Editorial Review

Looking for a sure winner in the hot commodities market? Pit, the fast-paced card game from Parker Brothers, has been a bullish performer since its introduction way back in 1904. With all the ups and downs, desperate deals, and nonstop action of an actual trading floor, this lively game offers great fun without risking the family fortune. The rules are simple: Deal the cards, wait for the opening bell, scream and trade like crazy, be the first to corner a specific market (nine cards of the same suit), and ring the closing bell. Sounds pretty realistic, doesn't it? Once you've got the basic game mastered, try throwing Bull and Bear cards into the mix--that's when things get really interesting!

Pit comes neatly boxed with a set of durable game cards, instructions, and a heavy-duty metal bell that's great for slamming. There are rules included for a silent bidding version of the game, but jumping up and down, gesticulating wildly, and shouting yourself hoarse is half the fun. --George Laney ... Read more

Reviews (63)

TWO TWO TWO TWO THREE THREE THREE
Pit is both:

A fun game that teaches you a little bit about how commodities are traded and about the stock market, and

A great excuse to scream in the house!

While I'm still not sure I understand what goes on at the Mercantile Exchange, I have great memories of yelling "TWO TWO TWO TWO" at the top of my lungs, hitting the bell, then having someone deny he has the Bear. Pit is great for all ages and I look forward to passing Pit on to younger family members. I had no idea that this game was over 100 years old - here's to another 100 years (or maybe I should scream "100, 100, 100" and then ring the bell). P.S. What happened to Flax?

Simple to learn, but much fun to play
All you have to do is get a hand of matching cards.That's it.It sounds simple, but is so much fun, and often ends with groans, sighs, screams, and laughter.If you can say numbers, pass cards, and ring a bell, you're in for a fun time.

Pit, 100 years and counting
It's been over 25 years since I played Pit, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I played this exciting interactive game with my extended family but it was also a blast with my church family. What I remember is that I received Pit (including the classic bright orange bell) for a Christmas gift as a child in the mid 1970's and it was the family game of choice during the holidays and get-togethers. Even at an elementary school age, I realized the playing field was level because everyone had to interact with each other.Unlike some other games, Pit didn't require some detailed strategy and that you wait your turn to play (Imagine being an impatient, one of eight players). Pit, however, is more enjoyable with the maximum number of people. All you need is a sturdy round table to accomodate up to 8 people (Oval or rectangle tables cause people to stand up and get overly rowdy, so beware!), periodic water breaks between each round to keep your vocal chords lubricated from all the laughter (The sugary drinks and Pit combination can be cause severe hyperactivity), and a pre-warning to all your neighbors about the shouting and the highlight of it all, the opening and closing BELL.I just purchased a new edition of Pit for the cold winter months ahead, so when football season ends I'll be having continuous indoor weekend fun. Every household with or without children should have Pit in their toy collection. Let's see Pit live another 100 years! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Cards    3. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

Are you clicking yet? Play dominoes! It isn't just one game, asmany people think--there are many games and variations at many skilllevels. Domino sets vary in size and complexity, according to the numberof dots. This big Double Twelve set has 91 domino pieces, and each piecehas from one to 12 color-coded dots at each end, or no dots (blank). Thepieces can be used to play 16 different games; instructions for all thegames are included. Made of a heavy white, ivory-like plastic, thepieces are 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .3 inch thick, and they storeneatly in their case. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful Way to spend an Evening
I played my first game of dominos with this set, and I had a blast! The "train" game is very easy to follow. It's a great way to spend some time with a few friends who aren't into trivia games.

Dominos are a blast
My roommate and I got hooked playing "train" dominoes, and this is the best set. The dominos are very glossy, colorful and very sturdy, and the set comes with a center piece to keep the starter domino from moving and the domino train in line. I definitely recommend this set.

Beware:This Game Is Addictive!
Our friends and family love playing The Train, one of many games that can be played, and the instructions are included.We take our box on vacation, camping, to holiday gatherings, and the evening hours are filled with endless rounds.We occasionally keep score, but not every time.It is a great way to spend face to face time with one another.I give it my highest stamp of approval. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Classic Games    3. Strategy Games    4. Board Games    5. Activity   

Reviews (4)

Mommy toy shopper for 2 toddler boys (3 and 2).
My boys love this toy.I'm a stay at home mom always searching for fun, safe, educational toys for my boys.I always review the toys first before I allow the boys to play with them.This toy is so cute that I played with it for 15 minutes. I called the boys to show them their new toy and it was a big hit the minute they saw it. My boys are having fun and learning their letters too. This is one of the best alphabet learning toys I've bought so far.

