Editorial Review

It's still hard to get a triple word score, the tiles are still made of wood, there's only one "X" in the whole box, and family feuds are increasing exponentially. But after 50 years, Scrabble has had a face-lift: a swivel base allows the board to turn so players don't have to work upside down, a plastic grid helps keep tiles in line, and a handy bag stores the letters when they're not in use. The premise hasn't changed at all--two to four players battle it out to make high-scoring words from seven little letters--so choose a dictionary before play begins to avoid ugly confrontations. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Play Scrabble? Buy This.
Remarkable. Scrabble is cool. Hep. Rad. Outta sight. But Scrabble in this deluxe form is sublime, intoxicating. The pieces stay put, thanks to little walls around each space. You can spin the board so as to not need to examine it upside down. The pieces never slide around. The plastic coating lets you wipe it off, unlike the cardboard version which stains. Nothing is compromised from the original, flat cardboard version, but everything is improved.

OK. Not everything. It still can't help you dump the Q, Z and J at the end of the game without a U. And it is unlikely to assist you in stopping your grandmother's amazing ability to squeeze you out of that triple word score you hoped to grab with a seven-letter word. Take that up with Gram. Just remember who made you the cookies.

Seriously, I recommend this to any family or commited Scrabble player. Families need it for that 'full-body contact' style of play that sometimes happens with children or cats involved. Commited Scrabble players need it for pretty much the same reason!

I fully recommend this game.

Anthony Trendl

A terrific game for the digital age!
Scrabble - deluxe, electronic, regular and travel editions, has been a tradition in our family for three generations. Even as technology becomes ubiquitous in our personal and professional lives, a game of good old fashioned Scrabble anytime two or more family members or friends are gathered is still among the most entertaining activities! It's an occasion for camaraderie, competition and conversation that is likely to remain popular in the 21st century and I highly recommend it for people of all ages.

Don't understand why they made this
I don't understand why this was released as a "deluxe" edition. This board is horrible. It is made of cheap plastic, nothing like you would think for $30. I was very, very, very disappointed in this. If you are looking for a good scrabble board, look somewhere else, because this is not the one. I have an old one that is great, but it is dirty and old, so i wanted somthing new. I am sorry I bought this. I guess it could be good as an occasional toy, but not for serious scrabble lovers.

A great game diminished by cheap construction
Our family enjoys playing scrabble so much so that we decided to buy the 'Deluxe' version to solve some of the common problems we have playing the game on a regular board.
Needless to say I was thoroughly disappointed at the cheap, flimsy, plastic board I received in the box. I have seen other 'Deluxe' brands which my friends and relatives had bought years ago and was shocked at what is now being sold, at over double the price of the regular version. The old one I had looks as if it will outlast the 'Deluxe'.
I reduced the fun rating by 2 stars simply because I hate looking at this board. Save your money and don't buy this one.

About the "Deluxe Edition"
I already reviewed normal scrabble, so this review is just about the Deluxe Edition. I got this as a gift and I appreciated how much easier it was to play because the board spins and the letters are secure.
A must when you are playing on the kitchen table in a crowed house. Worth the extra money in my opinion. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Honk! Honk! It's gridlock and the little red car can't move.The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle wherethe objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card.Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those trafficlaws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are fourlevels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player orjust "play in traffic" alone. The game from Binary Arts received anational award from Mensa and is used in elementary school mathclasses. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdybox, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. The gamecards stow away in a drawer in the road grid. This is a 1999 Parents'Choice recommended toy. --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Hours of Fun Fun Fun
This is a great puzzle. Since it is a game only one can play at a time, my nieces, ages 6 and 8 and my nephew age 11 took turns getting the red car out of the traffic jams. They even enjoyed watching each other find the solution to each "jam". Incidently the 6 year old is almost through solving the "Advanced" puzzles and I am about to buy both additional card packs. Kids and adults will love this game.

Great "toy"
Add us to the host of folks who love this puzzle toy. I generally consult Amazon ratings before purchasing new items and any item that has this many positive ratings always catches my attention. And it lives up to the promise. My almost 7 year-old son is ADHD and I was AMAZED at the way this toy captured his attention. I expected him to become quickly frustrated and give up. But after a few successes, he was hooked. I coached him a little bit at first (and then I was hooked too!) and before I knew it, he was solving puzzles by himself and doing a better job than me! He did the first 20 in one sitting. I was amazed as I watched him begin understanding which cars had to be where in order for him to get the red car out, then he started working out his plan to get there. You have to think ahead to be successful and he was doing it!

His persistence and concentration surprised me, so if your child is having any problems sitting and concentrating on a task, don't be afraid of this toy! But, alas, as with many ADHD kids, he's also been tested as gifted, so he's already run through the first 3 levels and is now nearly done with the expert level - solving puzzles that I can't do! I have to wait until he goes to bed to even get a chance to play! There's 40 cards in the first pack. The beginning levels are pretty easy to remember the solutions, but as you go higher in difficulty, you could probably do the puzzles more than once and still be challenged. But do be prepared to buy the 2, 3, and 4 Gift Pack (a great deal for $12 on Amazon)

I LOVE the fact that you store the cards right in the bottom of the tray. However,I wish that they would put a more permanent kind of cover on the tray. Also, you cannot replace the cover when you are in the middle of a puzzle, the cars have to be in the tray in a certain way in order for the cover to fit properly. But those are extremely minor drawbacks considering the hours of entertainment my son and I have gotten.

grate!!!
I love this game and so do my familly from ages 6 - 35. you will enjoy playing this game alone at home. the greate part is that even once youv memorized this toy and all the levels (wich you will.) you can buy more cards! it is a grate present for anyone not too lazy to think a bit. everyone has their own level. Also other games such as the one croosing the river from this manufacturer are fantastic! really worth the money!

