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 (86)

Deluxe not like the old Deluxe
I purchased the new deluxe Scrabble game for my sister in January and was terribly disappointed in how it was made.We both love to challenge each other in Scrabble matches when we are together and her game really needed to be replaced.I was embarrassed at how cheaply the new game is.For the wonderful game that it is, I do believe they could have made a much better version of the turntable model for the price I had to pay for it.Hope they will improve it soon.

Fantastic fun for those who love words and word play...
This along with the official scrabble dictionary is the perfect gift for those who love scrabble. It has a TURNTABLE, that is all I need to say.The turntable makes this so much more enjoyable as it is so easy to manuever it to view it straight on in front of you. I wish the game were a bit more substantial but it is a vast improvement over a traditional set because of the turntable as you just store everything in the base.

Before you buy this...
Check eBay for a complete older version.This one is poorly made,I remember the old deluxe was deluxe.For the new one the best price is here, that I found.And you can't live without this game ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Classic Games    5. Word Games    6. Learning   

Editorial Review

Sally, Stevie, Stanley, Sophie, Stewie, and Sid are six colorful, lightweight bowling pins--each with their own personality--that talk to kids while they bowl. Taunts such as "C'mon!Roll the ball already!" get kids started, and phrases such as "Whew!That was close," keep them aiming for the pins. Bells, whistles, and cheers are heard if a spare or strike is bowled. The tan plastic base has six colored circles to hold the pins in place, but it is not required that colors match up for a game to begin. Silly 6 Pins only keeps score one frame (two balls) at a time, so keep a pad of paper nearby if you're playing as a family. Three AA batteries are required, but not included. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Fun for the whole family!
My little boy got to open this on Christmas Eve, his grandparents got it for him.My little boy was so shocked and excited when he saw the game!He had wanted this game for several months but I was'nt sure he'd like it as much as he wanted it but it was one of those games that I was wrong about- He loves it!I have to admit it is really a fun game.Thebowling pens shake and talk to you as you play and they say funny, cute phrases.My little boy who is almost 4 can set the game up him self and play it without anyone else or if he wants we can play with him.I like games that he can understand and be able to play without having a second player all the time.It makes this game even more a good purchase because being an only child there is'nt many games that are like this.He loves this game and still plays it a lot even 3 1/2 months later.I would reccommend it!

FUN FOR ALL AGES
I was reluctant to purchase this toy for my son's third birthday simply because he has never been bowling or knew anything about it.However, based on your reviews I decided to try it out.My son is not easy to keep busy and this was the trick!This toy is a blast!He loves to set the pins up just as much as he loves to knock them down.He plays it with his 12 year old sister and it seems to be the only time that they don't bug eachother.They have a ball!we all do, the voices are cute, but I wish it was louder.Easy to clean up, and just plain fun!I think we will get lots of milage out of this game.

FUNNY game
My girls were given this game a couple years ago. . .ages 2 and 3.They crack up over the voices and play it still.I like it also b/c it's so darn cute! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Games    3. Preschool    4. Party Games    5. Wacky    6. Tabletop Games   

Editorial Review

The Heroscape line of toys is like the all-star game of make believe. While other games might focus on a specific era of history, the age of chivalry, perhaps, or the Jurassic period, Heroscape puts everyone together on one enormous madcap battlefield. Vikings, World War II soldiers, ninjas, mutant monsters, samurais, dinosaurs, dragons, they’re all there, done up as tiny, highly detailed figure. It would be sort of comic if all the players didn’t look so gosh-darn serious. 85 interlocking terrain tiles are also included so you can craft exactly the landscape you wish for all the action to happen on. Multiple dice are featured along with game cards and detailed instructions on how to play. We liked the boundless imagination of this game and the open-minded versatility of its imaginary protagonists. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Features

• Construct the customizable 3-D, interlocking-tile board with terrain and terrain accessories - the field and the battle change with each game! Includes 30 detailed miniature warriors 10 game scenarios including 5 ways to build your field, and 10 ways to play.
• Intense, but easy-to-learn game play: heroes actions are governed by stats on army cards indicating movement, range, armor, attack powers and more.
• Eliminate all your enemys pieces to win.
• Collect and build your armies and pit them against your friends armies for endless gaming variety.
• Ages 8 & Up.

Reviews (28)

Excellent Game - Storage system needed
This game is very well made, very intuitive game play and all hand painted characters are well designed.The only negative on this entire game is finding a way to store it when it is not being played.The box it comes in is totally useless and will not easily allow you to put the game back into it once done (although I have come close to getting it all in on a few occasions).My advice is purchase a large plastic container to store it in when you purchase the game, but I highly recomend purchasing the game, you will be glad you did!!

Awesome Interactive Game
This game really brings my son & I together & he's learning so much that he doesn't realize he's learning - like creative problem solving!!!Definitely worth the money.

Great game even for younger children...
Recently I've been searching for more traditional (i.e. board) games for my 5 year old son in an effort to (1) get him away from all the electronic goodies he uses and (2) spend some quality family time with him.I tried some of the common old style board games (Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, SORRY!, etc...) but they didn't hold his interest for more than a few minutes.Knowing that he's just a year or two from being introduced to YuGiOh or Pokemon or whatever else his peers are into these days, I considered some of those games to try out with him.But being able to understand those games is just too far away for him right now and I couldn't see a way to simplify them so that he could at least get a foot hold on the learning curve.

