| Product: |
Taboo |
| Date: |
12/05/08 (93 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: fun, colourful, variations of the game can easily be created, hours and hours of entertainment
Disadvantages: NONE WHATSOEVER ! ! !
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THE GAME OF UNSPEAKABLE FUN
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I just realised that I had not yet written a review on my favourite boardgame, so here it is. The game is called taboo and although it is quite simple when you think about it, it is a marvellous game and great fun for all ages.
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What does taboo mean?
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For those of you who are not familiar with the word Taboo, here is a dictionary definition:
Taboo - adjective - forbidden to be used, mentioned, or approached because of social or cultural rather than legal prohibitions
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W hat's in the box?
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The instructions - These are obviously a vital part of the game and are clearly laid out and easy to understand.
The game board - This is brightly coloured and about the size of 2 A4 sheets of paper. The gameboard has coloured squares, which the counters are moved along during game play. An arrow indicates where to start on the board and the winner is the first team to get to the middle box.
Taboo cards - There are 252 Taboo cards. The cards contain a word such as ladder, which is the word to be guessed. There are then lists of 5 'taboo' words, which cannot be used while trying to get teammates to guess the word. For example the word 'ladder' has the taboo words; step, high, tall, house and tights. The player must therefore avoid these words when trying to get their teammates to guess the word ladder. Each card is split into four different coloured sections (green, red, blue and yellow) and each colour has a different word to be guessed (and different taboo words). Before the game starts the players must agree on a colour to use for this game (the other colours can be used in future).
The timer - The timer is an hourglass shaped sand timer which is turned upside down at the beginning of a teams go. The team then has one minute to have their turn.
The mover tokens - there are 2 mover tokens; one blue and one yellow. The two teams have a token each and they use this to move around the board during the game.
The squeaker - This is red, and when a team is having their go, a member of the opposite team has to sit behind them to check they are not using any of the taboo words. If a taboo word is used then the person with the squeaker has to squeeze it (it squeaks!) and the team will have to abandon that card.
The 'tick' compartment - this is a space in the box, which is for cards which the team playing has guessed correctly. The cards in this compartment will gain the team points.
The 'cross' compartment - this is a space in the box which is for cards which team have lost due to a taboo word being said. The cards in this compartment will give points to the other team.
The 'star' compartment - this is a space in the box, which is for cards which team have 'passed'. There is no penalty for passing a card.
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How do you play?
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The object of the game is to be the first team to reach the finish space by explaining words to your teammates, without using any of the taboo words.
To play the game you need four or more players. The players should be split into two teams. The two teams should each have a counter which should be placed on the start place on the game board.
The members of each team should sit together. The team that goes first has to select a member to describe the guess words. This member then has to sit in front of the other team so that a member of the other team (who will be holding the squeaker) can check that they are not using any of the taboo words.
When they are ready to begin, the timer is turned over and the player has to pick up a card and describe the guess word to their teammates without using any of the taboo words.
The teammates who cannot see the card can shout out guesses as to what the guess word is.
If a taboo word is used (by the person holding the card) or any of the other rules are broken then the squeaker should be squeaked and the card should be place in the compartment marked with a 'cross'.
If the word is guessed successfully by their teammates and no taboo words are used then the card should be placed in the compartment with the 'tick'.
If the team member who is trying to describe the word wants to 'pass' the card, they can do so without penalty. To do this they say 'pass' and place the card in the compartment marked with a 'Star'.
Once the timer has run out, the team should stop guessing and the number of cards in the 'tick' compartment should be counted. For every card in this compartment the team score 1 point and should move their token along the board that many spaces.
Any cards in the compartment marked with the 'cross' give 1 point to the opposite team.
The second team then takes their go. The teams then alternate turns until a team wins by reaching the finish space.
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Additio nal rules
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When describing a word, no part of the words printed on the card must be given as a clue. For example if the guess word is 'milk shake' the words 'milk' or 'shake' cannot be used. No form derived from any word printed on the card may be given as a clue (nor can abbreviations). No gestures, noises or sound effects should be used when trying to describe the word. You cannot say that a guess word 'sounds like' or 'rhymes with' another word.
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Variations of the game
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Some of the squares on the game board contain various symbols which represent things such as 'double time on the next go' when a team lands on them. If you are playing for the first time I recommend that you get used to the general rules and process of the game first and just treat all of the squares on the board as equal.
You can make the game more challenging by giving the opposing team a point for every card that is 'passed' and by forbidding the use of brand names to describe objects.
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Tips on describing 'guess words'
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Here's a few tips I've found are helpful when playing the game:
- When giving clues to your team mates try and give them as quickly as possible so that you can get through more cards.
- If a teammate guesses part of the guess word tell them that they have almost got it so that they can guess around that word.
- If you don't think your team will guess the word then pass the card as soon as possible to save time.
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Examples
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I have picked a few cards at random to give you an idea of examples of 'guess words', 'taboo words' and ways of giving clues to your teammates without using the taboo words.
Guess word: - Hard
Taboo words: - Difficult, Soft, Nails, Boil, Nosed
Clues I would give: - 'when concrete sets is goes....' Or 'an erect penis is....' (Obviously depending on the age group this may not be suitable!) Or 'builders hats are called something hats'
Guess word: - Gravity
Taboo words: - Pull, Force, Down, Isaac Newton, Weight
Clues I would give: - 'a guy was sitting under a tree and an apple fell on his head and he discovered........' Or 'something you learn about in science, was discovered by an apple falling on someones head'.
Guess word: - Corkscrew
Taboo words: - Wine, Open, Roller coaster, Curls, Spiral
Clues I would give: - 'an essential tool for removing a cork from an alcoholic beverage'
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How much does it cost?
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The game costs around £19.99 and is worth every penny. It is made by PARKER and can be brought in most toy shops.
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OVERALL
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This is definitely my favourite board game, it is a great game to play at parties and as long as you have four people or more you can play it at any occasion. It is designed for players aged 12 years up. It is a fun one to play when slightly tipsy and to be honest I cant fault the game at all. It is great fun, and is different every time you play. I once played it at a party where most of the guests didn't know each other and it proved to be a great ice breaker. If you don't already own this game then definitely buy it because no matter how old or boring you may be, I assure you that you will love it and have hours of great fun.
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Recommend ation?
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ABSOLUTEL Y!! If you only buy one game this year, make it Taboo, you will thank me for it!
Summary: a hilarious game which can be made even more hilarious by a bottle of wine or two!
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