister has beenaround forever, and it's still as much fun as you remember. The gamebox contains a spinner, a plastic mat marked with colored circles, andthe rules, which are brief. You don't need anything else except a groupof friends. A referee spins the spinner to come up with a color andwhether a hand or a foot is to be placed in a circle of that color.It's easy at first, but after four or five spins you'll be more tangledthan a plate of spaghetti. If you fall, or if any part of you except ahand or a foot touches the mat, you're out, and the last player left isthe winner. If you're looking for something to break the ice atparties, this game is it. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

How Fun Twister Is
This game is fun for the whole family. It can teach you to take turns spinning the wheel learning colors and your body parts and even HELP YOU TELL YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT! I loved this game it was especially fun when everyone gets all mixed up and when one person falls EVERYONE comes tumbling down.

Go Milton
This is a really fun game but I've hardley played it. I guess it's because we haven't had any kids come over(yet). 3 stars for education value because it teaches motor skills.

This game gets you twisted up!
This game is so much fun! You can hardly ever stay up when you get twisted. This game is also good to play before you work out because you can stretch with it.

Love Twister
This game is so much fun. It was around when I was a little girl and now my 6 year old has it. You can spend many hours playing this game and it is so much fun. It is so much fun for the whole family.

twister
Twister is really fun. It is also easy to learn . You need aabout five people to make it fun. Somebody spins the spinner and sees what it lands on. For example, if it lands on right hand blue everyone has to put their right hand on blue. If you fall down your out. The game goes on until every body except one person is out. They win.
Me and my friends play it often. We really like it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Even adults will be challenged by attempting to fit all 25 pieces into place before the 60-second alarm sounds. These complex geometric shapes need to be matched with the appropriate hole before the whole tray pops up and sends them flying in an explosion of yellow plastic. Any number of kids can take turns trying to beat the clock, and then to beat each other's best times. For younger children who are still learning to recognize shapes, the game can be played without the time pressure. Kids will soon develop speed and accuracy so much they'll want to take on Mom and Dad. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Popping Good Time!!!
A game that I grew up with, and love even still today! A fun game where you must race against the clock to fit all of the pieces into the appropriate shaped slots before the board pops up and spills all of your pieces everywhere. A great game for the school aged child, younger players should be supervised by an adult as the pieces are very small, easy to lose, and even easier to swallow; even so I see no reason why a preschooler age four or five would not enjoy this game with some help from an older sibling or a parent. The flaws in this game are few yet they are definately there...one is for the advanced player there is no way to customize the timer, and once you get the idea of the game it is not hard to master it and try to beat your own personal time. The timer ticks louder as the pop up approaches, and many kids will initially scream when it pops up, all part of the fun I say. The worst part about it however is that the pieces are so easy to lose because they are so small, with the know how however replacement pieces can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. With that in mind, you can be playing Perfection for years to come.

Idea for an under 5 perfection
It would be great if they designed a version of this game for children 2-5 years of age. They could use primary shapes, in larger sizes and put much more time on the timer. I tried to send Milton Bradley an email, but was unable.

Excitement and Laughter
I bought this toy for my daughter when she was about 6 years old. I did not warn her what would happen when the timer ran out. She sat there determined to get all the shapes in their places, taking her time as not to mess up and POP the shapes went everywhere and we both laughed so hard. This game is great fun and excellent for eye-hand coordination as well.

good learning toy
this is a great toy for a child with developmental delays...it is good for fine motor skills and cognitive exercise
plus it brings back good memories - nothing about it seems to have changed!

15 years later and still going strong!
Hi, We purchased this for our son more than 15 years ago. Miraculously, all pieces have survived despite the fact that this game has always been in our "active toy collection!" Trevor is now 20 years old and our perfection game is still perfect. Our two younger sons are now using it. The game is a staple in our home. Still in tact, still in great condition. Challenging for all ages.

A sure winner!

Rosemary ... Read more

Editorial Review

A wonderful blend of deduction with a form of 20 Questions. Two players try to deduce the identity of their opponent's "Mystery Person." Using game boards with 48 frames apiece and an equal number of cards displaying character faces, players ask one another yes or no questions that help narrow the pool of possibilities. Through process of elimination, the identity of the Mystery Person slowly becomes evident. As kids' skill levels grow, their questions become more strategic, allowing them to solve the mystery faster and faster. The faces on the cards are cheerful and clever and designed to give subgroups among the 48 characters just enough similarities to challenge players. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (56)

THIS IS FUN FOR GROWN-UPS, TOO!
There are two great things about this game: (1) it is enjoyable even for adults, because it involves a creative new approach to deductive reasoning (don't worry if that sounds complicated; it's not) each time you play; and (2) there are no small parts to get lost -- everything is attached to the game board except for a stack of cards and even if you lose a few cards the game works. I think that the age range is WAY overstated -- I have played with my son since he was four and recently gave it to a family with 3 year old twins, and they can all play with no problem; so this is good for families with different=aged kids. Generally, my son is done playing before I am and there are very few things I can say that about!