So, while browsing the game isle at my local Wal-Mart I notice HeroScape.I was pretty sure the little action figures would capture his attention which is the first step in getting him going on any game.After doing some research on the game (www.heroscape.com takes you to a great site with all sorts of demos and information about the game) and after reading all of the reviews here on Amazon, I felt like I couldn't go that wrong trying it out.What made me more comfortable was the fact that there are two modes of play you can use... a basic mode and an advanced mode.So I made the purchase.I knew I made a good choice the first night I showed him the game.He was thoroughly fascinated with all of the little characters (particularly with the dragon and the guy who rides the dinosaur).However, at 5 years old, I knew he wasn't interested in the rules even in the basic mode of play so I simplified things... a lot.I set up the terrain tiles in a simple landscape layout strictly for aesthetic value and scattered some figures at either side of the board.I explained to him that he can choose which character he wants to control and which he wants to attack.No movement rules... just a good guy and a bad guy.Then I showed him that we each role ten dice (use the red or blue but not both as they're different), if he has more "face ups" than I have, he wins and gets to capture my character... if not I win and capture his.If we tie then we roll the 20 sided dice to see who gets the highest number and then that person wins. Those are the only rules in our game.And that is one of the biggest features of this game...you can make it whatever you like.I tell stories as we play that incorporate the characters on the board and his face is just lit up with imagination.

I was pretty sure that if he liked it, this game was going to help teach him creative thinking and strategy (once he evolved out of "5 year old mode") but it really hadn't occurred to me that his math skills would be polished while we play.For the 2 or so hours we played (yeah, see if "Candy Land" can hold a 5 year old's attention that long) he was clearly picking up speed counting his dice, counting mine, and comparing values.I am extremely pleased with this game, and to be quite honest, I too think its fun to play and I'm sure as we move into the more advanced modes it will be even better.

One note about something my wife said when I showed her the game... she was afraid it was going to be like Dungeons and Dragons.In other words she was concerned that it would be too violent or somehow otherwise unhealthy.Well, first of all, I explained D&D wasn't like that (but that's another story) and second, that there is nothing more violent about this game than playing cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, or even little green army men.You get out of it what you put into it.For instance, our characters don't die, they get captured.

I agree with pretty much all of the positive reviews here on Amazon for this game and also agree with the issue of the box being too small to get everything back into once you take it out.Will it all fit again?Yes, but that's no small task and its much easier to get a rubbermaid container and use that with some zip-lock sandwich bags or something for the smaller parts.

In summary, this is a fantastic game that can be adapted to younger players if the parents use a bit of imagination.I think it will grow with the child at the child's pace and rival any game that's on the shelf now.Its expandable as well with new packs of characters coming out from time to time.I hope this helps people considering this game to try it out, I really think you'll be glad you did.
... Read more

Reviews (20)

much better
as in the title (advanced mission) is the main feature of the game. instead of shooting only 1 space at a time like in classic battleship you get weapons for most of the ships! for example submarines have sonar which scan 9 spaces for ships but doesn't give the exact coordinate have two torpedos that fire horizontally or vertically down one row or across a column till it hits. the destroyer can hit 3 spaces at once horizontally or vertically and aircraft carrier can hit 5 spaces at once. also you can launch 2 recon planes off of the aircraft carriers. a recon plane is used to scan a small area(4 spaces) each for ships and gives exact coordinates when. although useful, it takes 2 turns to launch the plane or move it to another point and scan. of course both players get AA guns to shoot down those nosy planes. finally the battleship has the most devastating weapon in the game- the tomahawk missile. only can be used once and hits 9 spaces at once. because it is a computer that stores your ships' position if you play against the computer (you can) the computer always hits your ships when using a special weapon. the use of strategy gets BATTLESHIP 5 stars for educational value but overall the game got 3 stars because the hit and miss pegs are incredibly hard to remove and sometimes need to be removed with pliers.

Cool twist on classic battleship
I bought this game for my son but both he and I love the game.It takes the basic battleship game and adds some complexity and variety by letting you choose from among several modes of play.The salvo mode lets you attack your opponent one space at a time, but the advanced mode is really our favorite.In this mode each of your ships has a set of missles that allow you to attack groups of squares in different patterns.The submarine, besides having two torpedoes, can be used to search for the opponents ships.The more you play the game, the more sophisticated the strategy gets.For example, you have to decide whether to use your assests to scan for the enemy ships, or to use your weapons before your ships can be detected and sunk.It is an easy game to learn and we have had hours of fun with it.My son's friends come to the house and want to play this game instead of computer games!