GREAT GIFT IDEA
We just got this game today and we were all instantly addicted! My 7 year old loved the challenge of the game, didn't get frustrated at all, and wouldn't even think of giving up on trying to solve the puzzles! This is a great gift idea for birthday parties, as it's inexpensive and parents will appreciate the educational value of this puzzle game.

Greatest Game Ever!
I am in the Gifted program in school and it is a lot of fun! I play this everyday. It is very challenging but an awesome game! I would reccomend it to anyone! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Spell a word backwards, hum a tune, answer a multiple-choicequestion, draw with your eyes closed, and more when you play Cranium.Unlike games that focus on only a few skills, Cranium offers 14talent-tapping activities designed to bring out the best in you and yourfriends. Cards from four decks, color-coded to match each of the crazycharacters--Star Performer, Creative Cat, Data Head, and WordWorm--describe activities that teams must complete in order to advance aroundthe board. If you choose a Sculptorades card from the Creative Catdeck, for example, you might be asked to sculpt a hamburger fromlemon-scented Cranium Clay while your teammates try to guess what you'recreating.

To win the game, teams have to make it to Cranium Central--the largepurple brain in the center of the board--and then successfully completeone activity from each of the four decks. The result is that the teamwith the best combination of abilities comes out on top. With itswonderfully diverse set of activities and top-notch design (artwork byillustrator GaryBaseman decorates the colorful board and decks of cards), Craniumoffers the best of all board game experiences--and it's a whole lot offun, too! (For 4 or more players) ... Read more

Reviews (477)

Hilarious way for teens and adults to spend time together
I bought this game based on the other reviews, hoping it would be a fun way for my visiting sister and brother-in-law to get reacquainted with 2 nephews and 2 nieces (ages 14-19). We spent an entire evening playing, and have never laughed so hard! My sister and I had tears running down our faces, and the "kids" kept begging to play again. We have a true mix of left- and right-brainers in our family, and this was the first game we've ever played that EVERYONE liked equally (and we have tried them all!). After a few questions, the brainiacs wanted to try the artsy stuff, and vice versa, because the game is so low-pressure and FUN. Forget the comments about difficult set-up, hard-to-follow instructions -- nothing could be further from the truth. It took no time at all to figure out how to play, and -- DUH! -- you don't have to keep rereading the same instructions over and over just because they are printed on each card (of the same category)! And the people who want "harder" questions are missing the point...with Cranium, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game -- and how much fun you have playing it!

Anyone can play
I purchased this game after hearing about it from a friend. We took it home for the holidays and played non-stop for hours with the entire family. Then we brought it over to a friend's house.

There are four basic categories, each of which bring out a certain skill set. There is the green catagory where you have to act like a famous person, play charades, or hum a song.

The blue category challenges your art skills - either drawing like pictionary, or with your eyes shut, or sculpting something out of clay.

The red catagory is very similar to a trivia game and the yellow category is for everyone who aced English class in high school! It involves spelling words both forward and backwards and choosing the correct definition for a word.

This game brings out the hidden talents in all of us. I especially like the clay (it comes included). No other game I've come across lets you sculpt the answer in clay. We fight over who gets to do the sculpting every time!

What a Blast!
This game is awesome! My husband and I aren't real big on board games, so when my Brother brought this game over on my Husbands B-day we both were thinking.."ugh" lol.. But we ended up playing 3 times! (Would have played more but it was late) My husband loved it! His favorite part was getting to sculpt things out of clay..(a little harder than it seems)try sculpting "jail" lol.or drawing ransom with your eyes closed! It was so much fun! It's not boring since the game mixes up the fun.. you never get 2 cards alike!... My husband had to act out Madonna! He could use words and gestures...but no names... It was the funniest thing I have ever seen! & something fun I will remember forever! We had so much fun, that we can't wait for them to come over again so we can play! I also just came across Cranium Conga.. This is a version for ages 8-88. We played it last night with our 2 kids ages 8 & 10 & had a blast! It is an excellent game that allows you to have some fun family time together! I recommened both games, and will be picking up the other 2 versions soon.. Will post my thoughts on those as well..

too predictable
I have played this game several times with a family of friends, and the same people always win. The skills necessary to keep playing are not different enough, and there is not enough chance involved. It is a relief when the game is over, which, as another reviewer has indicated, is a Bad Sign. "Wise and Otherwise" is much more entertaining.