Great Toy for Preschoolers!
My daughter is 3 1/2 and she just loves this toy.We pretend like she is in school and the teacher is talking to her too.She understands how class is and how different every child is and she finds it very interesting.I think it will help ease her mind before she starts going to school.It has alot of games on it too that keeps her interested in it.I would buy this toy over and over again.It also has a volume button which is great since most toys are very very loud.I would recommend this toy to anyone!

Great for preschoolers
I bought this two months ago for my four year old.She plays with it sporadically which at first made me think that she didn't really like it that much.But, in playing word games with her orally, she will say "/G/ /G/ /G/...Greg.It's the letter G"Sometimes she has to run over to the game to check to see where the kid with the /i/ sound is, for example.Then she comes running back to tell me the letter that makes that sound.As she gets older, I think she will enjoy playing all of the games available with this toy, but for now, even the small amount of time she spends playing with it has made a big difference in her early phonics learning. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Games    4. Talking    5. Board Games    6. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    7. Electronic    8. Alphabet   

Editorial Review

Pop Up Pirate! promises hours of amusement. After all, who doesn't like to see a pirate get shot out of a barrel? The game is simple. The unlucky pirate is pushed into the top of a brown plastic barrel, readying the spring mechanism for his eventual launch. Players then take turns pushing colorful plastic swords into holes on the side of the barrel, one by one until finally someone releases the spring and sends the poor little pirate on his way. Whoever makes the pirate pop loses, until the next round at any rate. The game includes a blue plastic base, the brown barrel (the sort that pirates would use for grog), and 24 plastic swords--six each of yellow, red, green, and blue. There's also lots of stickers of birds, smiling sharks, and even an ogling octopus, although they don't stay stuck very well. The pirate himself has a big black mustache and wears an eye patch and a purple plastic scarf over his head. Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind getting jounced around so much, since he also has a gigantic, if somewhat cautious, grin. --David Morel ... Read more

Reviews (10)

20 month old A+
Santa got this for our 5 year old and 20 month old for Christmas.I bought the toy based on the reviews.Inever realized how much the 20 month old would love this toy.She can do it by herself, she loves it.We don't play by the "rules" we just have fun putting the swords in until the pirate pops up, that person loses but we all giggle and laugh!

Great toy for price!A 20 month old is capable of play!

Easy to play
We gave this game to our five year old grandson for Christmas.He loved it the first couple of times we played it but soon figured out which sword to pull to pop up the pirate.He quickly became bored with it after that.It seems like a sturdy game and the pieces aren't too small.The five year old has a baby brother so I was a little concerned about the swords but they're larger than I expected.

Great pirate game
After we figured out that you really have to use some force to put the swords in, we had a great time playing this. It seems like the same hole pops him up every time, but we're not sure. The sticker on the barrell might help someone memorize where his pop point is. Perhaps leaving the sticker off the barrell would make it impossible to memorize. He jumps really high, which is way cool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games   

Reviews (18)

one Major problem
There is a lot to like about this handheld chess game. But, do not waste your money unless you plan on using it only in well lit places. The LCD is almost impossible to read (so much do that I've had to look for a different handheld chess unit). In this day and age, I don't think its asking too much to expect a better display. My recommendation is to wait for a better product. But its your decision.

Get the Saitek Cosmic instead
This is not a bad little chess computer, it is just the interface that is its downfall.Everytime I wanted to quit a game a start a new one the game would cut off.The start and off areas are above each other.In addition, the manual is almost non-existant.The Saitek cosmic, even though a little more expensive is much better, although both models suffer from lack of a back light.The Saitek model uses a touch screen, but also uses menu keys and a message area at the bottom of the screen to make a much better package.It also uses standard chess notation when giving hints etc.The excalibur model just flashes pieces.