The only negative about the game is that it is really "chatty".Every time you make a selection of your weaponry, you will hear a rather long (5 - 10 second) soundtrack telling you your weapons are ready to fire.If you play the game a lot, these soundtracks slow the game down and become moderately annoying.Other than this minor annoyance, the game has been great fun.

great toy for convicts
I would have bought this toy for a convict.Otherwise, its worthless.My children found it borish, lame and no fun at all.I thought it was pointless.I would advise anyone with a few dollars to save their money. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

The Best Game I Own, but for Hardcore Fans Only
You better know your stuff before you plan on purchasing this game and make sure you know 2-4 people who know more than they should as well about the Star Wars universe. Some of these questions are extremely tough and there are very few easy ones. I used to play the Decipher Star Wars card game, so my memory of those cards actually helped me a lot with remembering certain characters that were barely mentioned in the films. This is a truly great game that we knowledgeable Star Wars fans finally deserve.

If you're a Star Wars fan, this is fun
There's nothing like getting together with fellow Star Wars fans and play this special version of Trivial Pursuit. It's great! It's just like the old Trivial Pursuit with, of course, questions only about Star Wars. When you try for a wedge, however, you have to resort to one of two DVDs that come with the game for the question. If you don't answer the question in the time limit given, your oponents can shout out the right answer - as long as they don't have the wedge - and possibly steal it from you. If you like the classic Trivial Pursuit and you happen to be a Star Wars fan and you have a couple like-minded friends or family members, this is a lot of fun and definitely worth the money. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This enchanting activity game will keep younger kids happily distracted, whether it's played indoors or out. A cute, blue elephant blows 30 feathery, vinyl butterflies from its 4-foot trunk into the air. The trunk, made of flexible plastic, stands straight up when the small, quiet motor in the elephant's bottom is turned on. Kids use mesh nets (four included) to capture the most butterflies, same-color butterflies, or just catch 'em period. Requires four C batteries, not included. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (234)

THIS WAS A WASTE
THIS GAME WAS A WASTE OF TIME BUYING. IT BLOWS NO BUTTERFLYS MOTOR SUCKS AND WHEN IT DID IT WAS LIKE 3 EVERY 60 SEC. WE TOOK THIS GAME BACK. THIS GAME IS THUMBS DOWN.THE KIDS WERE SO SO SAD AT THIS GAME.

No good
I bought this toy for my daughter who stated it was the only thing she wanted for her birthday.It was fun the two times that we played, but on the third time, the motor wouldn't start.I payed almost 20.00 for the game and 7.00 for new batteries for it.It was definately the shortest amount of fun I have ever paid 27.00 for, and my daughter was sorely disappointed.This toy is junk.

Not so much fun
My daughter got this for Christmas when she was 3, she became easily irritated that it was over so quickly, the butterflys shoot out in 3 seconds and it takes 2 minutes to get the game ready.She played it once.Since then it's sat in our closet.She says we can get rid of it now. ... Read more

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

Features

• Trivial Pursuit 6th Edition is the newest form of the trivia game that will provide all Trivial Pursuit fans (new and old) with the most updated experience. Comes with 4800 all new general knowledge questions in 6 categories -- People/Places, Art/Entertainment, History, Science/Nature, Sports/Leisure and Wild Card.
• Number of Players: 2-6.
• For Adults. From adding machines to laptops... JFK to George W. Bush... Bell-bottoms to bootlegs...beta cassettes to DVD.
• For over 20 years, Trivial Pursuit games have provided endless hours of trivia amusement to millions of people worldwide.
• Get yours today!

Reviews (8)

Back to the Basics, But Tinged With Pop Culture.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT VOLUME 6 is one of the better regular editions of trivial pursuit to come along in several years (the last good regular edition was VOLUME 2). It's the same basic trivial pursuit game that has been played for the past 20 or so years, but with over 5,000 new questions.The categories are the same as in most of the Trivial Pursuit games:People & Places, Arts & Entertainment, History, Science & Nature, Sports & Leisure, and Wild Card.Also, there haven't been any major rule changes as far as I can tell.

Nevertheless, the game does have one major flaw. There is an overabundance of questions relying on popular culture that pop up (pardon the pun) in all of the categories, including the history and science & nature categories.I know that some of the early Trivial Pursuit games made for young people contained many pop culture references, but the original Trivial Pursuit games did not. One of the reasons that the history and science & nature cateogries used to be some of the most difficult categories to win at was because they didn't have any pop culture questions. That isn't the case with this edition.

Still, the game is a lot of fun to play and is a great way to study up on useless knowledge (something that I'm quite familiar with). By the way, what extract of the cinchona tree was once known as "Jesuit bark," for the missionaries who first brought it back to Europe? Anyone know?

A:quinine.

You have to be kidding me . . .
Sorry, but Volume 6 does NOT compare to the classic Genus and Genus II versions of this game.Rather, Volume 6 relies heavily on People Magazine-type trivia -- lots of inane pop culture-oriented questions, for which even die-hard trivia fans will be saying "Who cares?"An example of this is a question about Christina Ricci appearing in a GAP commercial.This was in the HISTORY category!Lame!About 40% of the questions seemed to fall into this category.Another 20-30% were ridiculously easy, a further 20% ridiculously obscure.The creators have also ditched the nuanced questioning style of the original game, by which one could often deduce the answer, even when it was something otherwise unknown.

I think the problem here is that TP is issuing too many versions in too short a period of time.Genus 5, which I DO like, came out fairly recently (I think), and I think TP needs to take some more time to write better questions.Part of the fun of TP has been that you learn from the questions you miss.With Volume 6, you just don't care.