Great Game!!!!
My 5 yr old daughter loves to play this game! She has had it 4 months now and it is still one of her favorites, and the questions she comes up with I would have never thought of myself, it is so interesssting how little minds work! A round is fairly quick but we always end playing at east 3-4 times. It will hold pretty well if treated properly but the yellow squares will pop of if it is roughed around with. I am very pleased with this game.

Great game, Poor quality
This is a great game. We had an old version of the game and loved it until my 2 year old son demolished it. My 6 year old daughter and I loved playing it so much that I purchased a new one. The game came in a million pieces and was very hard to put together. It keeps falling apart, so we rarely play it any more. Great game, but what happened to the quality of the construction?

My 5 year old loves it!
I have played this game sooooo many times with my son. I really enjoy watching him use deductive logic to guess what character card I have. I've been trying to teach him to pick the best question so he can win in fewer turns. He's getting there, but this game is one of his favorites. The game doesn't necessarily feel educational--that may be why he likes it so much.

I gave the game 3 stars for durability because the cards can fall out of their holders, and it is cheap plastic. The price is right on though.

Wonderful Educational Game!
My second graders just love this educational game during "free choice" time. They learn how to pose questions and how to use describing words, while learning also how to logically eliminate characters so that they can guess the right "Mystery Person." This transfers over to their writing skills when they write descriptions of that character. They are mastering the spelling of names and colors and character attributes like mustache, beard, wrinkles, sweater, etc. It is especially a boon to my second language learners. There is also a Spanish version called Quien es Quien? ... Read more

Editorial Review

Connect Four is like vertical tic-tac-toe. Unlike tic-tac-toe, however (as the name suggests), youmust get four checkers in a row. One player has red checkers; the other has black checkers. To play,alternate turns at dropping one of checkers down a slot at the top of the upright grid. The first player to getfour checkers lined up in a row in any direction--horizontal, vertical, or diagonal--wins the game.--Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (39)

*The* Game for a Rained-out Recess
If it was raining outside when the recess bell rang, it was important to get to the Connect Four game as quickly as possible! A line would ensue, and, of course, the winner got to play the next person in line...

This game was most fun until age 10, just like its traditional cousin, tic-tac-toe, although because Connect Four requires 4-across, -up, or -diagonally, it held its challenge a few years longer than the old standby.

Of course, part of the fun of this game is the blue and yellow plastic frame into which you drop the red and black plastic tokens. A sliding bar at the bottom holds the pieces in while playing, and releasing the bar at the end of the game for the satisfying clatter of the tokens spilling back into the box (if you're planning ahead, and you should -- losing the pieces means raiding the old checkers game for new ones!) was always a vied-for task.

Strengths and weaknesses
I work in a mental health clinic foor children, and we've found that many children find it easier to discuss difficult topics if they can do something else at the same time. Hence, we have a collection of games, including "Connect Four".

Strengths:
1. the game goes quickly and several games can be played in a half-hour
2. some strategy and lanning are needed, which are valuable skills for children to practice
3. some children really enjoy this game, and it's not too boring for adults
4. as regular checkers are used, replacing lost pieces is not difficult

Weaknesses:
1. once a player becomes skilled, the determining factor in who wins often boils down to who goes first
2. the framework will seem durable at first but, with frequent usage, it falls apart within a year; however, i see the game get VERY frequent usage, and this weaknesses might be one families never see
3. other than some strategy and planning, there is minimal educational value

Connect Four
This is like tick tac toe.
Buy it for ages 6-12.
I got it when I was six.
But now i'm almost 9
that's in the age range.
Why do they have sides?
The sides go of when
you start playing.
Do not use the sides!

Overall i'm very happy.
Can't they stop making
sides? HAPPY KID!
O

Ten years later, and Ten times the fun!
Ten years ago, my sister and I would play this game ALL THE TIME, unless we were playing UNO of course. Well, she came into town a week or two ago (now 25, myself 20) and I pulled up this faithful favorite. What made it some much more fascinating was how one relives how MUCH strategy goes into playing this game, how within three moves, YOU HAVE LOST! We even found ourselves stating that, "I win in 5 moves." Sometimes we play it out for fun, other times we rush to the next game. Our patents saw us in our heated combat and actually called dibs on NEXT GAME! I digress though, my point is this game is great for developing logical and spatial thinking, and simply put...IS LAYERS OF FUN!

*REMEMBER, LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL, HAVE FUN!!*

Pure strategy
Taken to an extreme, this game would be the same as tic-tac-toe and wouldn't be fun at all. However, because most of us can't think like a super computer, this game is plenty of fun due to the fact that you're bound to screw up.

Because I got hooked on the hand held computer version once, I can consistantly kick the butts of my young nephews and my neice, so at some point the game loses it's flavor.