Fun for everyone!
This is one of the most fun games I have ever played. It has a little of something for everyone, so everyone can enjoy it. People who enjoy art will love sculpting with the clay and drawing, hams will love playing charades and humming tunes, technical people will like answering mind bending trivia questions, and the word problems might stump even the most seasoned language lovers. This game is most fun when you have a lot of people to play with, making it a great pick for a party or holiday get together. It's definitely worth the price and you're guaranteed to have hours of fun with it! ... 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

Risk--the game of world conquest--features a tri-fold game board that is a map of six continents divided into 42 territories. It's a game of strategy as you battle to win by launching daring attacks, defending your territory, and moving across continents with your cunning plan! Includes five dice, 56 Risk cards, and six sets of armies that contain 360 miniatures. Play three variations: World Domination, Capital Risk, and Secret Mission Risk. This game will engage and challenge any player to join the ranks of world leaders! --Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Very Addictive, Very Fun!
I am 30 years old and I have been playing Risk for 9 years now. It is a blast playing with a group of your friends, but be prepared to bring a sleeping bag because this game can keep you up until the crack of dawn! It is very addicitive, involves strategy, but that is the best part. Object is to conquor the world with your armies by taking out your opponent's armies. Each player starts out with a few territories scattered throughout the map and the trick is to fortify and defend those territories you need to progress to eventually cover the whole map with your colour. It is tricky that you won't be able to fortify every area you own since you only get so many armies based on how many places you occupy at the start of your turn. Luck also plays a major role - for every attack and every defend you must roll the dice, highest roller is able to keep his army, lowest roller has to take an army off. The more taken off, the weaker his/her regiment becomes. Once she/he loses all his armies on a given space, the attacker then moves in to occupy that space. Once you get comfortable with the game and really good with it, you can make it go a little quicker. There is also a quicky version you can play, which is explained in the manual. Pieces are easy to lose, we usually wrapped our army boxes with elastics or plastic ziploc bags to help avoid this problem. The down part to this game is if a player loses all his armies and territories very early in the game, then he or she pretty much has to sit there for hours watching their friends play and waiting for the game to end. Risk can bring out the worst in people unfortunately, so you may want to rethink about wiping out your best friend, early in the game, even if you can do it.

epic fun
I feel sorry for people who say their favorite game is something like "Sorry," where a drawn card determines with blind luck the game's outcome. It is more of a diversion than an actual game. I am proud to say "RISK" is my favorite game -- luck is one element, but so is strategy and brainpower.

The goal is simple: Rule the world. Unfortunately, there are 2 to 5 opponents in your way. The game tends to last for hours as weaknesses are tested, strategies are played out and brave (or foolish) conquests are carried out. Though many games can last for hours, the tide can turn in a single round. For those fans of strategy games, this is a must-have.

I did take one star off durability because the pieces are rather small. Be prepared to pick a few out of the carpet days after the game has ended. Other than that, take care of your gameboard, cards and pieces and I have no doubt it will last many years.

risk
ok, first off im 16. When i first heard about risk i thought it would be pretty fun. well, risk is a fun game but there is to much luck involved. for example an army of 2 soliders can take out an army of 10 soliders with rolling the right numbers.it is a pretty easy strategy game to learnbut it gests very old easily and you can end up angry beacause you got terribel dice rolls and your friends got better rolls.its educational because it teaches some strategy. and the durability you can loose the pieces. if you want a real fun strategy game then get axis and allies which will sure give you a good time

ok
when i first heard about this game i expected a lot more than it gave.my friends told me this game was good and they werent lyin there.its fun even though its missing core strategy and is focused around luck.4 example my cousin usually rolls sixes on his dice while i roll 4s so im afraid of attacking him. i do like that there are many variations of the game so if u get bored of playin it 1 way try another and u might like it betta.if u like strategy games and wars theres no reason u shouldnt get this.but word of advice:only buy this game if u have spare time during the week and enjoy making diplomacies.(even though its hard to in this game.)hope i helped u in makin the right decision.if you like this game and have a big budget,i would highly reccomend buying risk 2210a.d.

A fun adivtive game
I love playing this game expecaly when theres teams cause i like the fact that you have your ouwn country and army and try to take over more until all your opponnts are dead and you are the victor. ... 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

If you've seen "The Exorcist" lately, the folks at Parker Brotherswould like to extend a heartfelt "Captain Howdy-Ya-Do?" courtesy of theirnewly luminescent classic Ouija Board equipment. It's the same traditionalsetup as it was decades ago: the alphabet-and-numbers board with "Yes," "No,"and "Good Bye" spelled out in turn-of-the-century mysterious script; theheart-shaped "Message Indicator Oracle" with the readout window; the numerouscoy references to Ouija being "only a game--isn't it?" So if this editionseems to comprise a bit more plastic than we remember, the promise of theboard and indicator glowing in the dark for half-an-hour (after exposure tolamplight for 10 minutes) more than makes up for it. Of course, in the darkyou'll never know for sure whether the person across the board is the onepushing the indicator, now will you? --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (124)

It really works.
This is very real it, and it is NOT a toy. It may seem like fun, but many people who use this thing often eventually get involved in the occult (not everyone, but you run that risk if you use it enough). I would really not recomend using it. Even though it is not a "devil communicator," you are communicating with demons, not spirits. Ouija Board users: If you don't believe me, ask your "spirits", in the name of Jesus Christ, if they're demons. Don't doubt me until you ask. These boards are very real and very dangerous. Demons are not something to mess around with, and there is only one way to get rid of them.

DANGEROUS
Ouija boards are dangerous if not used with caution! Here are some things you should know before using your Ouija...