Its P-E-R-F-E-C-T
This is a great little chess toy. It is exactly what it says, and the screen is bigger than looks in the picture. I would highly recommend this. it has 73 levels of play, you can watch famous games, play against a human also, and you can easily recognize the pieces. If your just starting out in chess, thats alright because Touch Chess will teach you just fine. The contrast button is very helpful also. This was definitely worth my $40 bucks. I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to play chess immediately or is on the go. It works perefectly. You can also make it so the noise level is "off" if someone doesnt want to hear it. It's an awesome toy with great stuff. Definetely worth my $40 bucks. I'm actually surprised it isnt worth more:) But, you must be very careful if you touch the screen. (even comes with a case) Whoever doesnt like this must be very picky! and im serious!! Its P-E-R-F-E-C-T ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic    2. Games    3. Checkers    4. Chess   

Reviews (6)

Great small child game!!!!
My 4 yr. old daughter got this for Christmas this year.It's great!The best small child game I think.It was so easy for her to follow and she had TONS of fun!I highly recommend this game!!!!!

My Review
The game was fun!I recalled a similar one from when I was a kid, so I bought it for my daughter's 4th birthday.It helps her count-not 'skip' and has helped her with waiting her turn.She LOVES matching up the disks to everyone's card.It can get long if there are only two players though....well, long for a 4 year old.She loves it!

a ton of fun
we received this for my daughter's 4th birthday.it has been a lot of fun to play--simple enough for her to play, and hard enough to grow with her for the past year.although it has a lot of pieces, they have remained durable and have withstood tiny fingers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Preschool   

Reviews (2)

Great toy, easy to put together.
I love Lego sets because you can actually "play" with them when they are done.I bought this set along with the big Air comp and my son and I raced for a while with it.

Snowboard Boarder Cross Chase is fantastic!
I bought the Snowboard Boarder Cross Chase for my 10-year old on his birthday last week and he just loves it!He plays with it every day -- he had great fun building it and has had an amazing time playing with it.He has quite a lego collection and this has to be one of his all-time favorites.An excellent lego and highly recommended!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Almost a century old, Flinch is the seemingly simple but surprisingly difficult card game inwhich players attempt to discard from their stockpiles of 10 cards by playing them in numerical sequence(when possible). Sure, it sounds like a round of this could be over in minutes, but it never turns out thatway. The original, handsome design of the cards is still intact, but the makers of the game have come upwith some additional contests for modern folk, including Flinch 2000, with wild cards. There's also asolitaire version and one just for kids. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Blast from the past!!!
What a fun game!We use to play this growing up and now I am playing it with my children!Such a fun family game that uses the logical side of your brain.Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!

Just Buy Decks of Cards
We play the same game and call it Peanuts, we just buy decks of cards with different designs on them and score by who has the most cards played after 1 person goes out.
Purchasing your own decks of cards are also more durable and you can replace each deck as needed - not the whole game.

These cards are not coated
We love the game, and actually came across one at a garage sale from the 1960's. We played them for a long while and finally had to replace the deck. We love the game so much, but the cards are already worn out and we just purchased the deck a little over a month ago ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Cards    3. Fast Flipping   

Reviews (17)

Super Mind / Mighty Mind review
A very nice product, my son has been using the Super Mind version since 3 years old, it really challenges the kids. I wanted to get something that can really challenge him since he started putting 60 - 80 piece Jigsaw puzzles at 2.5 years old.

Well he has now finished the 60 sets of puzzles, the product is really a very useful one and we are quiet happy to have brought this.

-Rajesh

One of the best toys we have
Excellent toy.It will keep kids busy for a while.I have three kids, including twins (3 1/2), they all loved this product.I also have the the super mighty mind (different puzzles, same pieces, more dificult).

The toy comes with a series of pieces in various shapes and colors.The pieces are very easy to handle, very durable.The objetive is to pick a card (these are large cards). First, kids have to identify and pick the pieces they will be using.Then, they form a picture or another figure using this small pieces.The first puzzles are easy.Then the level of difficulty increases.

I have bought this product as gifts for friends, all the kids have liked it once they try it.I once saw a "to go" version, same game, same size, but in a travel case.

Stick to the basics!This old toy still captivates kids!
This toy is fantastic!I've seen both my kids play with it for hours.It is a great game for independent play, however my own 3 year-old greatly benefits from the help of his 5 year-old sister!I don't think many 3 year-olds are mature enough to enjoy playing it without help from a sibling/adult.After several sessions to help them train their brain how to think, a 3 year-old could happily play alone.