An old classic
If you're unfamilliar with the concept of this game, which I can't really imagine, Trivial pursuit, in all its many incarnations, is a game of trivia, in which you must answer correctly at least one question in each category in order to win.The categories are: Arts and Entertainment, Sports and leisure, Science and nature, People and places, History, and a wild card category.The questions are hard, most of them will be things you probably have heard of and forgotten, since they are trivia, yet you'll always find that question which you know, making the game fun and exciting for every player.For comparison, Most of the questions in this game would be up on the upper levels of the TV show Jeapordy.

If you love random trivia and love even more besting your friends and showing off your knowledge of that random trivia, then this might just be the game that you've been looking for. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Even electronic toys have gone extreme. Kids love the original Bop It, an electronic toy that challenges response time to pull, twist, and bop different parts of the toy. The Extreme 2 version adds two more tasks, more sounds, and a taunting, smart-aleck announcer who directs the game. As you get better, the game moves faster until you miss a beat and lose, accompanied by a fair amount of noise and ridicule from the toy. People who don't think they'd ever want to play Bop It Extreme 2 won't be able to put it down; it instills a compulsive need to bop till you drop. It can be played in a group and makes a good party game--even for serious adults. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Addictive
This is a fantastic game! It is a fast and furious challenge of reaction times & can be played alone, with a partner or in a group.Great for bored kids (or adults)!

Wish I could play to a higher score!
This game is very fun. It helps to to clear my mind. The down side is that it stops at 250. I've reached 250 a few times wanted to see if it was just a mistake but nope it only goes to 250. Other than that great for the younger kids helps with listening and motor skills. As far as us adults who play, the game needs to go higher than 250. Overall good fun.

This game is for Christmas - not for Life
Hours of addictive fun for all the family.Best used with some headphones if gran keeps nagging you to eat more cakes at a family gathering; which can be off putting to say the least!
I have stated that "This game is for Christmas -not for life" because it only you allows you to get up to 250ish and then it stops - Challenge over - motivation to play it GONE!
However practising to get up to 250 is great fun.Recommended.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Games    3. Handheld    4. Electronic   

Reviews (38)

Great entertainment for toddlers!
My son got the Video Now Jr. for Christmas and it has been a big hit.

Some of the nice features of the Jr. include:
*Bigger Buttons for smaller fingers. (Play, Stop, FF, Rev)
*Double slide latches to open cover.This makes it more difficult for little ones to open the unit and mess with disk or damage the lens.
*Looks and feels durable.Ours has been dropped plenty of times and keeps working.

It does use batteries faster than other toys, but it hasn't been an issue since we keep recharables around.

Age two might be a little young for this toy.My son like to use the buttons like a video game (making elmo say the same 2 words over and over and over) . . . he also likes to tap it to make it skip.But these things are more annoying than harmful to the Video Now Jr.

Overall this is a great toy.My son loves it and takes it everywhere we go.The disks available are great (Wiggles, Sesame Stree, Dora, Blues Clues.)It also play regular Video Now Color disks.It is one of the most used toys in our house!

Great toy!
This is so handy for short trips and Drs. appts. My 5 year old loves it. It doesn't suck the life out of batteries like I thought it would and it is so durable. It has been dropped plenty of times and still works perfectly. The volume controls make it so that you don't feel the need to throw it out the window. It really is a great item that will last!

The fun doesn't last long
The life of the batteries in this toy is about 4 to 5 hours of playing time.Once the kids watch a few videos the batteries need to be replaced immediately.Make sure you stock up on batteries because this device requires several at a time and you will be replacing them several times a week.

Also after two months of using it... the screen completely went out on this device...it now only plays the sound with no video. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic   

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 (47)

An EXCELLENT game with real play value!
I'd never seen this game before but it's turned out to be one of my two kids' favorite games. It's fun to play with just the pieces and to make simple patterns for decoration when you're not playing the "official" game, and throwing the lever that dumps the pieces out of the bottom is exciting, noisy and fun. Really a great game with real play value, a favorite! BUY IT!!!

Great fun and there is even a movie about it!!
Connect four has always been a favorite of mine since i was a little kid. It is a simple game with simple rules, but yet it is still a game of stratagey and can stump even most adults. This spring of 2005 Upsidedown square productions will be releasing a new blockbuster hit movie about Connect four Titled "C4 A connect four movie" Check out how this childs game changes young uryans life around at https://www.turnuptheblaarg.tk .

Fun, Easy Game
I had this game growing up and have played it with my children as well.My game from childhood is still in fine shape and was used regularly, but we took care of it and didn't fight over it or drop it.I can see how this game may break if misused a little.Anyway--it's a fun game and easy for little ones to pick up, but as other reviewers have said once you are well versed then it boils down to who goes first.I recommend for age 4 to 8 or 10. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Brain Games    3. Board Games    4. Family Favorites   

Reviews (2)

You can wait til May 19...
...or you could get this now and see tons of footage from Return of the Sith [sic] a few weeks early. That's really the only reason I bought it, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Many questions are in the form of a movie clip, and there are quite a few questions on Episode 3. And none of it is from the 11/04 teaser trailer or regular trailer that's been out for months. Though if you really want to see these clips, you're best off just playing the DVDs, rather than actually playing round after round of TP with them...

