Big Taboo - Big Fun (Hasbro The Big Taboo)

Member Name: sandra101

Product:	Hasbro The Big Taboo
Date:	18/10/08 (310 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun, lively, loads of replay value

Disadvantages: can lead to embarrassing outbursts

I remember back in the olden days when we used to go around to my friends house when they first bought their house and sat in the living room with a white plastic patio set being the only furniture and a couple of bottles of wine and we laughed ourselves stupid playing the original taboo game, where you have to get your partner to guess the word on your card without using any of the most obvious word which are written underneath.

The new version retained this part of the game but added a few new challenges. My then 10 year old son asked for this last Christmas having played it in school and enjoyed it and I was well chuffed to get him a present I was quite happy to play myself.

I got the game in Toys R Us at half price £9.99 and for the amount of fun we have had out of it that was a bargain. The game is by Parker a well known games brand which is a trusted name in the industry and it is for two teams aged 12 or over.
Through the box you can see bendy bob (a puppet who you use to demonstrate your word) and on opening you will find a board, the question cards, team markers, a word marker, pencil and notepad and a timer..

- - How to Play - -

You need at least four people to make two teams as one needs to describe the words\phrases and the other needs to guess the answer. You move forward one square with each correct answer aiming to be the first to get to the end square. I would say the more you have on each team the more fun and gags will get thrown into the mix.

There are four different categorys which you can land on

Category 1 - Classic Taboo. You will recognize if you have ever played the original taboo. This is where you have to get your team-mate to guess the word or phrase on your card without mentioning any part of the word or the taboo words. This may sound easy but trying to describe gig without using the words - band, music, stage, concert or carriage or the word tattie without using the words potato, spud, Scottish, worn or short. A person from the other team is allowed to stand behind you and check your forbidden words. It is a lot harder than it sounds.

Category 2 - Fifteen words. You can only say fifteen words to describe your word and the other team record them. This will of course lead to arguments but that's half the fun of family board games.

Category 3 - Taboo Draw. You have to depict your chosen word\phrase using paper and pencil. This is very difficult for people like me who can't draw anything to look anywhere close to what it is supposed to be. You cannot say anything apart from yes or no in this turn and cannot write words on your drawing. Taking a sample card words in this category on one card are chicken pox, honeymoon, cheese

Category 4 - Bendy Bob. Bob is a purple plush puppet with moveable arms and legs who looks a little like something out of the muppets. You use Bob to act out the word on the card, picking a card up I find such gems as fencing, exhausted, and playing a computer game another is playing the xylophone, slalom skiing and an ejector seat. Again no words can be spoken.

Memory Space - Is a space that occurs randomly throughout the board and a player from that team is given a used card and has to describe it in two words, either team can answer and gain a space.

- - Do we recommend it - -

This is a great game for older members of the family who will have a really good laugh and goes beautifully with a few beers or a couple of bottles of wine. It's also good for kids over about 11 as it increased their vocabulary and gets them thinking. This is one of those games that will come out quite a few times a year within the family or if you have friends over and want a bit of craic.

Summary: Great game for after dinner with friends