Editorial Review

This game is sort of like Twister meets Simon Says. Lay the Hullabaloo pads around on the floor about two 'kid's feet' away from each other. The pads are different shapes and colors and have pictures and words on them. Turn on the game console and the cheerful music begins, a happy voice welcomes you to the game and then gives the simple directions you'll need to play. "Jump on a square shape," "Slide over to a red shape," "Hop to a shape with an animal on it" and so on. Then it might tell you to freeze, or to put a body part on one pad, and then a different body part on another. Then, it'll tell you that if you are on a particular pad at the end of that round, you are the winner. We found it to be fun, and easy to understand--though we did wonder how long it might hold a child's interest. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Non-Stop Fun
I bought this for my two year old's birthday. We played it with her 5,6,11,12,& 13 year old Uncles and cousins. The older kids played it all that night and all day the next day. My two year old thought it was fun to run around on the pads, but she was able to point at her nose when they said "nose" and point at her knee when they said "knee". Even some of the adults got in on the fun. Very fun game for all ages.

IGNORE any bad review! This is AWESOME!
My 3 year old daughter got this game as a gift and she LOVES to play! My 7 year old also LOVES this game! It is really cute and anytime they play - someone is giggling. (...). It is a good oppotrunity to teach children about being a good winner/loser no matter who wins. That said- this game is just plain fun! I've even played this one with my kids and we all have a good time. You can't go wrong with this!

"Winners"also means there are "losers"!
I bought this for my two 4 1/2 year-old grandchildren. They really liked it at first until one child "won" several times in a row and the other hadn't "won" at all. The idea is basically very good, but I don't like the "winners-losers" aspect at all. It's totally inappropriate for this age, and even for older children, there is nothing they can do to "win"- it's all random. In addition, I would have liked it to be a little slower paced for pre-schoolers (more time to "skip to the square" or do a dance between games, etc.). I wouldn't buy another one or advise others to do so.

We love this game!
My children, ages 6 and 3, got this for Christmas and are still playing it regularly. As a mom, I really love it, too, because it's one of very few games they can set up, play and put away all by themselves (great for them, and even better if I need to get something done!).

The battery-operated box was very easy for them to learn, and they get a kick out of the silly things it instructs them to do. Many, many thumbs up from our family! :-)

Very Fun Toy
My kids loved this toy. Even my 2 year old could play. It is a really great family game and changes everytime you play. Lots of fun! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Cadoo is the funky fusion of tic-tac-toe, general knowledge, sculptingskill, and scavenger hunt designed for kids by the brainiacs who brought us theleft side/right side frenzy of Cranium. Operating solo or in combo with others,players attempt to line up four of their jack-like tokens on the groovilycolored grid board by fulfilling a myriad of tasks in an array of categoriesfamiliar to Craniacs. Whether attempting to sculpt a taco out of the includedclay or guessing which of Milky Way, Butterfinger, or Twix is longer, cadetsfind that correct answers and successful missions--can you bring back bothsomething smaller than your big toe, and something bigger than your foot, inless than a minute?--put them one-quarter of the way closer to their Cadoo. Withits elements of strategy, its elegantly funny graphics, and some downrightserious silliness, there isn't a lot of Cadon't in Cadoo. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (56)

the perfect gift for kids
After exploring a variety of educational and fun games for my 11 year old sister's birthday, my mother decided on Cranium Cadoo. Not only did both my sistr and I love it, but my parents did, too. We enjoyed running about the house in order to satisfy the requests of the card and sculpting objects from clay. The game combines traditional "Charades" and "Pictionary" like activities with clay and trivia. One question asked, "Who is the youngest: A)Brandy, B)Christina Aguilara, or C)Britney Spears" (Don't be discouraged by this question. Most are not about teenaged singers). Although Cadoo is wonderful for kids and great for the whole family, teenagers and adults find the questions a little too easy. Highly suggested, more fun than the typical boring board game.

preteens try Conga!
i am in 5th grade and i am 11.i can't use the clay because it is messy. The questions are easy for me and my parents but i have found a game for 10-12 year olds. It's called Conga. My friends and i love that game. i would say Conga is for pre-teens that can't realy play real cranium yet. i tried to play but the questions are too hard. I am an only child but my friend has a little brother that we play Cadoo with. He enjoys the game.<br />

Turn off the tube! Take 30 minutes with your kids....
CC is not the most clever game ever invented, nor is it highly challenging or mentally taxing. I believe my 7 year old son would prefer tackling his dad in chess, but for a quick before-bed family half-hour that followed dessert, this fit the bill. The Brandy-Christina-Brittney question did come up! And Mom and Dad failed miserably -- much to the amusement of the kids. So, we had some fun, a few laughs. Hard to put a price on that.