Okay, so I couldn't possibly have played it yet.But C'MON!
Sure, it's not even out yet and I'm rating the holy hell out of it.But C'MON!Imagine if the original Star Wars Trivial Pursuit and the game Scene It had a kid together...There's no way it wouldn't be great!


Again, I argue...C'MON! ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

The classic carnival game of Whac-a-mole comes right into your house in this energetic and highly silly home version. The inherent cruelty of this game is tempered considerably by how much fun the moles appear to be having while receiving repeated blows to the head with big plastic mallets. It must help that each mole gets to wear a helmet, each a different color. One to four players can join in by whacking the critter in front of them during the "sign in" period at the beginning of the game. The object of the game, naturally, is to whack the moles as they pop up and players can choose to have them light up or not. Parents should be aware of course that they are giving big plastic mallets to very young children and the result will almost certainly be that one kid whacks another before too long. It’s just bound to happen. But if those energies can be re-directed toward the moles, this is a fun and silly way to play inside. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Stopped Working X2
We purchased this game for my son's birthday.Wish I would have read the reviews on here first.We all had quite a bit of fun with the game, but it stopped working after about 1/2 hour of play.I called the manufacturer the next day and they offered to send out a replacement.The person I spoke to on the phone said that I was the first one to call in with this problem.The second one arrived today... Well, my 4 year old was playing with it at the kitchen table while I was cooking supper.It stopped working!UNBELIEVABLE!!Well, my son is now very upset, asking if I still love him, etc.He thinks he broke this thing twice.He was hitting it with the mallet... but isn't that the whole idea?It did not get dropped, thrown or anything like that.I guess we will be returning it and getting a different toy.Too bad, it was pretty fun while it lasted.

Definitelya winner!
My daughter received this for her 3rd birthday and it has been her favorite toy since then.She loves to imitate the sounds and whac the moles.The solo or easy game is just right for her age.I'd definitely recommend it.

Didn't want to get it...but...
I was not excited about getting this toy, but after an hour of begging and pleading (from my HUSBAND), I was finally talked into it.We got it, took it out of the box, and OH MY GOD, it's a blast!My 4 year old has no problem concentrating on it and whacking the moles when they light up.He loves the sounds they make and even my 1 year old tries to play!She grabs the mallet and starts whacking...not necessarily the moles either LOL.The game is a blast!If you want a game everyone can play and enjoy, this is it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Editorial Review

This electronic handheld version of Scrabble, the classic word game, will help long train commutes or plane journeys pass more quickly. With four games to choose from (two that accommodate two players) and the ability to determine the computer's intelligence, the same game isn't likely to happen twice. Bad: when you raise the computer's IQ level, it uses words like "padri" and "Varna." Good: it accepts words like "vibrio" and "bize." Sound can be turned off, and, if not in use for more than a minute, the game goes to sleep to conserve the three AA batteries (included). --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Rather limited in scope, but can be fun.
The game works well and has never malfunctioned, so physically it is very good. However, the letters in racks given are unrealistically skewed towards high-scoring letters like Q and X. Vowels are fewer than real games. The board is very small so naturally the probability of high scoring plays is small, but any good player could do well despite the size of board. I would not recommend this for adults who are advanced players as this device may be too limited in options to satisfy skilled players. However, very good for amateurs and occasional players, and has the added bonus of having a built-in dictionary so that one can be sure that all words employed are real words.

Scramble
This game is perfect for the summer.if you miss school then you can play this game to learn how to spell.If you just want to have fun this would be good too.ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

addictive but flawed
The Scrabble Express is a lot of fun in a little bit of time but can also eat up a lot of time because it's so addictive.
The main problem I experienced was when the computer played a phony word and I couldn't challenge it off the board. "RU" is no good. Later, I tried playing the same word IN THE SAME GAME and it wasn't allowed. This bothered me. Playing phonies IS part of strategic Scrabble, so there should be a challenge feature built in, or at least as a feature to toggle on and off. Bottom line, the computer shouldn't be playing phonies unless you opt to have that included as part of your decision-making.
Another flaw is that many playable words are not acceptable because the built-in dictionary is the OSPD, which omits many words deemed offensive for school play. So, short words suited for the 9 by 9 grid, such as LEZ, won't fly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Brain Games    5. Trivia   

Reviews (21)

Perfect for Toddlers
My brother bought my daughter an Elmo VideoNow disk for Christmas thinking it was a regular DVD. We waited until now to get her the player as she was just barely 2 in December (6 months can make a lot of difference at this age). We just got her the player and she loves it. She figured out how it works in no time flat. She knows colors and shapes so the colored, shaped buttons sort of reinforce what she already knows. It seems very durable but I suggest getting the carrying case to help protect against spills, etc. It also has a handle and a place to store a few extra disks. One reviewer was disappointed that it did not come with a disk but ours did. It came with some previews of Nick Jr shows and a full length episode of Dora. As for the batteries, it does drain them but like another reviewer said, get rechargables. I think this is a nice alternative to a DVD player for a child so small. Even though it's a bit expensive (I only paid $50 for ours at Walmart) it is still cheaper than a portable DVD and more durable too.

