Don't get chomped by the cranky croc! (Hasbro Crocodile Dentist)

Member Name: jo1976

Product:	Hasbro Crocodile Dentist
Date:	26/12/08 (236 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple assembly, no pieces to lose, no batteries needed

Disadvantages: More suited to younger children than the box suggests

This game is one of the many delivered by Santa for my two boys this Christmas. I hadn't heard of this particular game before, but it is a boxed children's game made by MB Games. I've played lots of MB games over the years and have always found them to make good quality, durable and fun games, so I had high hopes for this one.

I was pleasantly surprised when we opened the box to find that it contained just a green plastic crocodile face and a pack of stickers. No messing about with complicated assembly and lots of little parts to mislay. (The fiddly little bits and pieces and attachments are the bane of my life with some kids' games.) The instructions were also pretty simple and straightforward and were clearly printed on the back of the box. (So again, no instruction leaflets to get lost or for the little ones to scribble on or chew.) An additional bonus, appreciated by all parents, is that this game doesn't need any batteries. The only thing we needed to do before the game was officially ready for play was to stick on the eyes and nostrils of the cute plastic crocodile that comprised the whole game. This is, obviously, something of a responsibility as a wrong move could result in the croc being boss-eyed or wonky-nosed for the rest of his game playing existence! Luckily, I rose to the challenge and managed this aspect adeptly. (Just don't ask me to set up a Scalextric track or anything along those lines!)

The concept of the game is really very simple. This makes a refreshing change, as I can't stand those games where you have to spend twenty minutes reading the instructions and then the same amount of time explaining them to the rest of the family. To get the crocodile ready for the game, you just need to open his mouth as wide as possible until it makes a very slight click. In this game, each player (up to a maximum of four players) takes it in turns to press one of the ten plastic teeth within the crocodile's mouth. Apparently, the croc has toothache and the player that presses his poorly tooth is rewarded by the crocodile's jaw snapping down on his or her finger! Don't worry - even with his poorly tooth, Croc's bite isn't very sharp and my youngest can survive a bite by this cute croc without any tears - in fact it gets lots of smiles and giggles! The instructions recommend that you reset the croc after each bite and that the players continue in turns until there is only one person left who hasn't been 'bitten' by the crocodile and that person is declared the winner. To be honest, we just reset the croc (by re-opening his mouth) and then start afresh, as winning or losing doesn't seem such a big issue with this game.

The recommended age range of this game is listed as being 4 years and up. I don't really understand the logic behind this age range, to be honest. I have learned to my cost that age recommendations are usually fairly accurate and that games with a higher age range can often be too complicated or long-winded for younger children to understand or enjoy. Well-meaning relatives have bought my oldest son presents aimed at older children, in the belief that they will last him longer, unfortunately he's usually just got frustrated or bored with them and, more often than not, they have been damaged or had pieces missing by the time he actually reached the age where he would appreciate the game. That's certainly not the issue with this game. The concept of the game is so, so simple that my youngest boy, who isn't quite eighteen months old yet, can play it and enjoy it. The only other reasons I can think of for a comparatively high age recommendation are for health and safety reasons - where there are small pieces that little ones could swallow or sharp edges etc. Neither of those apply in this instance, as far as I can tell. There are no little pieces as the game consists of just one large plastic crocodile head (and the teeth seem pretty sturdily attached.) The only health and safety issue I can think of is when the croc's mouth snaps shut but, as I've already mentioned, this doesn't shut with enough force to cause any harm, even to little toddler fingers.

In spite of the age recommendations on the box, I'd recommend this for a much younger child. As I've said my (almost) eighteen month old child can play this game and really enjoys it. He screams out loud with laugher each time somebody presses a tooth and screams even louder when the croc's mouth shuts - regardless of whose finger he catches! It's a very quick game and, as there are only ten possibilities, he doesn't have the chance to get bored before the croc bites. My oldest son is six and also enjoys this game but I think he would tire of it before his younger brother. I'd imagine a two, three or four year old would get the most enjoyment out of this game as it's such a simple concept, but it is genuinely good fun. (Even I squeal like a big girl's blouse every time the crocodile's jaw shuts on me!)

I suspect we'll get quite a few years' play out of this one but it is the sort of game that you're only going to want to play for five minutes or so at a time. It's not one that's going to keep the kids occupied for hours, unfortunately! Nonetheless, good simple family fun, especially for younger kids (regardless of what it says on the box.) Pricewise, RRP in December 2008 is £9.99, with the game currently available from Amazon at £9.73.

Summary: Simple family fun!