What is good about this game is that, like chess or checkers, it doesn't have anything to do with rolling dice or getting a lucky card or draw, it's pure strategy. That makes it a timeless and fun game and good for the mind.

The two drawbacks are that it's just a two player game and if the skill level is too skewed between players, then the fact that luck is not a factor makes it quickly boring.

Highly recommended game all around and fun to play. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

A Classic!
I had this game when I was little, I'm 30 now and still love this game. The object is to collect money for every successful operation you perform. The one with the most money wins. If you can't perform the operation, then the person with the specialist card appropriate for the operation gets a chance to get even more money. My five year old really loves this game because she wants to be a doctor, but the buzzer is a little too loud and scares her, so often she is too afraid to perform an operation when she really wants to so bad! So we have to leave the batteries out. When you are really concentrating, the loud buzz can give you quite a jolt! But that is half the fun, at least for me (not for my five year old) and is good for a laugh. The game is actually very good for my daughter for her dexirity as this game forces her to take her time retrieving very small objects with a pair of tweezers. Her teacher suggested similiar exercises to help her with her printing. The down side, it can be very easy to lose the pieces, so after you are done with the game, it is probably best to put all the pieces back into their little body parts. This makes a really fun game on a rainy day or for those would be doctors in the house!

a great game
this is the best game in the whole world. it's soooo much fun how it buzzes when you touch something. i love it!!!!

Operation & Cavity Sam - The Same Today As In Yesteryear...
When I read all of the bad reviews for this Gen X classic board game, I just laughed! Especially the review about the young child that played this game and got so nervous because of the buzzer that he/she threw up! Then... I wondered about the world we live in... Who would have thought that a simple game like Hasbro's Operation could make a person question the social decline of the next generation?

Firstly, Gen Y parents... This is a game for 6 to 12 year olds. it's called "reading the front of the box before you buy".

Secondly, the pieces and the cavities that the pieces fit in are the EXACT same size, made of the EXACT same plastic, and is an EXACT duplicate of the game board I owned in the 70's, so stop your GEN Y whining!

The object of the game is to practice, have a steady hand and beat your opponent. It ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE EASY! Just like the Gen Y's offspring is being taught today - if it's too difficult, too scary, too loud, too ANYTHING, then it's just OK to throw it down and give up. What a wimpy generation we soon will have running this country in 25 to 30 years.

I had three kids, ages 6 to 12 over to our house and got out this game for them to play with. I helped the 6 year old some but all three ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Obviously, they are the exception to the rule among the children being raised today...

Cavity Sam is the patient and you are pitted against your opponent with "doctor" cards that describe what part of the body to operate on and if successful, get paid. If your oppponent isn't successful, you get the next shot at the same body part but with a "specialist" card. Specialist, of course, get more money for operations than do doctors. If you touch the sides of the body cavity with the tweezers, Sam's nose lights up and a loud buzzer sounds. The person with the most money in completed operations wins!

This also teaches kids about body parts, reading, and to establish some great hand/eye coordination. Much more than, oh... let's say a Game Boy or an X Box would. Great family fun! Two "D" batteries not included...

Happy Playing!

Possibly the worst toy ever concieved
I bought this when my daughter was about four-and-a-half years old. And the couple of times I tried to play it with her, it made her throw up. It was impossible to get anything out without making it buzz. Somehow, Milton Bradley has found this magical resonant frequency at which the game buzzes and vibrates, to make my daughter throw up. I had to put it out of her sight, because it upset her so much. Every few months, I would point to it and ask her if she wanted to try it again, and she would get real scared and start crying hysterically, pleading with me not to get it out. Now my daughter is 6. We take the game out and make it buzz, and she doesn't throw up anymore, but she still hates it. We all hate it. It's so annoying. But it's an icon of American culture, so we keep it.

They Are Missing A Piece
I have to say, I was disapointed with this game.
With a name like "operation" and the goal to take out peoples organs, I thought this was a pretty safe Gore-fest.
Unfortunately, this is a very cleaned up and sanitized version of the real thing. For one thing, you don't get to perform on an actual person, a huge dispointment to me and my kids.
And rather than at least include something live (like maybe a rat with a bad liver or something) they instead give you a goofy looking picture of a person with a bunch of holes in it.
Also coming with this game is a buzzer capable of creating the most annoying noise known to mankind.
After the first use, it became painful obvious that clearly, the only thing you need to play this game is a sledgehammer, which is the only thing that gave us any satisfaction at all with this piece of garbage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Need an icebreaker? Want to work out some aggression without shin guards and helmets? Popomatic Trouble, Milton Bradley's classic race-and-chase game, is guaranteed to bring out your competitive side. Try to outstrip your opponents as you race your pawns around the colorful plastic board to safety. Should you have the good fortune to land on a space occupied by another player, you can send him reeling back to start, where he must wait for a six to pop up (literally) on the capricious dice bubble in the center of the board. Once liberated, your foe is free to reciprocate--now you're in Trouble.