What DOES impress me is the box. Dad, who still hasn't mastered round pegs/square holes, was tasked with pickup. Everything packs neatly away! And best of all, a fold over flap magnetically seals the handled box. (OK, perhaps it doesn't take much to impress me.)

Bottom line: A good game for the 6-10 year old set when you only have half an hour.

Cadoo + Cranium = fun!
I love this game!! I am 7 years old and just got Cadoo for Christmas. One problem is that it is too easy for my parents. To make it more fair, my parents use the dice and cards from the Cranium game while I use the ones from the Cadoo game. My parents use everything else from the Cadoo game. We have tons of fun this way!

A great therapy tool
I am a Marriage Family Therapist and am always looking for a good came to use with my clients. I have used this game with the children individually and with their families. It is one of the games I am consistantly asked to play. After a year I had to purchase the booster pack the children had played the game so much. This year many of my parents asked where to purchase this game because they wanted to start a game night at home. This is a game that gets people to relax and have fun. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Step right up, boys and girls, for the greatest game in the living room! Balloon Lagoon, designed by the creators of Cranium, is possibly more fun than the carnival it emulates. After all, there's no sticky cotton candy mess, no nauseating rides…but plenty of entertaining activity for everyone. A noisy musical merry-go-round timer keeps the pressure on while players take turns fishing for letters to spell words, collecting matching snacks at the Snack Hut, pressing levers to spin wheels to unscramble pictures, or flipping frogs back into their pond. Players keep score by collecting little plastic balloons--the first person to fill a mover piece with 15 balloons wins. The game includes game board, timer, four carnival games, four player movers, 72 scoring balloons, and a balloon bag. Three AA batteries required (not included). You can pretty much assume that if it's Cranium, it's going to be a blast! --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Editorial Review

Taking a step away from trivia questions and clay sculpting, the makers of Cranium have instead created a game for teaching wee ones a few colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. (And, if you know 3- to 6-year-olds that won't lose all the included cards and balls, they may also learn sharing, cooperation, and imaginative play.) The bottom of the box houses the game itself, with three chutes along the top that the balls are dropped into and three rows of flip-up panels that are decorated with various colored objects. Players draw cards, match them to a panel, flip up the panel, and hope there is a ball underneath it. Once all six balls are recovered a treasure chest pops open and gameplay can begin anew. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Well-Loved by all my kids
We received Cariboo as a Christmas present about 2 years ago and it's been loved ever since. My son (5 at the time) played often with his little sisters, and when my youngest reached 18 months old, she would play along, too (with guidance). (The balls are choking hazards for really little ones.)

While the doors can come off, they are easy to put back on, and I recommend storing the balls inside the gameboard, ready for the next game, rather than in the little area provided, as the balls don't stay there very well, but I have to say this is one of my favorite games, especially as my son still enjoys playing it, and as it is more of a co-operation game rather than a competition game.

Also, we gave one to my son's kindergarden class that same year, and it quickly became the favorite game for all the students, so much so, that the teacher had to create a schedule for when each table could play it!

Cariboo is a fantastic game!

Great learning tool for young children
This game is a wonderful learning tool for young children learning their letters, numbers, and colors. I was extremely impressed by the game. My 2 1/2 year old absolutely loved playing this gamw!

Recommended, and adaptable!
I was unsure when I ordered this toy, due to the varying reviews. However, now that we have it in hand, I can say that I definately recommend it. Both my three y.o. boy and six y.o. girl love it. It's a good challenge for him, and way too easy for her, but the mechanism fascinates both equally. And, even though the previous reviewers were correct in saying that the "academic" content is quite limited (ABC, 123, red-green-yellow-blue), it will be a simple matter to make it more complex by creating my own cards and door covers and substituting them for the factory ones. Soon we can branch out to DEF, etc., and I can even see putting addition facts on the top of it for my daughter. I'm surprised Cranium doesn't provide supplemental card and door sets. In sum, the toy is somewhat limited in what it can teach, but with a little parental creativity this can be a great teaching/playing tool for a while to come.

