nto the third dimension ... (Connect 4 Advanced)

Member Name: competition.man

Product:	Connect 4 Advanced
Date:	05/09/05 (1701 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 3d version , harder to play

Disadvantages: fiddly

Connect 4 - Advanced
~++++++++++++++++++~

No matter how old you are , you have probably at some time or another played Connect 4 by MB games , or a copy version from the many available .
In deed every Xmas you see it advertised on the TV. and placed prominantly on shop displays , such is its popularity .
Part of this popularity is owed due to its ease of play - what could be simpler than taking in turns to place your coloured counters within a 8 * 8 grid , with the aim of getting four counters in a line , be it horizontal , vertical or diagonal.

Now MB games have taken it upon themselves to re-invent the wheel ( so to speak ) , and breathe new life into this old friend , with the release of Connect 4 - Advanced.

~ A look back in history ~

Back in the eighties , when computers were in their infancy , computer graphics were crude to say the least . With two dimentional graphics the best you could hope for , board games were the early games rulers , in partricular chess and draughts .
Then you had the likes of noughts and crosses , and from this we eventually got 3D noughts and crosses , which was played on three 3 * 3 grids , that were placed on the screen to appear at different heights. I can remember playing such a game on a Commodore Pet , Oric-1 and Research Machines 480Z ( anyone remember these machines ? ).

~ So what of that history ~

Well , it just goes to prove that even twenty years ago , the idea of expanding a basic game was evident and available .
Indeed , MB Games , have taken the 3D element of 3D Noughts and Crosses , and tweaked the idea , to produce Connect 4 - Advanced - the 3D version of that classic game .

~ The game itself ~

Gone are the traditional parts to Connect 4 - they have no use here .
The 8 * 8 framed grid is replace by a 4 * 4 grid arena in traditional MB blue livery . The counters have been replaced by clear plastic spinning top shaped discs that are stackable , and have a rubber tipped top that is either coloured red or yellow ( there are thiry-two of each colour ) .
Inside the product box , you find these items ( along with four rubber feet that need to be attached to the area base for stability ) , placed ontop of a black plastic tray , which doubles as a storage unit when the game is put away .

~ Playing the game ~

As per original Connect 4 , the idea is to get four counters in a row , in order to win the game .
Now as there are only 16 available spaces , and there are 64 discs available for use , so in order to be able to use your discs , means you have to stack discs ( upto a maximum of 4 high ) , during the game , hence the 3D effect .
Having so many discs in a confined area could make it difficult to see lower placed discs , however the spacing between the discs and the fact that the main body of each disc is clear plastic , means that during play , vision is unimpaired , and relatively easy to play the game .
This therefore makes for a more interesting game , with plenty of scope for strategic play , as now you can make a row of four ( flat horizonal , diagonal or vertical ) , a column of four , or a stepped line of four .
Having the height element and an ever increasing amount of discs within your 4 * 4 grid , makes this is a more thought provoking game , yet despite this most children will be able to pick up the basics of gameplay quite easily ( my ten year old has grasp the rudiments after only a few games ) . The game itself has a age rating of 12+ years .

~ Availability and cost ~

I have yet to see this game in the major high street shops . Purebitch in her op , noted that she purchased her game from Toys R Us , but again I have yet to see it in my local branch . I found this strange as this game was released in 2002 .
I myself purchased the game from one of our local independant shops ( both our newsagent and chemist had it available to order ) at a cost of £14.95 , and it was available to order from the Xmas toy catalogue that both stocked ( why not try your local shop ) .

~ Overview ~

A nice twist on the original game , with the need for deeper thinking . At £14.95 it represents very good value ( it is very well made as you would expect from a reputable manufacturer ) .
To my way of thinking it is not a replacement for the original Connect 4 , however it makes an excellent addition to the original , and is well worth the purchase price .
It is also nice in this day and age to have a new tactile family game to play - is it me or are computer games ruining the traditional family entertainment time .

Thanks for the read

Brian

Summary: The traditional game goes 3D