Surprisingly entertaining. (Connect Four)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Connect Four
Date:	10/04/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap

Disadvantages: Can get a little boring

Connect four is such a simple game but there is something so compelling and interesting about it. I used to play this all the time with my older brother and when he got to a point where he was more interested in going out with his friends, my little brother became my partner. All of the memories of winning and losing this great game came back to me the other day when my son was looking at the toys in Sainsburys. I was scanning the shelves to see if I could buy him something other than an Easter egg for Easter and I came across Connect four. Actually Connect Four wasn't on the shelf it was just a sign advertising it and informing the buyer that it was half price. Unfortunately I was a little too late but I feel well and truely capable of reviewing this fantastic game due to the amount of time I have spent playing it over the years.

How to play.
The game is very simple. In the box you get a pile of red coins and a pile of yellow coins along with a frame that has two legs. The legs need to be fixed to the frame which is very simple; you slot them in then push the legs up. The players have to put take it in turns to put one of there coins into a slot of there choice. The aim of the game is to get a line of four coins in your colour and at the same time you have to stop the other player from getting their line of four. The line an be up, down, across or horizontal. Once the game has been won the coins fall out of the bottom of the grid if you pull or push the thin bit of plastic that lines the bottom.

This game reminds me of Noughts and Crosses in that its extremely simple but you also have to try and win but be on the look out and try to read into the mind of your opponent.

I love the fact that you can see where your game plan is going but then the opposite player ends that very rapidly when they put a coin where you weren't expecting them to so you have to re-plan. On the other hand I find myself getting extremely excited as I watch my line expand and try and not to breath as I get closer to my goal so the other player doesn't read into my mind. You can clearly see that you are about to get a line of four but they seem to have gone blind for a second and you humbly beat them by doing a little dance as you pop the last coin in the row.

I never tire of playing this game. It's one of those games that can be over so quickly so if you have five minutes to burn then you can be assured that it will be over within that time.

The pluses.

Doesn't drag on for hours.

Great numeracy for children.

Younger children can use the coins to play shops as they are very hard wearing.

The noise as the coin hits the bottom of the grid 'Plink'.


The minus'

Simple and can get a bit boring.

The plastic bit at the bottom breaks quite easily so coins fall through. Thank God for cellotape.

The coins can get lost easily.


Verdict.

This game is really good fun for all of the family. Even if they are too young to get the rules of the game,I'm pretty sure they will enjoy slotting the coins through the grid which develops their hand/eye coordination. It's one of the cheaper games on the market and one that can be a right laugh as you realise how silly you are at not seeing the other players line of four.

Summary: Childhoods were made of this!