My 3 year old loved it-- we added a fun ending of our own
I read reviews before I bought this game, and I took into consideration that my 3 year old might get bored since he already knows his colors, shapes, and numbers for well over a year. However, he had so much fun with this game! He played over and over. I also remember reading that reviewers felt their children weren't excited about the treasure chest opening after the first few times the game was played. Well, to keep the game going I wrote a message on a little piece of paper and put it in the treasure chest without my kids knowing, at first it was an easy note that said "look in your sock drawer for a surprise" and while they played I put a fruit roll up in their sock drawer. The next note said "Look in your toybox in the dump truck" and I put stickers. Then I would make it more of a treasure hunt (to go with the theme of the treasure) "look in your suess book" then the note in the suess book would say "look in your cereal bowl" etc. until they were searching around the house. It was fun!

Twins delight!
I bought this game for my twin three year old boys, and they love it. They want to play it over and over again -- every single day! Yes, it's not the most educational game, but being three is about more than learning all the time. It is more of a stealth learning game, and they do love it. The balls are of a size that are easily replaced if lost, you can substitute for the key, and new cards can be made. If my twins haven't broken it yet, that says alot. We have definitely gotten our money's worth. Not a game for kids to play alone. ... 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

Long before TV shows like Battlebots, there were these guys: twoplastic boxers battling it out in a ring, tirelessly jabbing at each other in an effort to knocktheir opponent's block off. Years go by and these fighters (creatively referred to in myhouse as "the blue one" and "the red one") are still at it, still operated by two playersworking simple controllers, and still madly punching in an effort to knock loose the otherfellow's spring-loaded head. As was traditionally the case, it takes a while to maneuverthe robots such that you can even land any punch, let alone a knockout blow. But forintense silly robot fighting, without the hassle of batteries, these guys are still champs.--John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (26)

BOOFER SOSSER MAN
Wow Rockem! Sockem! Robots! Too Cool I remember this from when I was a kid whatever next! Ultra Man? Giant Robot? Johnny Socko? Now I get to share this fun experience with my kids.

Just like the vintage one
This smaller version works just like the original larger one. it's easy to put together. For children under 5yrs who like to grab the robots in the ring,the robots can easily be removed and replaced without breaking.--Randy W

COMPLETELY FALLS APART
This toy completely broke from stem to stern within a month! After many repairs I finally threw it away. It just wasn't worth it. My children were even tired of it breaking! Mattel should consider making these with the quality they had during the 70's.

Not all bad
I recently ordered this toy for myself actually. I'm a 45 year old robot collector who never had this as a kid, but I do have a 14 year old daughter. I didn't notice the bad reviews until I already ordered it, and was worried, but when it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's smaller than the original. But as I said, I bought it because I am a robot collector, and they look as they did when they first came out. It wasn't that difficult to assemble, it went together quickly. When my daughter came home from school, we gave it a go, or two, or at least twenty. I am a big guy, and I put it through it's paces, and it held up with no parts coming off. And we both won, so both figures worked equally. So to conclude...yes, it's not your father's Rockem Sockem Robots, but fun can be had with this reasonably durable little toy...even for a 45 year old kid.

Don't waste your $!
My son has this toy and the robots constantly fall off and are very hard to get back on. The game usually only lasts about 30 seconds before it's over. Dont' waste your money. ... 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

