How annoying can I be? (Mindtrap)

Member Name: JammyJo

Product:	Mindtrap
Date:	26/01/02 (1353 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: challenging, variety of questions

Disadvantages: hard!, once you have played it you may remember answers, slow

Get your brain into gear and get ready to challenge your mind…. You are about to play Mindtrap!!

+ What orchestral device is neither blown, bowed, plucked nor struck?

+ If Bert Bragg's (where do they come up with these names from?!!) peacock laid an egg on Bertha Dribble's driveway in Sussex during the 1930s, who would be the rightful owner of the egg?

+ What is the last thing both men and women take off before going to bed?

+ And finally … (now you are getting into this …..) Two very popular and common objects carry out the same function, yet one of them has thousands of moving parts and the other hasn't any. What are the two objects?


Uhoh, this opinion has already taken me over an hour to write as I got a bit carried away with reading and answering some of the questions in Mindtrap! Better get on with the info!


WHAT IS MINDTRAP?

Mindtrap is a board game, made by Winning Moves in which the object of the game is to solve a number of different types of questions and puzzles, either individually or in a team and be the first player or team to get to the finishing square. Doesn’t sound too different than other board games yet does it? Trust me, it is!

The game is recommended for ages twelve – adult. The twelve year olds I know however would certainly find this game boring after a while and I think a lot of the questions could be a bit too hard for them. The Picture It, Stick it and Shape it challenges would be fine for a twelve year old though. Mindtrap can be played with two players or in teams.

The Mindtrap questions and puzzles are pretty challenging (or maybe just for me!) and some of them have got me trying to suss the answer out for a good fifteen minutes or so! There are several types of challenges, which are as follows ….

BRAIN CRAMP

These are questions and riddles. Some of these involve having some
knowledge of the subject, but most just involve logical thinking. The questions above came from this category.

PICTURE IT

A close up view of something with a cryptic clue. These ones tend to be a bit easier, but very frustrating if you can’t get it. This is an all play challenge where you race the other team.

STICK IT

These are your typical “move a matchstick” challenges. The game comes with plastic sticks to try them out. This is also an all play challenge.

SHAPE IT

Jigsaw puzzle type challenge, where you have to duplicate a silhouette on the card with the different shapes provided.

MYSTERY CARDS

These questions are pretty long, and can take a lot of reading through to find the relevant clues. Typical questions ask whom the Inspector took in for questioning and ask why that suspect was taken in.

MISCELLANEOUS CARDS

These cards can be mathematical problems, problems involving diagrams, verbal challenges etc.


PLAYABILITY OF THE GAME

Well, as this is an opinion site, and this is MY opinion I have to say that I think it is very playable. I love these sorts of challenges. However … to bring experience into the opinion … I would have to say that so far it hasn’t proved very playable. I have tried this game on three occasions with three different groups and every time the game has fizzled out without anyone getting anywhere near the finish square. The reason for this? My friends and family are just too thick?!!! No, just that it isn’t a fast moving, fun or sociable party game. I have obviously got the game out in the wrong circumstances. This game is more suited to a quiet Sunday afternoon or an intellectual dinner party type atmosphere and not in a party situation. The game itself is fairly easy to pick up, but it is just so slow. The game does not have a time limit on the questions but does suggest you se
t one if needed. In my experience this game gets very boring for the team asking as opposed to answering the questions … and very frustrating for those answering as no one likes to give up! Certainly not a fast moving game, and as a lot of the questions have remained unanswered in the games I have played, I would say the average game could well last a couple of hours.


PURCHASING THE GAME

Mindtrap costs £20 and can be found in most good games stores. I bought mine from Toys R Us. It comes in a fairly easy to spot box, smaller than most board games with dark blue and black background with white writing. The board itself is a small board, not as big as you would expect, which means that the playing space needed isn’t too big.


WORTH GETTING?

I am totally gutted that no one I know has played and enjoyed this game. The best I got is at Christmas playing it with family, and after everyone else had disappeared off to open more presents or sit on the sofa feeling as stuffed as the turkey, my dad and I were left to answer the questions! This started off with eight players. Another thing worth mentioning perhaps is that this isn’t a good drinking game!! There is often a lot of text to read out and with the squiffy vision and vocalisation difficulties that come with alcohol … it just doesn’t mix well!! Personally I love this game and have pretty much gone through all the questions and challenges on my own …(does that make me really sad?!!) but so far I am the only one I know that shares my enthusiasm of the game.

This game can probably only be played once or twice at a push ..(once the game does get going!) because once you have heard the answers or solutions they do tend to stick in your mind, so no good to play again…unless you want to cheat and look incredibly clever in front of everyone!


WOULD I RECOMMEND THE GAME?

No, probably not. I would love to t
hough but in my experience it is a waste of money, and an easy way to ruin a party atmosphere. If however you have a cool group of family or friends that are happy with a slow but challenging game, then yes definitely get it … and make sure you invite me to play!!



So …. The answers to the above questions …………??

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