If done in order, the 30 puzzles in Mighty Mind progress in difficulty from using two semi-circles to make a circle, to using all 32 pieces to make a shape similar to a train with cow-catcher!The first 20 puzzles provide color clues in the picture to assist a child in selecting the needed shapes, but the last 10 are without clues and are the most challenging.

I'm at amazon checking the price vs. the manufacturer's website (1smartkid).The price here is a few cents more and is very likely for the PLASTIC shape pieces.The toy was originally made from very nice, colored WOODEN pieces and still is, but for about three dollars more. I'd recommend splurging for it - I don't know how well the plastic pieces would take being stepped on.The pieces do tend to fall to the floor - either by accident or in frustration! We are missing three shape pieces and I found the manufacturer's website while searching for replacement pieces, which can be had for about half the price of a new game.Instead of buying replacement pieces, I decided to upgrade to the wooden Super Mind set instead (exact same 32 shapes).

I just bought two dozen of these games at a fifteen percent case-discount from the manufacturer!I went to their site looking for replacement pieces for the wooden Mr. Mighty Mind (old name)and decided to buy birthday gifts for my two kids' friends in advance since my own children really enjoy this game.I bought a dozen of the Mighty Minds for the 3 year-olds for when they turn 4, and a dozen Super Minds for the 5 year-olds for when they turn 6.My daughter just turned 5 and is getting bored with Mr. Mighty Mind and I'm sure her age group will enjoy the more challenging Super Minds more.Mighty Mind is great for a 5 year old if they haven't done it before - but after hours and hours with it the more challenging Super Mind will be more fun.

TIP: I like to find an age-appropriate, gender-neutral gift for my kids to give as gifts, buy it in bulk (often at a discount!)and spend an hour wrapping them all in advance.I also had a roll of personalized stickers made for each of my kids that say "Happy Birthday from (Name)" and I put the stickers on after wrapping.SO MUCH CHEAPER than buying individual cards!Then, the day of a bday party, we grab a wrapped gift from the hall closet and go!

Mighty Mind and/or Super Mind are both great gifts for this purpose, because even if the child already has one, another set makes if more fun to play with a friend instead of all alone! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. Learning    3. Easy Puzzles    4. Shapes    5. Preschool    6. Games    7. Strategy Games    8. Activity   

Editorial Review

With five levels of play, from junior to expert, Railroad RushHour offers a challenge for kids and grownups alike. The puzzle consists of a sturdy plastic grid, 40 puzzle cards (with solutions on the back) for ages 8 and older, 10 junior challenge cards for ages 6 to 8, 17 brightly colored blocking trains, two blocking baggage platforms, a blue-and-white striped travel pouch, and "you," the little red escape locomotive. Trains are placed on the grid as indicated on each puzzle card. The object is to steer your escape locomotive through the freight yard and out the exit gate indicated. You can warm up your problem-solving skills by getting the puzzle out of the box. All aboard for fun! --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Railroad Rush Hour - new moves, new pieces, great fun!
Like Rush Hour, Railroad Rush Hour has you "escaping" the traffic jam... this time in the railroad yard, where the traffic can include rail cars and cargo.Rearrange the pieces to get the engine out.

40 challanges included; nylon bag stores pieces when not in use.Larger than Rush Hour pieces makes this puzzle easier to handle for eager young solvers.And with the new pieces, the challanges are all new and different, even for Rush Hour lovers!

Teriffic fun, great value
This game really is great.My autistic 11-year-old gets
a good mental challenge and feeling of accomplishment out of it,
and I have fun as well.My only negative comment is regarding
travel.We've taken it on many plane trips, and it's great
because it fits in a small area to play as well as store, but
it has a lot of small parts (duh! :-), and they are easy to lose
track of when travelling.So be vigilant, and find all those
train cars when putting it away! :-)

Railroad rush hour - a great game for all
This is a fabulous game for people of all ages.Even little kids can play the easy cards.The harder ones can be very engrossing for adults.My son started playing it when he was 4 years old. I have also given it to somebody as a present for their 40th birthday.I recommend it for anybody who wants a bit of a mental challenge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles    3. Strategy Games    4. Brain Teasers    5. Activity    6. Games    7. Grid Games    8. Brain Games    9. Learning    10. Board Games    11. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

You can't yell, "You sunk my battleship!" at your opponent in this version of Battleship, because the adversary is a palm-size computer. There are 5 ships--just like in the standard full-size game--to position strategically on the tiny but remarkably easy-to-see display. Choose auto or manual positioning and skill level, then bombs away! Hits and misses are tracked alternately on the 9- by 10-inch square grid for you and your electronic rival. Three different games require different naval maneuvers to score the most points. Just see if you can stay afloat and sink all of the computer's battleships at skill level 3. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great handheld adaption of board game.
Very fun if you're a battleship fan.. the other two modes and other skill levels is a nice touch.The only complaint I have is that the sound effects rather suck.