Great toy! But... make sure you buy the videos
My daughter has the video now, so my son 3, wanted one too!My parents bought it for him for potty training, but they did not know that it didn't come with any video's.He opened it, we put batteries in it and he could not use it.It didn't even come with a preview disc.He was very disappointed.
The toy is great, however it is quite expensive not to come with a disc for the kids to try.

This thing is great!
My 2 yr old daughter thinks this is the greatest thing since cheerios! Very durable, easy for little ones to use, and safe to operate. All of her favorite shows from spongebob and the wiggles to Elmo. This item is great for road trips too. A little expensive, but worth the price when you see your childs face light up. Grab the disks when you can, they are very popular and hard to find! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic   

Editorial Review

Ever play "Hot Potato" with a spud that ticks and talks? Welcome toElectronic Catch Phrase, the battery-powered (three AAA, not included) blend ofclue deduction and race against the clock. Two teams of two or more players eachalternate turns, guessing the answers to clues in 11 categories, from Food &Drink to Tech & Inventions. Set the timer on the discus-like game unit, and theclue-giving countdown begins; if a team's guess matches the response on thegame's readout, pass the unit to the opponents. Just don't get caught holdingthis potato when the buzzer sounds (after about a minute of increasinglyinsistent beating), as the other team will score a point, possession being nine- tenths of the "Awww!" With its infectious mix of fast, nerve-wracking, high- pressure passing the buck, Electronic Catch Phrase spreads a serious case offun. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (74)

So much fun!
This game is soo much fun... it really gets you thinking!It really tests how much you know and how fast your brain is able to think.. I love it!

Family Game Night Must Have.
In this game there are teams of two. You Pick a catorgory (like Sports, Food/Drink, History etc.) and useing words or actions you try and get your team-mate to guess the word (Like Shrimp, or Kentucky Derby, or pretty much any word.) And when you guess it, pass it to the other team quickly! Cause if it buzzes when you have, the other team gets a point. !st to 7 points win!

This is a GREAT game to have on the shelf when friends come over for parties. Also it is a very fun way to sit the family down for some fun that you have to use your noggin for.

I highly recromend this excellent game.

Catch Phrase Rocks
Catch phrase is so much fun, My family and I played for 2 hours straight. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Quizzes    5. Trivia   

Editorial Review

Fans of the board game Risk will find this Lord of the Rings edition--the Middle-earth version--thoroughly familiar. But there are all sorts of new opportunities and dangers here in the form of wizards, Orcs, cave trolls, and the One True Ring--the latter a gold-colored pewter replica. The four colored armies of plastic game pieces are rather small and cheaply produced, but the 20-by-20-inch game board and 40 adventure cards have a higher-quality feel and are beautifully designed. The game proceeds on the roll of two red and three black dice, and the object, of course, is control of Middle-earth. Recommended for two to four Hobbits; second breakfast not included. (Ages 9 and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (51)

LOTR Disappointment
I bought a LOTR Risk (not trilogy) board as it was much cheaper and was very annoyed that it didn't have Mordor and Gondor on it - it only tells you this on the instructions, INSIDE the wrapped box.There was also a leaflet inside it with the Expansion Board advertised on it, but all sites say that this is OUT OF PRINT!Following this, I decided to draw my own but I am still longing for that Minas Tirith game!

really fun- but takes a long time
I really liked this game and i got it because i love LOTR.It takes a long time to play but if you can find someone patient enough to play it with you then it is a blast.It used a lot of stratigy and made me think.

Great Version of a Classic Game
I grew up playing the original Risk game with my father, brother, and cousins. It has been a sort of institution in my family for years. That being said I might like this game version more. Maybe because I did play the original version so much or maybe it is because I fell in love with Middle Earth after seeing the movies but to me the addition of mountains, rivers, leaders, and strongholds changed the whole dynamic of the game and made it seem less chance based and even more strategy oriented. Troop movements and army formations must now take into account bridges and passes. Attacks must factor in leaders and strongholds.

If I had anything negative to say it would be that some of the color contrasts make it hard to tell what "continent" a province belongs to and I must agree with another reviewer that cheap marketing tactics have created two versions [FOTR/Towers and Trilogy] so definitely get the trilogy version if you are a LOTR fan or else just get the cheaper version. ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

Features

• Think fast to come up with words all beginning with a specific letter.
• Includes 6 folders and 48 category cards
• 2 to 6 players
• Adults

Reviews (63)

Good for quick-thinking players
Scattegories is so much fun! Even though it's a word-based game, you don't need a huge vocabulary to play. The categories are pretty well-known and general. The hard part is coming up with the right word in time!

To play Scattegories you choose one of 12 different games, each with 10 separate categories. So the categories in one game might be, for example:

* Things you find at the beach
* Famous people

And so on for 10 in total. You then roll a die that has letters of the alphabet on it to determine which letter all of your answers have to start with - and no repeating words in the same game! You get bonus points for multiple word answers that all start with the chosen letter. For example an answer for "Famous people" might be Ronald Reagan (2 points). Like I said before, there's a lot more pressure when you can hear the timer ticking down! Whoever gets the most points wins the game. Sometimes it's fun to make up words and see if you can get everyone else to believe you.