The crystal ball on which the fates of all rest, a.k.a. the Popomatic Dice Bubble, is the genius behind this game, and is one reason it has become a classic. Encased in its bubble, the die never goes flying, rolls off the table, or gets lost. Simple to learn and exciting to play, Popomatic Trouble is a game that never loses its thrill. Popomatic Trouble is for two to four players. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Loved it as a kid, my kids love it now
This was a favorite game of mine when I was little, and now my kids love playing it. It is a great first game, since the kids love to pop the popper. It is great for learning how to count.

Cheap re-make of my favorite childhood classic
I loved this game when I was younger and ordered it for my children. But... this game is so cheaply made now! A thin cardboard bottom has the graphics (comes seperated not integrated) and rips VERY easily. The popper is of a thin bent metal tension design that doesn't pop reliably. Very frustrating! We ended up buying a vintage game on [auction site] and love it!

Blast from the past!
We got this game for our 5 year old daughter, partly for nostalgic reasons, since we remember playing this when we were kids. She LOVES Trouble, and it is one of the few games I actually don't mind playing either! Sometimes the game can go on for a long time, which can be good thing when you want to keep the kids occupied for a while. I highly recommend this game for wholesome family fun.

Fun game
I got this for my 5 year old this Christmas (2003). One problem we had was pushing the button and she got frustrated on first but I managed to get it working. We had a blast playing it.

Great Fun for the family
THis game is gret for the whole fun. YOu don't really get to role the dice like in this game. i relly enjoy this game. WHen I just want to play a game with my brother I pick trouble. ... Read more

Editorial Review

After all these years, it's still hard to get a triple word score, the tiles are still made of wood, and there's only one "X" in the whole box. The game of Scrabble has sparked feuds and a near-cult following. All the fuss is over a spelling game that hasn't had an upgrade in 50 years. It takes a little luck and a lot of skill to make high-scoring words out of seven little letters, sometimes with an overabundance of vowels and letters that don't go together--sometimes there's Q without U. Two to four players battle it out on the board, and while some players might be proud of impressive words ("I spelled gestalt!"), skilled players know how to use the premium letter and word squares on the 225-square board to their best advantage. This crossword game has strict rules (no names, no slang) and comes with a warning label: "Choose a dictionary first to avoid any ugly word disputes." --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Scrabble is the board game that help the entire family
As a child, we played Scrabble at least 2 to 3 times a week. My parents had an added bonus for us... any time we could place one of our school vocabulary words on the board, the score for that word was automatically doubled. This had phenomenal value for each of us. Since my parents never dummied down their own words or scores, it gave us a chance to stay competetive with adults, without being condescending. It also gave my parents a way of staying in touch with our school work (and we all know how important parental involvement is!) As a parent myself, I still believe in the value of games such as Scrabble. Try this method with your own children!

great game!!!!
I love this game. I play this game often. It taeches you how to sspell and is very educational.

Great game!
This game is a lot of fun and is very educational. It increases your word power and vocabulary and is very versatile.

A Classic
This is a classic game, what else can be said about it?

Well how about "speed Scrabble" a new way to play without using the board. Each player takes five tiles and makes a scrabble matrix. As soon as one player uses all five tiles, he say's "take two" and everyone has to grap two more. You can change your matrix at any time and you build it using standard Scrabble rules. When the tiles are finished, score like normal and subtract unused tiles. Can be played with any number of people, just open up another game and mix the tiles together.

As for the normal way to play, my only objection is the time spent waiting for other players to move and the fact that through bad luck you can get six vowels and the "Q", but other than those minor objections, this is one great game.

A classic. Highly recommended.

good, but not as good
This is one of the best games of all time in my opinion; however, despite the advertising, the current product is of lesser quality than it has traditionally been. Specifically, the tiles are different now. The corners are no longer rounded, the wood seems to have less finish, and the tiles are not all exacly the same size. This does not change the entertainment value, the educational value, nor the durability of the game, but it does diminish the overall quality. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Now everyone can enjoy the classic game of Yahtzee in a nifty electronic version. Small enough to fit in your hand, this addictive game lets you "roll" the dice with the click of a button. Press "hold" to keep the ones you want, and then roll again. Get 5 of a kind, and you've got "Yahtzee." A row of options at the top ("3 of a kind," "small straight," etc.) is available to select preferred scoring for each round. like the original, this fun game can be a bit noisy with its sound effects and victory song, but it does include a silence feature. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (68)

So much fun!!!
The display graphics for this game are top notch. Very easy to read and to play. It is EXACTLY like real Yahtzee but without worrying about keeping score. The unit also tells you how much your score would be for each requirement. It's so much fun, even my airline pilot husband couldn't put it down! I would like it to have a case of some kind. I have a feeling it may not take the bumps and bruises of travel very well. I'll find out soon. Worth the price!