Shhh! If you can sneak past sleeping Daddy without waking him, you can have that midnight snack you're craving. But it's going to be tough--there are roadblocks everywhere. Don't step on the cat's tail!And watch out for those roller blades that didn't get put away! The first person to slip around all these obstreperous obstacles to get to the fridge wins. Players spin a spinner to determine what color space they'll move to. If the player's card doesn't match the picture on the space, Daddy's alarm clock button must be pushed the number of times indicated. Just hope that Daddy will sleep through the alarm. If not, he'll pop up and make his nightcap fly off! The game includes "Daddy" in a 9-by-5-inch plastic bed, gameboard, mover bases, deck of cards, spinner, and instructions (English and Spanish). For two to four players. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Adults and kids see different objectives!
We bought this game for my 3 year old son. The object is to get from your bed to the refrigerator without waking up daddy. Daddy is awakened by a push of the alarm clock. Not every push will make the daddy figure sit up in bed with a loud click, but at some point it does. To add to the drama, daddy wears a little cap which often times comes flying off when he sits up. I have to say that my son loves this game. Although the objective is NOT to wake daddy, he gets really upset if his alarm pushes don't wake daddy. The educational aspects of the game are great. Kids are challenged to match colors as well as complex designs. Then counting comes into it when pushing daddy's alarm. Of course my son always tries to get a couple extra pushes in there. An improvement that could be made is improving the durability of the cards. The cards are used for both matching play as well as the character you move around the board. They are made of a heavy stock paper and very quickly become torn, ripped, and basically beaten up. If the company fixed this problem by making the cards out of say a hard compressed cardboard, I would give it 5 stars. As it is, the game is fun and very exciting for youngsters. I would recommend it. Just remember to keep the cards out of harm's way.

Easy to play, fast and fun!
Lots of fun! My four-year-old daughter has had great fun playing this game. The rules are simple enough even for a child of her age to easily understand. Also, it doesn't have a million small pieces to keep track of. The game goes fairly quickly -- with 2 or 3 players, you can complete the game in 10 to 15 minutes -- which I think is a definite plus. I don't think it has a lot of educational value, although players do have to match colors and count the number of times they must push the alarm clock button. But whatever it lacks in educational value, it makes up for with fun!

This is by far my son's favorite game, and he has many games
My son, who turned five years old, yesterday, received this game for Christmas almost a month ago. It is by far his favorite game, and I still have to play it with him at least once a day. He loves the suspense of not knowing when daddy is going to wake up, and still gets so excited when he finally does. The game is a bit educational because you have to know when to give up your card (after daddy wakes up), and you have to count the spaces when you move ahead. You also have to count the number of times to press the alarm clock. He loves playing this game with his friends too and his friends love the suspense of the game.

One word of caution
I thought this was the cutest game when my 6 year old son suggested we get it for my 3 year old daughter. The concept is really cute and it's easy to play. The problem we ran into was totally unexpected. My daughter was TERRIFIED of the game! She was so excited to play until the first time the dad popped out of bed. She got scared and started crying and didn't want to play anymore. We put it away for about 6 months thinking maybe she was still too young. When we pulled it out again, she wanted to play but she wouldn't let anyone push the button on Dad's bed until she was watching from out of the room. We ended up giving the game away. This is a really cute game as long as your child isn't easily startled.

Good game but can end up being a very, very long game!
This is a neat game and the concept is great however, it can end up being very, very, very long! Especially if you play with more than one other person because the cards get dealt so thinly, and you land on spaces and you have to push the alarm clock so often. I once played a game that lasted an hour and a half! Now I'm not complaining about that fun that I had with my family but, this is not the sort of game you can just sit down and play a quick round of. You have to be in it for the long haul! Still a great game that teaches numbers, counting, and ever a little bit of colors...if you have the patience. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

You either love it or hate it!
We play this game as a family, and either my husband or I set it up. The plastic rods are fine, but if my five year old got a hold of them they would be snapped in half almost instantly. IF you decide to buy this toy be prepared: an adult or older child will have to set it up. Putting in the rods takes time and patience. Also, be vigilant with the pieces-- they are not meant for younger children because of the choking hazzard (the marbles) and the frustration level of setting up the game. Great for family night fun, but not good if you're hoping the kids will play quietly for a while while you get something else done!

A Piece of Junk
This game has ended up in the trash bin--it's made of cheap plastic, falls apart easily, it's difficult to get all the sticks in, nobody wants to put the sticks back in because that's very boring. I think my memory has failed me--I thought this used to be a fun game when my kids were little--I sure don't remember all the hassles with it. But I've noticed the quality of games/toys nowadays can be very poor--so many cheezy, cheapo parts. Save your money and buy something else.