1. NO NEGATIVITY! Dont be angry, depressed, or feel or think any negative thoughts when attempting to communicate. This could attract a negative spirit. Keep your thoughts and emotions positive.

2. LIGHTING- Don't dim the lights, use candle light, or at night, or in a thunderstorm, or anything like that to try to set the 'mood'. That will likely just frighten you. Fright is in this case a NEGATIVE feeling. Avoid it as best you can! Use with plenty of light in conditions you feel most comfortable in.

There are three types of spirits. The Good, the Mischevious, and the Bad. The Good are friendly. The mischevious may lie, or play around, perhaps in ways that may frighten you. The Bad are the dangerous ones.

3. If at any time while using the Ouija board you suddently become very afraid or cold, discontinue use immediately! These are signs of a negative spirit.

4. Treat spirits with respect! Be kind, polite and considerate. Most spirits find it rude to dig too deeply into their death. It may be wise to ask permission.

5. When talking to them, remember that spirits were once living people too. They have personalities, interests, friends, and opinions too.

6. ALWAYS say good-bye before you leave! After saying good-bye, let the spirit move the planchette (the pointer) over to the Goodbye also.

7. Dont go CRAZY. Watch for signs of obsession. If you notice that your becoming obsessed with the Ouija, don't use your Ouija for awhile. Take a break for a few weeks. The reason being, you run the risk of going insane. No joke. Susy Smith in "Confessions of a Psychic" (1971) claims that using a Ouija board caused her to become mentally disturbed. In "Thirty Years Among the Dead" (1924), American psychiatrist Dr. Carl Wickland claims that using the Ouija board "resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated." I started to experience some wild mood swings and unstability after constant use in a very short span of time.

8. I believe that houses can become haunted through the use of using the Ouija. If you dont want to run the risk of that, just dont use it in ur house! Use it in some other building where there will be litle destractions and you can concentrate.

THIS IS AWESOME!
My cousin and I just got this game and we opened it up only to find......
That it was spooky, creepy, and fun all at the same time! We talked to a spirit that was pretty smart. I asked it what my name was and it spelled out my name! We asked it what its name was and it replied "DVD Player". This was a little odd considering that I thought that my cousin was moving the seer, and she thought that I was moving the seer. After the responses turned out clear, we thought about the "most likely reason", and turned to each other. It ended up that something was dragging both of our fingers. This game is so neat and if you are just sitting here reading this review than you need to take action and buy this great one of a kind game! I hope that this helped. Have a great day. :)

Fun,Creepy Definitley Not For The Faint Of Heart
The ouija board is great and is not for people who get scared really easy. and the people who say it is the devils tool or a devil communitcator dont (...) listen to them because they are just to religious and probably christian.

Extremely Creepy!
If you get scared easily than DO NOT get this game. I only used this game for less than a week because I was so creeped out by it. I haven't touched it since. I cringe every time I hear its name. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Fun for the entire family!
We bought this for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas and everyone enjoyed it! I was amazed how well she did moving through the easy to more advanced levels. Her enthusiasm was contagious and everyone began trying to do the puzzles. My daughter felt a strong sense of accomplishment when she actually did better than many of the adults! It is a durable, compact, challenging puzzle that is so enjoyable that you will get hooked! In fact, I am looking for additional cards to continue the fun!
This is definitely a 5 star game that has educational value and is also appealing to kids.

A game help children learn to use their minds!
I bought this game for my 5 yr old. She loves it and is challenged by the game. Even some of her older cousins enjoyed playing with it over the holidays.

great toy
We bought this toy for our 3.5 year old son, because he really loved it when he saw it in the store. He's been at it all the time after he got it and needed only minimal instructions to start playing. We really appreciated the fact that the difficulty levels were so appropriately designed. My son simply moved from one level to another with great enthusiasm and would never quit playing the game on his own.

Fun & Educational
I've never played Rush Hour, but the Junior version was a big hit with my 5 and 8 year old kids (and me!) this Christmas. It has 4 levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert, with 10 cards in each level. You pick a card and set up the grid with vehicles as depicted on the card. The object is to get your ice cream truck through the traffic and exit the grid.

The rules are: no moving cars sideways. You have to move them forward or backward based on the direction the vehicles are facing. The beginner cards typically require each vehicle be moved only once before you are able to get the ice cream truck through the traffic. With the advanced cards, you may have to move vehicles a few times as you strategically plan your escape.

This game is not only fun, but helps with organization (setting up the grid) and planning (figuring out how to get your ice cream truck out of a jam). It also gives the kids a sense of accomplishment as they move on to the more difficult cards.

I highly recommend it and we plan on buying the adult version soon!

Great whole family fun!
After reading about Rush Hour, Jr. on this website, I decided to get it for my sons, age 7 and 4. They are both a year older now, and still enjoy it. My oldest is now ready for the "adult" version but the more difficult puzzles of the Jr. game still provide some challenge. An unexpected benefit from this "game" is that my sons love to watch each other play and offer encouragement and sometimes advice, and neither gets discouraged when he gets stuck--how great is it to see that?

It also travels really well, we take it in the car for our frequent long trips and take it on the boat to play during snack time.