Great Travel Buddy
This game is great. It is all the fun of Yahtzee, in your hand. All of the same rules apply and all of the objectives are the same. The objective of the game is to save the dice to get a full house or a 4 of a kind to name a few. The set up and buttons are very clear. You could learn without the instructions. There is a handy dandy point sheet on the back of the game that tells you all of the objectives and how many points they are worth. This game is small so it is perfect for a long car ride, gym or can fit in your pocket for when ever you have some free time. It is worth it.

What A Game!!
What a great game for a great price. I found myself playing this for hours when I first got it and continue to play it all the time. It is a terrific little game and will keep you occupied on those long trips and periods of boredom (LOL.) It is easy to use and has a silent mode on it. My only minor complaint is that the sound is too loud and therefore I usually play the game muted. I wish there was more than one level of sound. But I guess if that is my only complaint (...) I really shouldn't be complaining at all. Get this game, you won't be sorry! : )

Ever yell Yahtzee on a crowded plane?
My grandmother gave this to me for a Christmas gift, and it's quite addictive. The game plays just like Yahtzee and is very easy to learn. It's very durable, and turns itself off after a short time of inactivity, to conserve the battery. I did manage to rack a score of 526, to which my grandmother claimed she got over six hundred, to which I said she was a lying sack. (I was just teasing her, as I know she is a very honest woman and I am sure she got me the game after she got over 600 points on her game just to watch me try and beat her score, knowing I probably wouldn't.)

Anyway, a couple of nice features is the game displays the score, if any, of the current dice configuration as you move across the screen to decide where to best put your roll total. The game also allows you to turn the sound off as the noise of the electronic dice 'rolling' does become annoying after awhile. And the game will save the highest score in memory for as long as the single AAA battery lasts.

Favorite airplane entertainment
I've had my handheld Yahtzee game for years and it still works great. I've never had to replace the batteries. You can play this game like a zombie for hours and before you know it you're at your destination! ... Read more

Amazon.com

To arms! A harsh and lonely battlefield is the setting for Milton Bradley's newly redesigned Stratego board game. A removable fortress barrier sequesters your army from prying eyes whilst ye prepare yourselves for a most lengthy and glorious conflict. Utmost care must be taken as you place your men.From the lowliest scout to the highest-ranking marshal, all must make ready to encounter enemy bombs, defend the flag, and steel themselves to triumph over the foe. Skillful planning, a keen memory, and sleight of hand will be your allies. Onward, for King and for Country! Spanish and English instructions are included. Stratego is for two players. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Arguably one of the best board games of all time...
Over the years, my love for games has changed considerably. As a young child, I loved to play Uncle Wiggely or Candyland. As I got older I began to play such classics as Monopoly, Risk, and Stratego. Of all three, I'd have to say that Stratego is my favorite. Of the three, Stratego really has no major, underlying theme, such as the Capitalism and Greed of Monopoly, or the Imperialism and Domination of Risk. However, Stratego is definitely the most fun of the three. Stratego brings in that element of strategy that Monoply doesn't have, and that Risk uses to too many extremes. Stratego isn't a game that's going to bring up verbal threats between friends like the other two games will. Rather, Stratego is more like Chess. You have to be calculating and calm never taking off your "poker face" for more then a minute. Stratego is also a game that requires a very quick mind. You have to make sure you're moving the right piece, and you have to make sure that you've set up your pieces well enough so that your opponent cannot capture your flag.

You may have noticed that I only gave this version of Stratego 4 stars in the durability category. The reason for that is the fact that this new version has stickers that you must put on the pieces in order to identify them. This is fine, and it looks alot nicer then the original; however, over time these stickers begin to peel off, and it becomes much harder to mark the new ones without making them look stupid by using a Sharpie pen to mark on it with a number. A quick word to any players used to playing the original version. The new version uses the number system backwards; that is, while the highest number used to be the weakest piece (the scout), now the highest number represents the strongest piece (the Field Marshall.) Rating: 5 Stars

phenominal
Stratego is an awesome game it's a lot of fun and very intense i normally lose but i still have a lot of fun

Like chess but in secret
What I like about this game is that it's got the same kind of strategy and logical thinking that chess takes, but adds an unpredictable dimension by allowing the players to set up their pieces differently at the start of each game with the rank of pieces hidden from the opponent.

Like chess or other two player games based upon moves only, this one isn't as fun when the skill level difference is too great as there is no getting lucky with dice or other random events. However, it can still be a fun adult/child game and helps build memorization skills.

This is a fun game and I recommend it.

AWESOME!!!!!
I've loved Stratego since I was a kid....just got the classic Nostalgia version for my kids - they picked it up in a matter of minutes....if you enjoy playing strategy as opposed to luck games - this is the game for you - without a lot of complicated rules....