DON'T buy this!
I bought this toy for my five year-old because I saw it recommended in one of the parenting magazines. It is loud and obnoxious. Sometimes it just makes noise for no reason. It falls apart easily. Save your money for something else!

pass on the kerplunk
My children of 4 and 7 almost immediately got bored with this toy. The problem is in the set up. Neither of them wanted to stick all those sticks in the holes. It was a total bomb and waste of money. It takes 2 minutes to play it and 10 minutes to set it up.

Fun, quick game
We bought this game for our boys (6 and 3 1/2) and they love it. The only frustrating part is setting up the game (putting the sticks in), but after that, the game moves very quick and is fun to play. Durability is in question with the sticks, but when you have kids playing, that isn't too surprising. All in all, a great game. ... 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

Editorial Review

Lucky Ducks is a sound-and-motion version of the typical color-matching game. An adult will need about 15 minutes to prepare the game (installing batteries, labeling ducks, and punching out cardboard nests), and then it's time to start selecting lucky duckies. A quacking sound effect is heard as the motorized board moves the 12 ducks around the pond. The first player to pick three ducks with colored stickers, which match the color of their nest, is the winner. The game has a couple of drawbacks: there is no volume control, so kids must figure out where their ducks are by watching the previous player replace them on the pond, and there are no game variations. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Great for all ages!
I bought this toy 2 years ago for my son's 3rd Christmas, and we still play this game. My other son just turned 2 and now he can play also. Besides teaching colors, it also helps teach sharing as everyone has to wait his/her turn. My husband and I also enjoy playing with the boys, although after a few games the "quacking" may get annoying. But that's when the boys play by themselves, and learn cooperation. I think it's a great game for kids and adults. It's easy for kids to pick up the concept and as they get older they learn to watch who picks up their ducks and where they are on the pond. And it's a quick game, so it doesn't go on forever.

@#$% this game
(...). it is the worst game in the world. i bought this for my 3 year old son and he hates it!!!!!! (...). my 3 year old already knows algebra 1 and earth science. we paly many games like stratego and risk. now this game u collect ducks . the first person to get the matching color of 3 ducks wins!!? (...). if u want a good game for your 3 yearold get History of the world. me and my son play that all the time. it is the best!

Loudest, Most Annoying Toy I've Ever Heard
Don't let the cute duckies deceive you!!! Although this game is kind of fun, I highly recommend staying away from it until they come up with a volume control. It is the loudest toy I've ever heard, and believe me, I've heard a lot of them. You can clearly hear the game in our home if you are in the basement with the door closed and the game is on the second floor of our two-story home. Even with tape over the speakers on the bottom. And it plays the same "Quack Quack" sound over and over. There is no variation or music. It gives everyone a headache, including my 4 year old son, whom it was bought for. And if you take the batteries out to get rid of the sound, then the game doesn't work. If you are thinking of purchasing this product, run, don't walk, in the opposite direction!

If Hasbro fixed the quacking/volume problem, it would be a fun game.

great
i have 2 little sisters that are 4 there twins named abigal and nora my name is lily and i am 12 i hate two play with them but this is the best game i ever played with them ever. even when i babysit i bring it with me the kids love it and it teaches them colors in a way. i can waite till my little brother damyon gets older and i can play this came with him to he's only 3 mos old but i know it will last because some of the brats i baby sit for jump on it and it still dident even brake nock on wood

bottom line: best toy for tots ever

Loud, annoying, but my son still loves it
I agree with the other reviewers: the loud, constant quacking is extremely annoying and the slightest touch to the top of the box will set it off, BUT, my son absolutely loves the game. Still. Two years after he got it. The 3 star fun rating is an average between his enjoyment of the game and my limited tolerance for the sounds. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The aMAZEing Labyrinth uses a clever board design to create aseries of ever-changing mazes that one to four players must movethrough. The object of the game is for each player to collect asquickly as possible all seven treasures depicted on their individualtreasure cards. To add to the challenge, players know what the nexttreasure is only after they find the one before it. Before each turn, amaze card is pushed into the maze in a strategic place, helping theplayer make his or her way to the prize. This means that the entiremaze shifts and changes on each turn, confounding some and helpingothers. Players will need to think ahead to choose just the right spotto shift the maze in their favor. This is an excellent game to get lostin. A simpler version can be played by younger children. --LeeStrucker ... Read more