Parents--I definitely recommend both Rush Hour versions and the booster cards. ... 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

"Once upon a time, King Kandy, the Imperial Head Bonbon and Grand Jujube of Candy Land disappeared." Thus begins the magical journey of Milton Bradley's classic Candy Land board game. Captivated by the story of a kidnapped king and eager to help find him, little ones move their gingerbread pawns along a rainbow path and through a land of candy characters, all subjects of King Kandy's realm.

Playing cards thoughtfully designed for non-readers are coded with colorful squares matching the jeweled stepping-stone path or an occasional token matching one of the characters' symbols: draw a blue card, move to the nearest blue stepping-stone; draw a snowflake and earn a visit to Queen Frostine's iceberg. There are occasional pitfalls, too: land on the wrong square and you might be stuck in Molasses Swamp until a red card is drawn. With all these enticing, sugarcoated images (and King Kandy plainly visible at path's end), children can't help but be delighted by Candy Land. It's delicious! Instructions are in both Spanish and English. Candy Land is for two to four players) --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A classic kids game.
I remember playing Candyland as a child, so it is another game that has passed the test of time. It is simple, and it does not require reading skills, so very young children can play the game. It is good for practicing colors and for taking turns and following rules. I do feel that the game is a little long, especially for the 3-year old kids in the recommended age range. Some of the rules, like getting stuck until a certain card is drawn, makes the game rules a little more difficult to follow, so in that way I would recommend it more for a 4-6 age group. A 3-year old can play it with a lot of supervision, but some of the rules are hard to understand at that age - especially when they can draw a card but can't move their game piece! The game is very inexpensive, and therefore the quality of the actual game is not great. I agree with another reviewer that a "classic gold" edition with wooden pieces and a durable box would be a wonderful option for someone who would like the game to last. It would also be nice to have a nice spot to put all of the cards during the game and for storage. Despite the length of the game and the durability factor, I would still highly recommend this classic game to parents with small kids, especially those in the 4 - 6 age range.

Introduce your little one to board games with this classic!
This is a great "first board game" for kids, who will probably enjoy it from ages 3-5 or so. Extremely simple to play, players take turns drawing cards and moving their pieces to the colored square indicated by the card. Rather predictable, though with a few twists and turns thrown in, it is simple enough to keep the attention of the very young. I award it 5 stars for educational value because it teaches color recognition, taking turns, and fair play (when these are reinforced by an adult playing along).

good game for color recognition
My 4 year old son really enjoys this game. It's a good one for reinforcing color recognition and counting. The board is colorful and cute. It's not a high action kind of game but it's a good one to play when you're in the mood for something quiet. If I sat down with my son and tried to do flash cards or something he wouldn't like it, but with this game he's learning basic concepts (colors, counting, taking turns) while having fun. (...)game.

Perfection
The game is dull, but you can create new ways to play it. I'm making dolls out of the characters. There's so many. I also like to set up my yard as "Candyland" and act out adventures against the evil Lord Licorice and his evil Sabor-Toothed Rocks!

A two year old can benefit from this game
I bought this for my 25 month old niece. She could count to 10 already and knows her colors, I thought she may be able to play Candyland.

I did not bother with teaching her about losing turns at this point, I will teach her that when she can comprehend it. She picks her own cards and knows how to move. At first we did not take turns. I taught her how to play a one player game, then we moved into taking turns. She can now play by herself and loves to get the candy cards as much as any other child. Instead of being stick in the mollasses swamp, she gets tickled...makes the game much more fun at this point. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Can you draw a cat? How about sketching something that conveys the word area or The English Patient? Can you do it in less than 60 seconds while your team yells the wrong answers at you and the other team is close to getting it right? Welcome to the game of Pictionary, in which players attempt to guess words from sketches made by other members of their team. The words can be objects, people, actions, places, animals, or the dreaded "difficult," although in the heat of an exciting game, even house can be difficult. Word cards are randomly selected, the timer is activated, and players begin scribbling franticly as they race to beat the clock. Correct answers are rewarded with a toss of the die and progression around the board toward victory. Pictionary veterans should note that this is an updated edition of the game, including more than 1,000 new words to challenge even the most experienced quick-draw artist. Pencils, sketchpads, and a 60-second timer are included. Pictionary is for four or more players. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Always E N T E R T A I N I N G!
There are many entertaining Board Games, but by time the fun gets lost but not with Pictionary! What makes Pictionary so much fun no matter how much you play it are:

1. Each player has his/her own imagination. So no matter how often you play the game, each player might draw or guess differently the same card!

2. It's fun for parents to enjoy it with their teens.

3. It's fun for friends to play it together.

4. It's fun when men play against their wives (oh I love this one)!

Do you know it's very difficult to draw simple objects? Just try drawing anything and see what others guess it. Oh sometime they go very far that even if you wanted them to guess that word they'd have not :-)

One of the best games that are as good as this one (if not better) is Taboo! Have fun...

This game brought our family together!
I was at a family event last week and we were all trying to figure out what to do. The suggestion for a movie came up. One of my cousins fought the idea saying he didn't come all the way to visit so we could all sit together in the dark to watch a film. So we went to Walmart and bought some games. Taboo, Cranium, and Pictionary. Well, we had such a great time together. We really laughed and bonded. That weekend as we rode around one cousin pulled out a singing lesson Cd and played it in the car, Voice Lessons To Go by Vaccarino, so we all sang together in our car like crazies- again having the best time. The rest of the weekend, we played more games and never thought about turning on the TV or watching a film. My niece even played the piano for us one night and we sang songs from a song book. These games really help bring back the communication our generation has lost.