Torpedoes & broadsides
In a state of nostalgic glee, I recently grabbed this portable one-player LCD game to see how it compared to the original. I found it to be a great diversion during those times when I don't have a human opponent to go up against. Which seems to be quite often nowadays, but let's not get into that; time for me to give this product a proper review. And to do so, I've decided to follow Amazon's toy ratings format and break this down into the three big ratings factors...

FUN: Although the entire unit is quite small (about 5" by 3.5"), the game screen is big enough to be able to make out all the action, which is definitely an advantage. I found each of the three different game settings (the traditional alternating shots, one shot for each active ship, keep shooting until you miss) reasonably challenging on level one. It's levels two and three, however, that REALLY makes these little battles a tough outing for me! If I somehow manage to survive on L3, I usually have only one vessel left, and one shot to go before sinkage! You can also either have the computer choose how you want your vessels arranged with selections you can scroll through, or you can rotate `em and place `em down yourself.

The only thing I miss somewhat when I play this is the sounding out of the grid coordinates and hearing `miss' or `it's a hit!' Y'know, the classic things you hear and say when you're playing the original Battleship™ with a good friend-or complete stranger for that matter. Instead, all you'll hear here is the beeping of the shot cursor as you select a square to fire upon, as well as the dropping of the bomb and (hopefully) the hit. Then there's the playing of `Taps' after a defeat, or a victory tune if the opposite outcome transpires. If you wish to keep your little simulated vessel combat scenarios discreet, however, there is a `sound on/off' button. This feature is especially helpful at keeping folks from road-ragin' on you during those long cross-country road trips!

DURABILITY: So long as you don't touch the LCD screen, drop it on the ground too many times, or throw it into a body of water in utter frustration, this handheld game should bring you many a happy year of playing enjoyment. Oh yes, it might help to replace the large button-cell battery every once in a blue moon or so. Fortunately the game has an auto shut-off when left idle for a minute or so, which of course means longer battery life.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE: I find the fun in Battleship™ to be more diversionary than educational. Well, unless you consider the strategic spacing of your shots to get a better chance of hitting an enemy ship to be a high point of scholastic achievement that is. Otherwise, I don't think electronic Battleship™ will help you grab top honors in vessel combat tactics & strategy at the naval academy. Class dismissed!

`Late

Electronic games are sweet!
This Electronic Handheld game is a great game. It is a great part in my game collection. Instead of lugging around the regular game, this one fits right in your pocket! My family owns these electronic games: Yahtzee, Uno, and Battleship. I've played them all, and I have to say that they have addvantages that the regular games don't. Yahtzee: Instead of keeping track of the dice, cup, papers and pencils, it's all in a pocketsized game. Uno: Ever had a problem with all those cards such as shuffling, puting away, or just keeping track of. Well, in this pocketsized game it keeps track of all of that stuff. And Battleship: The regular game can be played electronicly, but there's still all those small pegs. With the electronic game, all of the pegs aren't needed. Just a simple dot on the screen tells you where you have shot. The only problem (which isn't much of a problem at all) with electronic handheld games is the batteries. They will wear out, but a simple replacement will put you back in the game. So when your shopping for a present, or just a fun toy or game, consider electronic handheld games. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Action and Adventure   

Editorial Review

This crazy soccer game is the perfect introduction to team sports for preschoolers. The plastic goal is sized just for smaller people and the miniature soft foam ball is easy on little feet. A goofy talking goalie is built right into the goal posts to shout out encouragement and challenges so kids can improve their game. The goalie wiggles back and forth as kids try to score and does some lighthearted trash-talking with expressions such as "Try and get it past these moves," and "Kick that thing in here." When kids score a goal, they are rewarded with cheering crowd sounds and congratulatory remarks from the goalie, such as "Nice shot, kid!" along with a response from the ball itself. An easy-to-operate ball release lever sends the ball down the goal's ramp and out on the lawn for more soccer playing. The goal operates via four "C" batteries (not included) and requires some help from adults to get it assembled. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (37)

LOLOLOLOL
This is the cutest little thing I have seen.My daughter is 3 and we both play with it.She gets so excited when she kicks it in and it cheers for her.Not to mention that it is helping with her coordination.

