Really good fun, for all sorts of occasions (Cranium)

Member Name: DTDT

Product:	Cranium
Date:	02/01/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Works for a large number or people, and to peoples different strengths

Disadvantages: Needs 8 players really

I played this game over the New year and it was so much fun! Even the folks that usually run a mile from board games enojoyed themselves.

Basically the game is for a maximum of 4 teams of two or more the aim is to move around the board by gaining rolls of the dice after completing a task from one of the four Categories:

CREATIVE CAT - You have to sculpt something out of dough or draw an object (sometimes with your eyes shut which is REALLY hard) and your team mates have to guess it

DATA HEAD - These are general knowledge questions, some are true or false, some are multiple choice.

WORD WORM - You are given tasks like spelling, spelling backwards, anagrams, chose a word meaning from multiple choice

STAR PERFORMER - this will ask you to hum a song, or charades type acting

These tasks are all against the egg timer! Also every now and then you get a group task where every team is compeating against the timer and each other - very amusing when you silently have to act out "mutation" and someone walks in a room and has't got a clue whats going on!

Once you move around the board (there are slow and fast lanes depending on whether you get questions right at the 4 brains placed around the board) you move in to Cranium Central and have to complete a task from each category and then a final one that the rest of the teams collectively decided on (and they always pick your worst!).

I'd say its more aimed at adults and children maybe of about 12 upwards as even i didn't know some of the songs & people you had to act out but everyone really enjoyed themselves. We Found that everybody had a strong point in each team so no-one felt left out.

I'd definatley recommend it for the cupboard - It gets everyone up and moving around. It costs around £29.99 which is expensive for a board game, but i think if you have friends like mine it will be played over and over and is worth the investment - keep an eye on the dough though it can go off! and theres now a second edition which I will definatley consider purchasing

Summary: Would recommend if you want more than a classic roll the dice & answer a question