| Product: |
Mattel Magnetic Pocket Scrabble |
| Date: |
13/12/06 (308 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Great game for on the move, educational, fun and totally mobile
Disadvantages: None that I can think of.
Have you ever wished that you could find that foolproof game for on the move ? There are many out there, though most are not interactive games that can be played by more than one player. Many are the console type games and one of the snags with these is that they don't let people interact. If anything, they cut off communication, and although some parents find them to be a good solution for restless children whilst travelling, my search made me look for something different, something that required thought and communication, and that people could enjoy together, whilst on the move.
What I found.
There were many items out there but most presented some kind of difficulty or snag. The alternative to this game for example was a clip on travel type game of scrabble, and believe me, the pieces don't stay in place, and it is awkward and bulky. What happens if you play this game in a car is that you inevitably end up with all the pieces scattered into places that even a hoover can't reach. Believe me, I am still picking up the pieces of a travel set that was used by my friends in my car, and I thought there had to be a better alternative.
A magnetised game seemed to be the only alternative that worked for me. It's small, and discreet and can be easily tucked into the pocket of the car. Not much bigger than a folded map, this really was made for travel. Not only is it handy for car travel, but I use ferries and planes regularly, and here it really is handy as you can pack it into your hand luggage easily and get to it whenever the urge takes you. Travel is notoriously boring, and I find that the game really does come into its own when a voyage is to be made.
Gameplay
The game is the traditional game of scrabble, a word game where players take a set of seven letters from a small sachet at random and have to try and make words that join together, and the skill of the game is to try and place those pieces using the higher scoring letters (marked on the bottom corner of each letter tile) onto squares on the board that count the most. There are the traditional double letter scores, triple letter scores, and double word scores, and it really does take skill to make words that use the random letters you have chosen.
The letters are a reasonable size and magnetic which means that they stick to the board, and that really is handy because instead of having the board in the middle of a table, you can pass it to your opponent to take their turn, thus making games on planes and in cramped travelling conditions ideal. There is a rule book with the game of course giving all the instructions, and players can challenge the words used, although most of the time with the travel one, we use common sense and decide between us if a word is right or not. I don't want to be burdoned with carrying a dictionary although it has never caused a problem that I don't. It's a two to four player game and passing the board around is simple. I prefer playing with two people because you get more letters to play with and the gameplay to me is better because you don't have to wait ages for your turn.
Sturdyness.
The game is quite well packaged, and the magnets are strong and keep the pieces in place. I have used mine for about four years now, and the magnetism is the same as on day one. Although I would not suggest you do it too often, one of the things I tried for the sake of giving you a clear picture of the product is to turn the board upside down, and the pieces still stayed in place.
Pricewise.
You will get this game cheaper as I did, but availability online gives them on Amazon at 7.99 GBP. I actually found mine for a fiver, but what Amazon do offer is that if you buy two travelling games at the same time you can get both this game and Travel Connect 4 for 12.00 GBP and that to me is a real bargain and would solve some stocking filler present ideas.
The game is suitable for anyone from 10 upwards. I think that the makers have been sensible with their suggestion, since the tiles are small and I don't think suitable for young kids. Wiping the game and keeping it clean is a doddle, and mine really still looks like new, even if the box is a bit crumpled from over-use. Of course, younger players can play the game, as anyone who can write a word can play, although I would suggest close supervision.
I also like the packing case which folds into a board, because when you go to store the game, it keeps all the pieces neatly housed. The moulded shape makes it ideal for storage and what I particularly like is that the game doesn't go away from the traditional idea of scrabble. It's educational. It's fun, and certainly a game that helps educate youngsters and get them to use letters to form the highest scoring words that they can.
A feature thats important.
One feature that is really important to me is that travelling takes differing amounts of time. It could be a short journey, or a long one, and what is superb about this game as opposed to others is that even when folded away, the pieces stay in place, so no one has an excuse to not finish a game !
I love it, and play it regularly both in French and English. The small sack contains 100 assorted letters, and may the best man win !
Summary: A great family game that is easy to pack and take with you on trips.
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