We also have the bowling game by this company...I believe it is called silly 6 pins and that too is just a riot...although she is too young to actually roll the ball with much precision.

She has beat the daylights out of the bowling game for the last year and it is still as good as the first day...and we have had this soccer game for about 2 weeks and it has never had a piece brake.But I do see how if they were picking it up or trying to carry it that it would fall apart.Not that it would take more than a second to snap it back together if it did come apart.

I give this 5 stars for great fun, as well as learning coordination, as well as having no problems with its construction.

PS we bought this at over 50% off on clearance at another store what a bargain!

A fun game but its to big to have in the house
We purchased this for our little boy who is almost 4.He loves soccer and we thought this would be a good idea for him to learn to practice soccer before he started playing on the soccer team.He really likes it and its fun how the goal rocks back and forth and talks to you as you play.
I however, would'nt recommend this if you plan on playing it in the house, its to big and is'nt practical to store in a childs room and its impossible to take apart and put back together unless you have all day!It would be a great purchase if you had a basement to store it in, but we had planned on storing it in our childs room as we don't have a basement.We ended up taking it apart and its still apart, as its to much of a hassle putting back together all the time.I would think twice about buying this game and if I had the chance to buy it again I would'nt.

Save Your Money!
I would feel better throwing my money in the toilet than buying this toy. It's too small and will never look like it does on the box because it's NEVER in one piece. In fact, the box is worth more than the toy. It's going in the trash today! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Reliving my college days...
Back when I was a student at Va tech, me and my roomies used to play this (Sega Genesis NHL 95) all the time... well, maybe not all the time. After graduation I aquired the PC version, NHL Hockey 95, which I still have, but unfortunately it doesn't play well with XP (haven't been able to get the sound working, for one thing.... yea, tried VDS, etc, etc). My cousin and I used to play this one all the time... well, anyway. Until this came out I hadn't played the game for 2-3 years, but was contemplating buying an old laptop to use just for this game so that when I was home for the holidays my cousin and I could play once again. Then this thing comes along. We were both like "Cool!!" Forget the football, but the hockey is worth the price alone. I almost completed a season in the week I have had it... very addicitive.... and fun. The only drawback is that they took out the player names... but all the stats are there. I don't remember everything about the original, but it seems they took out some other stuff too, like skill level (Rookie, Pro, All-star... maybe some other stuff). I think they just used the All-star level for this game, because its harder than I remember... the defense is very tough. I really have to fight hard for points. It just makes a win all that more fun... and a loss all that more devastating. Anyway, I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the old game... or a fan of hockey. It doesn't have all the fancy graphics and stuff... but the gameplay and fun-factor are there in spades.

Overall good, but buyer beware...
I just picked this up last week. I had to have the two player version so my wife and I could "bond".. All in all I like both games, but the lack of player names on both titles, while understandable due to licensing, is unfortunate. While I know most of the NHL top level player and ALL of the Flyers from NHL 95, and at least all of the Cowboys of Madden 95, I don't know enough-- it is still of fun diversion to spend a half an hour or so before bed. The controllers, while basically faithful to the original clunky Genesis models, feel squshy on the directional controls and the butten lack the tactile respone I remember..But hey, that was -- geez TEN YEARS ago..I look forward to more of these plug and plays by Jakks and everyone else..

Hockey is good, football is not
A near-perfect translation NHL '95, and a not-so great port of Madden '95.I'd originally heard that FIFA '95 (soccer) was supposed to be on here too, but I guess it never made it to the final product...

I got this last night - the hockey had some ommisions from the original (like the players NAMES - here you only get the jersey numbers; I assume there was a problem with licensing, possibly related to the current NHL lockout?!), but otherwise was still the same great game, and is a ton of fun to play.