The greatest game ever !!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is a must have in every household! It not only alot of fun it is also very strategic and makes your brain move. This game is easy to carry around. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Practice makes perfect in the game of Life. Try marriage, kids, and more. Will you go to college and take out student loans? Or join the working force and collect on payday? Will you go bankrupt, or earn millions in stock and real estate? Anything's possible with a spin of the Life wheel! A classic family game that can be a reality check--or just a fun time. --Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (102)

Read the Reviews Before You Buy!
I wish that I had read some of the reviews before I purchased this one. We had this game when I was a kid and it was one of my favorites. However, I didn't realize that they had revised the game.

I find the new format frustrating and empty. There isn't as much interaction between players in this one (others don't have to give you money when you get married, have children, etc.), except for the career spots and those detract from the game - they're pretty pointless and not true to the real world as we know it.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer who found the LIFE cards very annoying. There doesn't seem to be any hope for the underdog in this version; if you don't happen to pick a good salary, you won't win, no matter how many LIFE cards you pick up along the way.

I really wish that they had left the game the way it was! I think we'll go dig up the old one that my husband's parents have somewhere. That will be more fun!

Bottom Line: After wanting to own this game for a while, I wish I hadn't wasted my money. I'll just find an older used one. One word - disappointing.

a fantastic game
the first time i played "the game of life" i was 10.
now i'm 16 and i still enjoy playing!
i recomend it to all my friends and family because it is such a fun game.

Not as good as the original
I'm sorry, but the original version was MUCH more fun. This version has become too childish. Can kids not think any more or what?? Why are all the games being dumbed down in the new versions????

Dumb
I never cared for this game, I always thought it was silly and really didn't offer much in the way of strategy or skill.

I can't think of anything really good to say about it, but I know it's been around for some time, so some people must get into it. If you like strategy and logic or word games like I do, you'll probably want to pass on this one.

My ratings are for the Pre-1991 version. Buyer Beware !!
First off, my review is on the "old" Game of Life (pre 1991).
The new one is horrible, they did away with things like the "Poor Farm" and "Gambling" or playing the "Stock Market".
Also, it is missing the "Share The Wealth" cards. I love popping those on someone and forcing them to give me half of what they just collected or making them pay half of a space I land on.
As for durability, mine is an original 1960 version and the wheel spins just as smoothly as the day my parents bought it and the board still looks perfect.
I made a mistake and bought a new one for my nephew and his family. We opened the box and set it up (which was pain as apparently this must be done each time) then I saw how much it had changed. The game has been severely "polictally corrected" and doesn't teach kids a darned thing. Example: The "Superstar" could have a $100,000 salary while the "Doctor" who went to college and in debt to do it may have only a $10,000 salary. Also, you don't collect anything for having kids at the end of the game. Just LIFE tiles. Like, you get $50,000 for planting a tree. What the heck does that have to do with having kids?? ... Read more

Editorial Review

Guesstures turns up the heat on the tired game of charades with a few modernizations. Good, quick pantomiming is still the thing, but now teams need to act out and guess four words in a matter of seconds. The "mimer-timer," designed like a movie scene board, controls everything. The actor draws four word cards and places them from easiest to hardest in the timer unit for each scene. After the arm swings down for "Action," time is rapidly eaten away and so are cards as the performer gestures wildly like a silent movie actor. When the cast guesses the word, the actor grabs the card before the "mimer-timer" does. Whew! It's a lot to think about. Each word is rated based on difficulty, so whatever cards the team correctly guesses and the actor manages to seize are tallied up and recorded. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Easy, Fun, and Duplicate
This is simply charades with rules, which is both good and bad. There are two sets of word / phrase cards, one with more difficult words / phrases that are worth more. Every card has two words / phrases, one more difficult and rewarding. They're placed in a thing that makes the cards fall one by one. You have to get your team to guess what you're acting and quickly grab the card. I think it's better without keeping score. This is a pretty good party game. I recommend it for any group of 3 or more friends or family members, especially one that can't come up with any charades things to act.

I love this game !!
I just played this game yesterday at my Thanksgiving dinner,and everyone was kind of off in different groups until we started playing the game and we had so much fun !

Fun in a large group
This is one of those games that's great in a large group and only fun the first few times you play.
I give it a recommendation, because at the right time and place it's a perfect game, but do point out that it's not a classic any time any place game, and it's definately not one that two or three can play by themselves.