All age-groups and use dry erase boards
Pictionary is a great game that anyone can play. You can play with your entire family and people from different age-groups. Kids can play as long as they are told what the words mean, and even people who do not speak English so well can enjoy this game. It is a great ice-breaker for anyone. I pull it out for parties without worrying about who will fit in or who will feel left out.

Our family has been playing this game with dry erase boards for a while now. Not only does it save on paper, it is so much more fun. There are new strategies in eraseing pictures and using multiple colors. It really changed our game nights with these boards. My husband just purchased whiteboards at, eraseboards.com(?), I think. Pretty affordable. Every Pictionary owner should try using dry erase.

Very fun game, espically for artists
Being pretty good with a pencil, I really love this game. The problem, however, became apparent after I'd played through the cards a few times, that being that I could win without challege against players that hadn't played before or were fairly new.

However, this game can be played in a large group, thus evening out the odds and it also makes a great and funny party game.

I give this one a strong recommendation, it's a lot of fun and challenging too.

Fun, but containing bad memories!!!
...>Well, maybe not that serious, but this game if used inappropriately can cause damage and break homes. This game is challenging, especially if you haven't tried to draw a person hang-gliding in a while, or a squirrel or a door, for that matter.
You simply move around the board and try to get your team to guess what you've been drawing, but it's not quite that simple.
Have a good time with this game, Cheers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This classic game of luck, strategy, and determination is easy to grasp for children as young as 6 years old, yet it's fun for adults and older siblings too. By drawing cards, players move their game pieces around the board, hoping to eventually accumulate all their pieces at the final destination--home sweet home. Sorry is known as the game of "sweet revenge," since players can send each other's pawns back to the starting line, thus forcing one another to lose ground and begin all over again. This kind of frustration may be hard for children under age 8 to handle. In fact, young ones typically crumble into tears of outrage when their pawns are cavalierly sent back. The only recourse is to teach children how to plot their own revenge, which makes them feel as powerful as superheroes. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

My 8 year old nephew loves this game!
This game works well with 6-9 year olds. Based on random cards as well as strategy. Object is to get all four of your color pieces to your home by going around the board. Each number card means something different (i.e. 4 = go backwards 4 spaces; 11 = you may trade places with your opponent). Players who get a "Sorry" card get to send their opponent back to Start!

TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
All I remember about this game is getting into fights with my brother when one of us would taunt they other with "sorry" (...)when we sent a piece back to the home square. This game taught revenge and frustration. you work so hard to try to get out of the starter box, only to be sent back in by a smart-aleck younger sibling. I hated this game, and would not inflict this kind of trauma on my young 'uns.

Good Strategy
This was a fun game, even now. I started playing it with my friends in my old home, but hadn't played it again until this year when I got it for Christmas.

I gave it a 4 in fun because sometimes it does get a bit boring, especially at the beginning. Sometimes we go through almost the entire deck until we finally manage to get a 1 or a 2--Maybe the result of bad shuffling? Hehe.

A five in education value because it teaches kids strategy and good sportmanship rules. Despite what some review said, this does have some stratedy--should you split the seven between 2 components, or just use one? Which other opponet should you bump? Would going backwards help you? Also, if you have young kids, you have to teach them not to get frusterated when they are bumped.

Sorry! Is relatively durable. My friend's version tore because of the trifold design, but mine apparently is very durable. Me, my two sisters and 3 cousins aren't exactly very good with somet things, so considering all this, it's holding up very nicely, hehe.

I'd recommend this for young kids over mindless "Candyland" or the ever-lasting "Monopoly".

Great for young kids, and big kids, too!
Our son just turned six, and we bought Sorry for him about six months ago. There are some board games for tots that we have to force ourselves to play with him, but not Sorry. Up to four can play, and basic counting skills can be sharpened as well as decision-making skills--our son is picking up on the actual strategy one can use within the game to move all his/her men around the board from Start to Home. The four primary colors (yellow, red, blue and green) make it easy for him to keep up/stay focused, and the playing cards are durable and easy to follow. The board is durable, too--my son hasn't been able to tear it up yet! Strongly recommended for any family who enjoys everyone taking part in a good board game, and an effective teaching tool, too.