The football, however, was barely playable.You can barely read the plays, and there's hardly any sound (no crowd noise, poor 'Maddenisms'), and even the music at the title screen isn't the classic music - it's just the re-used hockey music.

Design / implementation-wise, I thought they could've made it so you could daisy-chain the controllers together, but no - the single player version of this is a completely separate product - if you want to play two player you have to buy the two-controller version - you can't add on at a later date.This is unfortunate because these games (in the original Genesis versions) supported 4 players, which of course ups the fun factor by A LOT, but isn't possible they way Jakks decided to put it together.

I will continue to love this product for the hockey game, but I won't even look at the football game again.If you're an old-school fan of NHL'95, then this is worth the cash, but I just wish they could have left out the football and enhanced the hockey (like putting in the players names - it's hard to remember who's who from back in '95!).

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Car Racing    5. Sports    6. Action and Adventure   

Editorial Review

Adhering closely to the stereotypes of the animal kingdom, wise owl Professor Oliver is ready to impart his vast learning of the alphabet on young children looking to learn. The hard plastic Professor comes complete with an alphabet game board and 26 small cardboard tiles that match up with the spaces on the board. He leads a simple sing-along of the alphabet game, teaching the melody that is at the foundation of alphabet learning for generations. Additionally, he can lead two games. In the first, kids are asked to find tiles in the order of the alphabet. In the second game, letters are called for out of sequence, providing an extra challenge. The small letter tiles seem destined to end up floating about the house if one isn't careful but this is still a charming way to practice alphabet skills. Three AA batteries required.--Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (9)

really quiet
This game is easy to play and understand, even for kids 3 and 4 years. They have to put the card in Mother Goose, so it keeps them active in the game. It is really quiet though, so if the kids are too wound up to sit, they won't hear the directions from Mother Goose.With only a few songs, the game does get old quick, but it is always a fun game.

DUCK DUCK GOOSE - A Winner !
We have the Duck, Duck Goose version of this game and my 2 yr old absolutely loves it !We started her on it at 25 months and caught on to the game after mom showed her how 1 round of play.

This game teaches color matching, taking turns, winning/losing, "missing a turn", and more.Basically you push the goose's head and each time it say "duck" or "goose".If it says "duck", you move to the next duck on the game board and push the goose's head again.If it says "goose", then you pick up the duck in front of the goose and see if it matches a color on your nest.If it does you place the duck on it; if not, you place the duck back on the board. Once you've matched 3 ducks to your nest, you win !

PROS
- Teaches color matching
- Pieces are large enough for small toddler to grab on to easily
- While playing game you push the Main Goose's head down; it's extremely easy to do so
- Catchy tune is played when there is a winner (you push the goose's tail and it sings a song)
- There is an on/off switch

CONS
- Duck playing pieces are made of cardboard, which over time could break-down
- Main Goose runs on batteries, which as we all know is the norm these days :)
- When you want to play for the 1st time or want to play after pressing the "winner" song, you must wait for the Goose to sing a welcome song; daughter usually keeps pushing the goose's head down while waiting for this song to start and finish, thinking that it will go quicker.
- No volume control

Daughter loves to run around the house with the goose in hand and sing and dance to it.

OVERALL An all around cute, fun game for those that are still a bit young for Chutes n Ladders or Candyland, but understand colors and taking turns.

Way too Easy
This game really does not have much excitement and is very simplistic.My 3 years old was bored with it in about 2 minutes after getting it for christmas.The game is very simple and really does not hold a child's attention very well.It is durable and the singing Mother Goose is cute however. I guess it would be alright for a child who does not already know there nursery rhymes. ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (25)

Godlike.
Hey, be warned. This game is going to come back in a big way. Be on the leading edge and buy this game now, take it to school with you. Im in college and just bought it today, its already the talk of school. Everyone is so nostalgic for toys from the early 90's, Crossfire fills that void beautifully. Be the cool kid, buy this.

CROSSFIRE RULES
Crossfire is the greatest board game (that doesn't involve dice) ever to be created.I'm really surprised that the game isn't one of the top sellers at Milton Bradley.The game works almost flawlessly and is entertaining for hours on end.I recommend that you go buy it rigt now!