Good Game
This is a great game if you like charades. There are simple words that you have to act out before the timer runs out. The game is excting, very fast paced and keeps you attentive. Very nice additon to a game night.

kind of....
this games was really bad, my guest did not like it and you need 18 people for it to be fun.... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Build a better mousetrap? We dare you. Naturally, the object is to trap mice in the mousetrap, while avoiding getting trapped. By rolling the die, you proceed around the game board, collecting cheese pieces and building a mousetrap bit by bit. Once complete, you set the wheels in motion, as it were, to try to capture the opposition's mice. But this is no ordinary trap. With this contraption you start by turning the crank, that rotates the gears, that push the lever, that moves the shoe, that kicks the bucket, that sends the ball down the stairs and into the gutter, that leads to the rod that releases a second ball, that falls through the bathtub and onto the springboard, that catapults the diver into the washtub, that causes the cage to fall and--whew!--hopefully, capture a mouse. The last "mouse" left uncaptured wins --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (61)

mouse trap
mouse trap is a durable, fun, and the ratings are always high for our mouse trap.

this fun colorful bord game is fun for all ages. personally i think that the rating should go up to 1000 stars.......... litterally!!!!!!!!

love from :)
becky a mouse trap fan

Fun for little ones, a pain for parents.
My daughter received this game as a gift this year. She was so excited and wanted to play right away. I found the directions confusing and difficult to follow at times. Once we started putting the trap together, it all came together nicely, until we began playing. We are still having difficulty getting the trap to run smoothly. Either the boot won't reach the bucket or the marble won't set off the helping hands part of the trap. I recommend saving your money on this game.

What has happened to patience these days?
It's amazing how many reviewers of this game are complaining about this game requiring too much patience, or about the trap not working properly. Since when is it a bad thing to need patience for something? Are we so bent on instant gratification that we can't take some time to play a game with our kids that may require a little effort? As far as the trap not working, that's part of the game. Even the instructions mention that every time you turn the crank there is a chance you won't capture an opponent, and the trap will need to be reset before continuing play. This is a great game, and most kids love it. If you want to play a good constructive game with your kids, this is a great one.

OK Game....
The game is OK...The object of game is to trap the opponents mouse. But here is the catch...you have to go around the board and bulid the trap first. The pieces, although very colorful..are not color coded...so this can be a bit confusing. For each piece of the trap that you build...you get a piece of cheese...throughout play you can steal cheese from your opponent, or pay pieces of cheese to set your opponent up to get trapped! Cute game...they say to get rid of all bags that the game pieces come in...there are a lot...but my advice is to replace those bags with Ziplocks and do it quickly!! Must have patience when playing this game...especially when putting it together!!!!

It's All Relative!
This was a favorite 'family' game my siblings remember playing with our parents. It always did and still does take a while to get the hang of building it and keeping it together during play. This is not a bad thing; my siblings and I learned a lot about 'patience', and remember all the parts and pieces to the game quite foundly -- Although none of us remember the objective of or rules to the game. Adults who don't have time won't like this, but remember it's all relative -- think like a kid. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this electronic adaptation, the hangman is a cowboy in a Western town. There are 11 chances to correctly guess the word from a memory bank of 8,000 words arranged in 10 categories. The game fits in the palm of a hand, and there's much to control. Select the skill level and word length (even whether or not to have sound effects play a victory tune when the cowboy is saved from the rope). Only Level 1 allows the player to pick from categories like Animals, City, Music, and Wild West. Otherwise, it's as random as traditional Hangman. Game 2 scrambles the letters, so it's even harder to guess which letter to pick from the lot and to guess the word. It comes ready to play, keeps score, and has an automatic shutoff. Great for long road trips. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

It's Ok!
This Electronic Hangman Game is fun. I'm not sure how educational it is but it's a great for kids to play with in the car on what they would call long boring road trips and the size is small and can fit in pockets and even a handbag.

Best Ever = um... BUY!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE BEST GAME EVER, HAS OVER 100,000 WORDS. YOU CAN SELECT YOUR CATIGORY AND HOW MANY LETTERS. EACH TIME YOU GET THE WORD RIGHT YOU GET POINTS, AND THEY GET HIGHER AND HIGHER, AND IF U GET IT WRONG IT GETS LOWER. ...

It's Fine????
This is an okay game, though it sometimes gets a little boring. This game can teach kids different words. There are 8 categories to choose from, plus you can choose how many letters you want in the game. You get 11 guesses to guess what word they are giving you.

This One's A Winner!
I gave this hangman game last Christmas to my fifth grade daughter (a great stocking gift) and nearly a year later she's still playing with it and enjoying it. A terrific function of the game for me is that the user can *mute* the sound while playing it.

GETTING THE HANG OF IT
THIS IS A FUN TOY. HANGMAN IS A GREAT GAME ANYWAY AND THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION, COMPLETE WITH VISUALS OF THE HANGMAN AND THE EXTRACTION OF HIS VARIOUS LIMBS, IS FUNNY AND ENJOYABLE. A VERY ENTERTAINING TOY. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

My new favorite word game!
Having grown up on Scrabble, I was a little wary of the game at first. But I soon found that the strategies I loved to use in Scrabble (adding endings, squeezing a word in between two others, etc.) were just what was emphasized in Upwords. Although the scoring seems low after playing Scrabble, there is a terrific sense of satisfaction gained when changing words. I encourage my children to play, since the word play is fabulous for their development as readers. (word families can play a big part for those just starting out.) I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Scrabble leaves big shoes to fill.
Loving Scrabble, I thought I would try Upwords for some variety. It was challenging, but not in the same way as Scrabble. It is like playing Scrabble toward the end of the game when it's tough to make small words in the few spaces left...not testing your brain to come up with unique, long, high-point words. I felt it became more a game of chance (based on what letters you got) than of skill. Upwords was fun, but it doesn't have the longevity or variety of Scrabble. We played a few rounds and then went back to our old favorite.