GREAT CLASSIC
I played Sorry as a kid & now I'm playing it with mine. The game can change dramatically with the draw of 1 card so sometimes it's hard for my 6 year old to handle it. We did change some of the rules to make a little easier on her at first. For instance: you do not have to get to home on exact count; we don't split the 7's & don't switch places on the 11 (I think it's the 11). This made it less confusing for a little one who can't read the instructions on each card but we added rules as we went along to make it more challenging. I KNOW WE'LL BE PLAYING THIS AS A FAMILY & my kids will play it with themselves & their friends FOR YEARS TO COME!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sure, this real estate trading game has been the world's most popular board game for more than six decades, but what makes this edition "deluxe"? For one thing, it brings back the sturdywooden (not plastic) houses and hotels of years gone by. It also features an extra gold-colored train token, a handy holder for the Title Deed cards, and a banker's tray to keep your cash on hand. The cash, Community Chest, and Chance cards are all newly redesigned. And the 19-inch-by-19-inch board is stamped with a golden "Deluxe" arch. Featuring the original Atlantic Citylandmarks like Boardwalk and Park Place, this version is for the serious Monopoly lovers on your gift list.For further perspective on Monopoly, you can read about it in The Greatest Games of All Time and New Rules for Classic Games.--Rebecca Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (46)

A Classic, Always Fun To Play.
Everyone recognizes Monopoly as the "classic" board game. Everyone loves it. Monopoly is a hit with all ages, young and old. It is educational for the young ones, teaching money budgeting tactics and some real-world buying and selling scenarios. The idea of real estate conquest sometimes goes to a player's head, so games can be rather competitive. However, Monopoly will always be fun for all players, and is worth the initial invest for hours of fun in the future. With this edition, Parker Brothers adds some nice new creature comforts like an organizational deed carousel, redesigned money, gold-finished tokens and a new train playing piece. These new features are defenitely worth the extra 7 dollars.

COOL
I got this for Christmas, and it is FUN, the new property caresal is soo cool! I absolutly loved how the new chance cards are redone. An excellent buy!

Best game ever
Dear readers,
I've played all kinds of monopoly and this one I've played is the best yet!This toy is good for subtraction and addition problems and how to handle money to not get bankruped.I recramend this toy for your friends and family!You can even add your money up and reduce it in less bills!I've liked it and you should to!Get this toy TODAY!

Cool Game! Could use a little work though.....
Monopoly has always fascinated me, and this definatley takes the game to another level. Deed dealin is about ten times easier now with the deed carousel, and there's twice as much money in the bank! But there are still cons as well as pros....

NEW FEATURES PROS:
1.Back to wooden houses (can't get broken)
2.New bank with enough slots for actually ALL the money!)
3.The deed carousel makes the game easier
4.All of the chance and Comunity Chest cards have been redone, giving them a nice look
5. Box is nice and FLASHY

NEW FEATURES CONS:
1. Gold peices are probably spraypainted. They may look nice when you first get the game, but just wait a month or two.
2. Bank looks to be made out of cheap, flimsy plastic
3. Deeds are really light feeling (not as origanal)
4. The stupid game board won't lie flat!
5. Houses (although wooden) arn't as detailed as I like them

OLD FEATURES PROS:
Everything!

OLD FEATURES CONS:
Nothing!

Overall, I'd say that Monopoly is a great game, and that I really like the deluxe edition. It's educational, and fun. What more could a parent ask for? (I dont have an Amazon acount, so i'm using the children's entry form. Do you think a 4 year old would really write something this deep and destailed?) Definateley a good spend of my money

Twice as Nice
This version of Monopoly is awsome!! It even has pieces I've never seen before. I love the deed holder, too! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, an unemployed heating engineer from Pennsylvania created the game of Monopoly. Realizing that his get-rich theme might appeal to other Americans, he had the game printed and distributed in a Philadelphia department store. When he couldn't keep up with the overwhelming requests for more sets, he arranged for Parker Brothers to take over the game. And the rest, as they say, is history. But Monopoly is far from a quaint historical relic. To this day, it remains a riveting game of luck, chance, and savvy wheeling and dealing--all of which can make some lucky dog rich, rich, rich! Based on the purchase of Atlantic City real estate (a city currently renowned for its get-rich gambling opportunities), Monopoly is now printed in 26 languages with more than 200 million sets sold worldwide. Players still scoot the same beloved board pieces: the old shoe, the terrier, and the hot rod. This set also includes rules for a shortened version of the game and a new token, winner of Monopoly's recent "design a token" contest. This is capitalism at its most fun and ruthless, a must-have edition in the family game closet. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Fun for the whole family.
What more can be said about Monoploy, other than that it's fun for the whole family and that it's educational in the sense that it teaches you how to manage money? Monopoly is probably the most famous game ever made and is certainly one of the most well known. Monopoly has stood the test of time well.

For fun, Monopoly rates 5 stars because you can play it and play it and never get tired of it. It's also a great game no matter how many people play it. Ever since I've been playing it, I have never gotten tired of it, which is a rare thing since most board games eventually get boring.

For educational value, Monopoly also rates 5 stars. There aren't really a lot of games out there that teach you how to manage money the way this game does. You can own a heap of properties and then go bankrupt as quickly as anything, showing you how fast you can lose money. Monoploy also teaches you to spend your money carefully and wisely.

And finally for durability, Monopoly gets 5 stars once again. We have an edition that is about 17 or 18 years old and it's still going and is in pretty good condition considering it's age.

In short, Monopoly is one of my all time favourite games and is one of the best ever made.

Only with my brother!
I'll only play this is my brother offers to play, because my sisters, cousins and friends won't sit through it (unless Miguel plays)! It's so long and drawn out that you quickly get bored. My brother livens it up sometimes.

Anyway,I've only finished this game twice. Once was in 1998 and me and my brother stayed up until five AM playing it--so we were essentially playing it around four hours.

If it's a rainy day with nothing to do and you have older children, it's okay. But otherwise, it's really to long to even bother with.