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

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Reviews (2)

ABigHit at our house
I bought this game for my son (now 11) two years ago on a Christmas shopping whim. Basically I was down to the end of my shopping, but it looked cool I was tired of shopping so I threw it in the cart. This past year we needed the booster box because we play it so often. It's fun for kids and grownups to play together. We include my younger son (5,a non reader) by playing with teams.Although there is an element of chance, you don't know what kind of task you will be given to perform all the time, I like this game because it incorporates different learning skills and learning styles so there is more then one way to be successful. You are working againest the timer so you need to think quickly and creatively using a variety of materials: clay, charades, and drawing in addition to answering questions and of course the special glasses are part of the fun.

The Best Game!
This game is the best game i ever played! Me and my friend played it for hours! I really recomend this game because you will have a blast acting sculpting and drawing! Get CADOO! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Reviews (16)

Good game for the money
I think this game was worth the money, we play it a lot at my house and we are big board game players.It is NOTHING LIKE THE ORGINAL CLUE GAME, so if that's what you are looking for, look elsewhere.I would like to see more then 4 people be able to play. And you can p;ay with 2 people, but It's not very fun because you end up following each other around the board asking each other questions. That gets dull, the more people the better.

The improved CLUE
This version is better than the first one! My first time playing was at my friend's house. I LOVED it! the only disadvantidge was if you're making a guess, and taking up too much time, it starts saying "Miss Peach, please move." Itget's annoying, but it's better not having to waste time rolling the dice. I think it's great!

okay..............
Pretty fun to play and the sound effects are pretty cool, the only problem is that it sometimes takes a little while for the game board to recegnize the pieces.still pretty fun though
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good Introduction To The United States Map
Our 5 year-old son plays this game with us and we all enjoy it. This game is a great way to teach children the names and locations of the states.It also teaches an interesting fact about each state.In this version of the game, the players don't have to know the names of the state capitals, but since that information is provided on the game board my son is picking up on it too.

There is a 60 second timer so you can help level the playing field by varying the amount of time older players have to read the card and give the answer.We give our son 45 seconds and my husband and I get 15 seconds.We all finish well ahead of the timer, but we find it easier to use the main intervals marked on the timer.You could use different intervals if you desired.

Durability: We buy a lot of board games and this one has held up better than the others.The cards are thick so they are not easily bent.Also each set of cards has a zip bag so they stay stacked and sorted when you put them away.

We love it.
Our daughter loves this game. She got it when she was 4.5 years old and it became an instant hit. She learned a lot from this game since then. Now she is almost five years old and we are ready to get her the Great State game for older kids. (she calls it "Great State Senior.") And we are going to give the Great State Junior game to some of her best friends for their birthdays.

Great for Vacations
Our family loves to travel the United States.I picked up this game to give my five year old son a visual aid in learning where we have been and where we plan on going.It has helped him on many level of learning.Just a great game for great kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Games    3. Board Games    4. Trivia    5. Geography    6. Preschool    7. Activity    8. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

Act like someone walking in flippers. Got that? Now act like a frog. Tooeasy? Then test your ingenuity: act like fog. Charades is a great way to teachand foster the arts of make-believe, and with this version you can start earlybecause no reading skills are required. Players move around a game board inresponse to the throw of a dice and the cards they pick up. Each card has threethings to "be," and the top one of each trio is pictured so that prereaders canparticipate. First one to the Finish is the... (stand proudly on podium, wave tofriends in the crowd, bow graciously). Get it? --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (4)

fun, but also ready to learn!
This game is very educated. this is learning more game, it makes your child learn like, lets say it was, nocking on the door, they learn how you do it. if it was, a cat, it would teach them how it moves. this game is very fun, even i am 8 years old! ( i still enjoy it allot!)my sister is 10 and she is always playing along! this is a great game. but it's a bummer that the peaces are small enough to choke. if you are trying to save money, than play without the, peaces, bord and cards! just imigine!

Fun game for lots of ages and occassions
This is a favorite game for my family.We rarely us the board game, but have fun using the cards.For non-readers, the picture cards are great; the kids feel they are an equal part of the game.I've taken this to family reuinions and gatherings and had great fun.

Great fun for all ages
This is one of our five-year-old daughter's favorite games, and one the whole family can enjoy together.The picture cards enable very young non-readers to participate, too.Quite often we use the cards to play without the game board.

After two years, she still enjoys playing this game -- it has definitely stood the test of time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Board Games    4. Preschool   

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games