EDITORIAL REVIEW

To win Rigamarole, a charming party game in the Cranium tradition, players must answer questions in four categories: "word of mouth" (word games), "stage fright" (performing arts), "sensory perception" (relying on senses other than sight), and "uncommon knowledge" (trivia). The fun here, of course, is that while one or possibly two of these categories may match a player’s interests and abilities, everyone is sure to make a fool of themselves sooner or later. While tackling these tests, players win stones, which serve as a sort of currency. In a twist not often seen in trivia games, players who simply cannot pass a test can buy their passage using the stones they’ve acquired from previous victories. Rigamaroleis a nice blend of tough challenges, gentle embarrassment, and general playfulness. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (14)

QUirky and Out THere
You don't know what's coming next with this game. That might make some people uncomfortable but I thought it was great! Putting on the blindfold in front of your friends is hilarious, and so is trying to remember their eye color (I got my girlfriend's right). I really like the hidden talents cards at the end, especially sock wrestling.

Pick of the litter.
Everything about this game is a delightful surprise. Rigamarole is a smorgasbord of highly entertaining games that have gone over well no matter who we have had to dinner. We have played many, many games over the years and this is the pick of the litter.

Will make any group laugh
We just played Rigamarole with 9 people last week. It was a huge success even tho some players were new to the group. There was a ton of laughter, discussion and all around good bonding because the range of activities includes everyone. Whoever made this game has a terrific sense of humor and an eye for what a group enjoys. This is a must-buy.

Laughs that woke up the House
The first time we played the game it took a while to learn the rules. But the second time we were laughing so hard the entire house could here. The game encourages you to be creative, even if that means modifying the rules. A GREAT game.

the funnest game of all time
Rigamarole is one of the funnest games I've ever played. It is also like no other game I have ever played. Having such diverse categories makes it more fun for everyone no matter what kinds of games you like. Good job to the creators of this one! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In Hasbro's Fishin' Around, eight colorful fish swim up, down, and around a stream, wigglingfrom side to side and opening and closing their mouths. Kids take turns picking cards and using theirdifferent-colored fishing poles to hook and catch the fish pictured on the card that they've chosen. The firstplayer to catch three, wins. Two to four preschoolers through first graders can play this motorized musicalfish-catching game without knowing how to read. The game requires three C batteries, which aren'tincluded.--Rebecca Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Finny Fun
Far better than a cheap knock-off we had around the house, this is a game that kept the kids occupied for hours.

One part likes to fall off, but it does not matter to game play.

I love the fishing game
The above title are the words of my 3 year old neice. She loves the game - The game is colorful as well as durable. She can take out the game and set it up and even put it away all by herself. It's easy to turn on and off. I think the only drawback from having this game and it's not for the kids - it's for the adults is that there is no volume on/off or control switch to lower the volume. So this can be annoying. Other than that the game is lots of fun and she loves it.

swimming, swimming, swimming ...
This game is a hit with our 3 1/2-year-old son. He enjoys the bright colors of the fishing poles and different fish. He is able to set up the game by himself, and is able to turn the game on and off. The music is continual, no volume control, and a bit annoying (to mom and dad). He likes it, though. A simple game, not very educational, but lots of fun. The games are pretty short and quick, so it holds his attention. A cute game to have around for young children. Just make sure to keep the various pieces and cards in a zip-loc bag for easy storage. Nice game.

Cute Game
I bought this for my daughter when she turned 2. We lost the cards right away and just made up our own games with it. She also loved to just play the music and dance around.

Very fun, very noisy game
This game is a whole lotta fun. My son can play it for hours. The only drawback to this game is it's very, I mean very noisy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fun for Adults!
Toss Across is a classic toy. We purchased this toy because we remembered playing it when we were kids... and I think I'm enjoying it more now than I did twenty years ago. Because it's a mix of skill and luck, anybody can win (kids can beat adults), but it's still a great toy to bet on.

I only wish it held together a little better... the little plastic wedges that are used to hold the support bars tight tend to fall out pretty often (we've already lost one). However...we could always replace the whole thing.

Great Childhood memories
I am purchasing my second Toss Across...The first one was purchased in the 1970's. I loved it as a child and love it as a mother....This toy adds a physical component to the old Tic Tac Toe game, making it more challenging plus it gets kids off the couch!! Buy it for your children but be sure to play with them! ... 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