Scattegories is an easy game for almost anyone who can read and write. It's good with groups or just two people. You can even play it over the phone if you really want to. Highly recommended for people who like board or word games.

Great in Teams!
I'm always intrigued when I read of folks playing this game as individuals . . . I've only played it with teams (usually of 3 players each).

I host a potluck dinner and "game night" at my home every couple of months . . . sometimes a mixed group of singles and couples, sometimes friends bring their children, sometimes just a group of women friends . . . after dinner and chat we move on to the game for the evening . . . we have tried several different games, but have settled on Scattergories as one of our favorites --- it is easy to play in teams and the answers are creative and fun (with few blank spots when the timer stops!)

Each team designates one person to write while all the team comes up with answers . . . some teams have one person start at the bottom of the list while another starts at the top and they meet in the middle . . . we have found that with team play some like to move away from the table for the fill in portion of the game (into the family room, out onto the deck, etc.).

What's great about this game is that it's fun to play with all ages . . . the kids get to see adults having fun (and not taking themselves too seriously) everyone gets to play and no one is ever made to feel foolish or stupid.Even friends who think that they don't like to play games because they aren't competitive enough have enjoyed this game when played in a team.

Even people who don't like to play games like this one!
There are a few people in our extended family who simply don't enjoy playing board games or even party games of any type.However, these same people have loved playing Scattergories.It is simple in concept but challenging to the intellect.Also, it just ends up being hilarious to hear the answers that people come up with.This is the game our family has enjoyed playing more than any other game.

A must have for your game collection! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Family Favorites    6. Grownup   

Editorial Review

It sounds so simple: get your team to name common words withoutvoicing a few choice descriptors. But could you describe a wristwatchwithout mentioning time, wrist, or clock? Taboo rewards those whothink--and speak--fast. The team that correctly identifies as manywords as possible in a minute (measured with an hourglass timer) wins.If a member of the opposing team, armed with the blaring buzzer,catches the clue giver using any of the taboo words, a point is deducted from the group's score. It's a good idea to separate peoplewho know each other well, because their familiarity can be too great anadvantage. If the clue is spinach, prompting with "Mom made this everyMonday" just doesn't seem fair, though it is permissible according tothe rules. Playing Taboo requires an AA battery and a sense ofhumor--you'll need them both! The timer is included. Taboo is for fouror more players. --Leah Ball ... Read more

Features

• The game of unspeakable fun! Help your team guess everyday words but without using some of the most obvious clues!
• Features more than 1,000 words to guess! Requires 2 "AA" batteries (not included). For 4 or more players.
• Ages 12 to adult. Time is against you. You know what ypu'd say if you could only find the words.
• But some things in life are strictly...Taboo!
• Contents: 504 taboo cards card holder buzzer timer scorepad

Reviews (87)

Very fun game...
Taboo is a game that I played as a kid & I never forgot about it.I remembered it being so much fun that I asked for it for Christmas several years in a row & I've finally got it.We really enjoy this game.It's so much fun for all ages & you may think it sounds really easy but you'd be amazed at how many times you actually slip & say one of the words listed on the card that you are not supposed to say.When that happensyou will get buzzed or when you pass on a card the other team will get a point.So sometimes when it's your teams turn to give clues the other team can actually come out with more points then you earned on that turn.It's such a great game that I highly recommend.

A good game for about a half hour
I enjoy playing Taboo and always get a few laughs out of it, but a half hour is plenty.I find party games like Cranium, Balderdash and Rigamarole are far better at keeping a group's attention and interest.

Fun for hours
This word game is so much fun.Any age level could play it.It really is great.My friends and family love to play it in teams or one on one...Overall, everything is good except the buzzer is annoying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Grownup   

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 (85)

Awesoma Power!
THIS IS THE BEST GAME IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUY IT AND/OR CRY, NOW!!!!!!!!!

Do not bother with it.
I loved this game as a child and wanted to buy it for my 3 year old son.Great game, now made into a piece of PLASTIC GARBAGE!. The light weight marbles are terrible and the heads of my hippos don't even lift up most of the time.
It's truly a shame they have to ruin these type of games with cheap materials.

GREAT GAME, TOO BAD THE PLASTIC CAN'T HANDLE THE HUNGER...
Why is it that companies who decide to reissue classic games from the 50's, 60's and 70's seemingly ALWAYS do so using the cheapest of plastics?Gone are the days of thick precisely engineered plastics, strong metal supporting parts and ready-to-play-out-of-the-box sturdy construction.Instead, we get cheap inferior versions (Spirograph) and flimsy "assembly required" thin plastic versions that don't work properly (Hungry Hippos, Hands Down).C'mon folks, we're talking PLASTIC here...the stuff is plentiful and inexpensive: spend an extra 5 cents on the manufacturing end and give me a better product.