Not what I hoped for
I'm an avid Scrabble player, and Upwords was billed as, and appeared to be, a more complex version of Scrabble. I should've known better; you don't try to remake a classic. Because the board is smaller, players are more limited. Because new words are just variations (of spelling) on early-placed words, the players are limited. The addition of the third dimension to the board has appeal -- from a distance. The end result is a smaller, limited version of Sxcrabble, that gets old fast.

Disappointing!
I had expected a game even better than Scrabble, but Upwords is not! Games fizzle out in no time due to the small board and dullness of having to change words instead of create new ones. Unlike Scrabble, there is no real vocabulary challenge. I don't recommend this one at all.

Interesting variation of the classic word game
As with so many closely related products, it is unfair to compare Upwords with the its classic predecessor, Scrabble. Both games are based on letter tiles and crossword puzzles, but the similarity ends right there.

In most respects, Upwords is a simpler game. Scoring is much easier, as each letter tile only counts for either one or two points, depending on how it is used. (There is, of course, one exception.) The game board itself is more restrictive, with the 10 by 10 square size forcing players to build vertically, whether they wish to or not. However, among two or more evenly matched players, the strategy can be just as demanding and the competition just as fierce as in Scrabble.

The downside to Upwords is in the physical quality of the product. The game board is of rather light construction, as are the letter tiles. The letter trays are a bit too small to properly hold the tiles. In fact, most of the little quality touches that one generally expects from Parker Brothers products are conspicuously lacking in Upwords, to the point of the game not even having a storage bag for the letter tiles. It seems that, in the effort to hold down costs, Parker Brothers unfortunately crossed that fine line from inexpensive to cheap.

That said, Upwords is a lot of fun. It teaches three dimensional thinking and forces players to plan well ahead of their next move. The game is an excellent way to turn a fun family evening into a vocabulary and spelling lesson, without the students even realizing it.

Considering that Parker Brothers did manage to keep the price very reasonable, Upwords is a true bargain in the world of family and table games. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ready ... aim ... Crossfire! This shootout game gets the adrenaline pumping as two players fire small metal pellets across the board, blasting their opponents' pucks ever closer to their goal. Plastic shooters attach to each end of the Crossfire board. Players load 'em up with pellets from a tray. The pucks spin and move easily on bearings as pellets hit them from each player. The trick is to load quickly and shoot accurately to hit and push your puck into your opponent's goal as often as you can. With a setup time of only minutes, Crossfire is instant fun and there's no need for batteries or electricity, so it can travel and be played anywhere. Game level can be adjusted quickly by changing goal guards. The playing surface is less than 2 feet long, making it a great tabletop game. --Lee Strucker ... Read more

Reviews (23)

awesome
I used to have this back when I was within the boundaries of the recommended age. I think I'm going to go get a new one, even though I might be too old.

AWESOME
This game is the best I stayed up for hours until the blisters on my hands could not take it any more! Its a number one game in the world!!!!!!

The best
This game is the best game ever. My all time favorite, it gets your adrenalin running through your veins and puts the white on your knuckles. Its fun for all ages and it works great if one person loads the marbles for you while you fire and try to get the star and triangle to the other persons side.

Simply Delightful!!
Where do I begin with this most exquisite game; ahh yes the commercial. The ripe young men gathered around a table, engaged in an enthralling match of crossfire in which one of the youngsters is vanquished by his formidable adversary. The ensuing five seconds are utterly tantalizing when the victorious player rises out of his chair and celebrates his impressive victory while the now famous theme song climaxes in the background. "Crossfire, you'll get caught up in the... CROSSFIRE!!) Now, on to the game itself, there are many stimulating moments to be had with it. The first time I played I was playing with me neighbors son. We were totally engrossed by crossfire's addictive gameplay that he spent the whole night at my house playing with me. In the morning, when it was time for little Timmy to go home, I continued playing the fantastic game well into the afternoon hours. When sleep finally overcame me, I dreamt about the aforementioned session of crossfire. I re-lived my whole first experience with the game and Timmy. Now, I am in an absolute love affair with this game and my romance life suffers because of it. Crossfire is a definite must buy!

Evan Smith: BEST GAME EVER IN THE WHOLE GALAXY... EVER!
Who are the freakin' morons who said that this game isn't educational? Milton Bradley is a genius if I ever knew one. And as far as the commercial song goes, it is clearly, "You've been caught on the run: Crossfire, Crossfire, (falsetto) CROSSFIRE!.... yeah, Yeah!" I didn't much approve of the fire of Hades in the Background an