All fall down (Jenga)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	Jenga
Date:	30/12/07 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to learn to play, suitable for most of the family, cheap, tough

Disadvantages: A pain to stack and boring if played too often

As I did a little bit of last minute Christmas Shopping, a couple of weeks ago, I spotted Jenga in our local wollies, for under a tenner. I cannot quite remember how much but I think it was about £6.

JENGA
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Jenga is a very basic game which is suitable for anyone over the age of five and so perfect for Hubby and I. Jenga is purchased in a tall box which is fairly heavy, especially once you have been carrying it around for a while, We did not open the box until Christmas and then decided to participate in a few drunken games. I guess it helps to be sober.

THE GAME
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When you take Jenga out for the first time you will see a stack of wooden blocks wrapped in cellophane. There is a two sided card , with a bottom, which covers this, shows the idea of the game and is handy for restacking the blocks. It is actually called the loading tray. This card has details of the game in many languages and so I guess it does have universal appeal. The tower is formed by having a row of three blocks laid in the same direction next to each other. The next row has the blocks facing the other way, at rightangles, and so on until a nice smooth tower is formed.

I guess as many people can play as you like and the winner is the last person to remove and lay a block without toppling the tower. The purpose of the game is to remove a block and start a new row on the top without toppling the tower. There are only a few rules. The player who re stacks the tower starts the game and then you take it in turns. If the tower is already stacked you could cut cards or throw dice for who goes first. The loser usually stacks the tower and then goes first, so if you win a lot you could be saved the hassle. Each player can only use one hand when removing and relaying a block. The new layer must follow the pattern of the earlier rows.

The long edge of each block has JENGA written on it and this acts as a clue as to which direction the blocks are laid and to be removed.

ANY GOOD?
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I think Jenga will appeal to many age groups and is great for a bit of harmless fun. The pain is restacking the blocks especially if some ham fisted twit knocks the tower down pretty quick. Just joking. It does I suppose help kids concentrate, follow patterns and develop a steady hand but on the whole it is just a laugh.

Be careful what you play it on as when the tower falls it could damage any decent wooden surface etc.

OVERALL
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Recommended for families and children over 5 and up to 105, well you know what I mean. Good fun but will become boring if played for too long.

Jenga has 54 wooden building blocks.
It is made by Parker
(C) to Hasbro 2003.

Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley 2007

Summary: Good clean and simple fun