My beef with this toy is that it appears no one at the manufacturer bothered to play-test it.The lightweight plastic pellets go flying everywhere (you can't call 'em marbles anymore), the hippos get stuck or they fall off during play, and you can count on a plastic piece eventually breaking off or cracking, leaving you with crying children and extremely disappointed adults.(However, there IS satisfaction to be had after it breaks...go outside, place it in the driveway and stomp on it until it's reduced to nothing more than itty-bitty colored plastic pieces.Great for getting out the aggression this crappy toy provokes!)

Forget this rubbish, you're better off getting an original.Thank goodness for eBay, second-hand stores, and flea markets.Happy hunting! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Animals    5. Hippos    6. Preschool   

Reviews (2)

Best Risk yet!
Well, we have just had our first game of Star Wars Risk: Clone Wars Edition at open gaming day at Dr. No's Comics & Games. The session was very successful and I am very impressed with the game so far. My friend Scott and I took the Separatist army while our new acquaintances Keith and Sara took the Republic. The game lasted a total of 4 1/2 rounds, which is pretty close to a game of Risk 2210. The Republic won, in spite of a last ditch effort to turn the tide via Order 66. Unfortunately, as is the case with games where dice are involved, the dice (or the Force) was not with us. I am not speaking out against dice based games. I like an element of chance. The best laid plans and all that... Unpredictable things happen in wars, especially in Star Wars. Our strategy of holding back defensively and waiting out for a good chance at a sweeping galactic conquest with Order 66 didn't pan out. Even if our dice had been rolled better, defensive is NOT the way to play this game. Play aggressive and ALWAYS invade whenever possible. If you are the Separatists, you have GOT to invade and be successful because you have GOT to get cards and reinforcements. The Republic starts out VERY strong (as they should, since they are the dominant power in the galaxy when the war starts) and if they are allowed to gain inroads into your regions, the Seps cannot mount a strong enough defense with their now limited reinforcements. The bonus cards the Reps get from taking leaders is a brutal advantage. Protect those leaders at all costs! if you HAVE to put one in a forward territory, it better be a 1 pip leader. We were unable to hold a first turn advance by the Republic's red army and had to cough up a total of 5 cards (3 from a 3 pip leader, and one each for both Scott and myself giving up a planet). That turn pretty much set the pace for the game. We were able to stay in it until the fifth position on the Order 66 track, and I called the order at the end of my turn, but our rolls again weren't enough. Order 66 ALMOST eliminated Sara, but one of her strongest planets held firm and was able to take Palpatine on her next turn as we had nowhere really safe to stash him.
Overall, even though we lost, I had a blast with the game. It really does FEEL like Star Wars. While i was a bit disappointed with the unusual looking board at first, I grew to really like it very quickly. Troop placement is simple, there are no questionable areas ("is this a pass through the mountains, or just the artwork?"), and since there are no territory cards there is no need to spend time trying to find the name of some obscure area/region/planet (one of the few downfalls of LOTR Trilogy Risk AND War of the Ring). Never forget that every turn is important. I cannot stress that enough. No matter which side you are, you have GOT to be offensive at all times. Even though defenders gain the advantage in ties, if the invader has ships or Anakin cards that allow re-rolls, the odds are heavily against the defender. The playing time is not at all daunting and can be played in only 2 hours or so ( and a good 1/2 hour of that was set up time), so it could easily be played tournament style, switching sides after a game and playing again best 2 out of 3 or what have you.
One comment I have noticed a lot of people making is that they wish the ship tokens had been plastic pieces rather than cardstock chits. While aesthetically I agree, I believe that for gameplay and ease of use purposes, a chit with a picture on one side and a description of the ship's ability on the reverse side is much more functional than a miniature and a reference sheet next to the board. The less time spent poring through the rulebook for a rule and the more time spent invading worlds and conquering the galaxy, the better.
In my opinion, SW Risk: CWE is the best Risk I have played so far. I have 2210, LOTR Trilogy, and Godstorm (which i have not yet played, unfortunately), but this is my favorite at this point.

A disappointment
I really loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy edition of Risk, and so I was looking forward to the Clone Wars edition.Physically, the game is about the same quality--overall pretty nice but I'm not crazy about the little plastic pieces, which seem even flimsier than the Trilogy game, and much more likely to tangle up together.But that's not a big issue.It's the gameplay.

First off, in a 4 player game, 2 players are good (Republic) and 2 are evil (Separatist), and you are not allowed to attack your own ally.(Gosh, there goes half the fun of Risk right there!) I've yet to come up with a strategy that lets the good side win.During the game, the Separatists have a one-time opportunity to invoke "Order 66".When this happens, each and every planet (territory) in the Republic is checked against a die roll, and a losing roll means the planet becomes Separatist.In every game I've played so far, this wipes out the Republic.Not only have you lost the territories themselves, but all their troops turn against you.It's maddening to be playing the Republic, building up for a great crushing attack and blip, here comes Order 66, bye bye lovely troops.Once issuing Order 66, the Separatists must then place the Emperor (a special piece) on a planet, where he must remain, and the Republic will automatically win the game if they take this planet.But I have yet to get the Republic to recover enough to strike at the Emperor.

The dark side just has too many advantages to make this game fun to play.In the LOTR Trilogy edition, evil starts out stronger, but with good strategy, good can still win.But I just can't figure out the strategy here to make things even. ... Read more