Fun Game for the whole Family!
My whole family loves this game!It's challenging and fun!Buy lands,Railroads,and more! And the whole family is so proud of whoever made up this game!

~*Melissa~*

Monoply
I recomend monopoly. Its about money.
Its fun to play. You get to rent.
You select a banker. You sometimes
get sent to jail. BUY IT!

A classic Game for all people- Young and Old.
Monopoly is a game which help people of all ages develop business and people- skills. It is a fun game, that everyone knows how to play, yet it is fairly challenging. I would reccomend Monopoly to anyone who wants to be involved in a wholesome, educational and fun activity that is appropriate for all age groups. ... 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

Editorial Review

Round and round she goes. Hi Ho! Cherry-O is the counting game in which players race to be the first to have 10 cherries in their basket. A spin of the arrow determines your fate. It will instruct you to pick one, two, three, or four cherries from your tree and put 'em in your basket. That is, of course, if you don't land on the bird or the dog, requiring you to take two cherries from your basket and return them to the tree. And try not to land on the spilled bucket or--you guessed it--spill the contents of your basket or you start over. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is a great game for teaching turn taking and counting.
This was my daughter's first "real" game. She was 2.8 years old when we purchased it. She was immediately able to play the game. There is no reading involved and focuses on the skills of turn taking, counting, and organizing the playing board. I recommend this as a first game for parents teaching their children how to take turns and count to 10, as well as manipulating small objects on the cherry trees. (I have fun playing this game too).

A favorite for years...and still going strong
I never played this game as a child so it was new to me too when my three year old received it for his birthday. It quickly became his favorite game and still ranks highly among his favorites at age 5! We found that it was perfect for our young child because it could be played relatively quickly and was easy to understand. Playing this game regularly helped perfect his counting skills and taught him about basic game etiquette.

A fun classic!
Hi Ho Cherry-O is a game I enjoyed when I was young, and now my son loves it too! It's a great way to teach counting, and also introduce addition and subtraction. If your spinner lands on a picture of cherries, it tells you how many cherries to put in your bucket - 1-4. But watch out for the bird, dog, or bucket! They make you put cherries back on your tree! The first person to get all their cherries in the bucket wins!

I have 2 small complaints. The buckets are very tiny and even my 4 year old has a hard time picking the cherries out.

Also the game didn't come with any "extra" cherries, so you'll have to be extra careful not to lose any.

I believe this game will be a family favorite for many years to come.

Great Game For all Ages!
Santa brought this game for my 2 year old daughter. (She will however be three in Feb.) She loves it. The first game was the learning game and she had a tough time putting back her cheeries on the second spilled bucket! But now two weeks later she is a real champ about that! She even 'comforts' her daddy when he spills his bucket!

I remembered this game as a child and since my daughter was trying to count everything I thought this game would be good for her. My four year old son loves it too.

It doesn't inluded any extra cherries but there is a way to order 40 more. I plan to prder them nad keep them as extra's for when we lose cherries.. We haven't lost any yet but I am sure it will happpen!

A FUN and educational classic
I bought this game for my daughter on her 4th birthday. The whole family has enjoyed playing it. My nine and seven year old boys even request to play it. It does it's job at teaching my little girl to count. She is even learning to add and subtract a little bit and she doesn't even know it. The good thing for me is, the game doesn't take long, so even if I am busy, I can usually squeeze in a couple of games each day. The only drawback is you only get exactly enough cherries so if you lose one, you have to improvise. I think they should include a few extra cherries. ... 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

How's your tolerance for puns? You'll need some for Pass the Pigs, asimple game of chance built around a pig theme. Instead of dice, you roll twocute pink piglets, and you gain or lose points depending on how the crittersland. For example, if both land on all fours, called a "double trotter," you get20 points; if they land lying opposite each other, called a "Pig Out," you gainno points and cede your turn. There are a number of other rules as well as avariation called "Hog Call." This would be a good travel game (the pigs,instructions, and scoring pad fit in a small, tidy box) or a fine present forsomeone who's, well, into pigs! --Elisa Murray ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Better to start with experienced players
When I got this game and played with my family, I did not think it was much fun because it takes a while to learn the piggy positions. I played again with a fun group who knows the positions well and I really got into it. The more players, the better.

Pig out on fun with these piggies!
A babysitter showed up with this game to amuse my 3 children, ages 10,8 and 5, and our children have been addicted every since. The game is fast, fun, and just kooky enough to keep you hooked. To make things even better, scoring reinforces math skills including adding in one's head, which is often skipped in schools these days. Great for planes, vacations and visits to the grandparents and doesn't dent the wallet.

Cute little piggies
It tests your ability to read and process results and make a decision based on that because the best way to get a momentum going is for everyone to take their turn rather quickly. In the meantime, the absurdity of observing pigs' landings after being "rolled" just hits your funnybone every now and then. The score sheet fits easily in the case but it is rather small. A good compact game for traveling. And the pigs are cute!

Awesome game
This game is a hit with any crowd. I went to 4 stores looking for it, (sold out), and then had to buy it on-line. It's great for all ages.

pigs rock
I went camping afew days ago for the weekend. I played pass the pigs more than anything else the whole time. It is the most fun game I have ever played. I sat for hours just playing that game. BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more