Customer Reviews

Once Upon A Time

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this game for my birthday and I only wish I had learned about it sooner! The cards are illustrated beautifully which make them a delight to look at, but the game is just as fun to play. Children and adults ages 6+ can play since only an imagination and basic reading skills are needed. The game asks for players to make up stories with the cards they receive. The game ends when someone is able to play an ending card.

This game is also great for the classroom where children can learn about the elements of a story including events, characters, endings, etc. There are many ways to play and learn.

In this game, you have to get rid of your cards by telling a story in which the elements on the cards are used. As you use the elements, then you can discard your cards. The aim is to tell the story in such a way that you reach the ending on your card. Other players may interrupt at certain times, so everyone has a chance to join in the storytelling fun.

The downside of this game is that it isn't for everybody. Those who don't start the game with the right attitude, won't have any fun with this game and will drag it down. This game would probably work best with children or with adults who are into roleplaying. Definitely not for those who aren't creative.

Once upon a time cards have enchanting illustrations and a multitude of uses. The game can be adapted to bring out creativity in any agegroup. Character, event, place, descriptive and item cards add elements to the stories you create while ending cards direct the general theme of your story...but all the other players are directing the story to a different ending! Can you get the Farm boy together with the princess so they can live "happily ever after" or will the witch send the princess to another relm from which "she was never seen again"?

I have used the cards in story telling and to direct skits, with first graders, highschool students and college students, at resident camp and parties. They are always fun, I only wish there were more decks to choose from!

The first time I watched this game being played, I thought it seemed a bit boring and difficult. But when I actually had a chance to play... wow, I don't often laugh that hard. We played four games in succession, and stopped only because we all had to get up early the next morning.

With four or five players, a typical game lasts about 30 minutes, so it's good at small parties when you don't want to commit to something too time-consuming. Heck, it'd be good at the airport, waiting for your delayed flight, if you're traveling with the family. Adults and children can play this game together, so long as everyone has a good imagination. The rules aren't complicated, and it only takes one game to get the hang of it.

It's amazing to watch a story line, one that you think is a dead-end, be transformed by another player's intriguing (and often hilarious) plot twist. It really gets you thinking creatively. I wish I'd found this game before starting my NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) story--it would've come in handy.

I got Once Upon A Time when I was a teacher in Japan as something fun for students to try. Since then I've used it with adult students of all ages and levels. The rich illustrations and iconic story cards really spurred them to the next level.

I broke it out for the first time in a while for my cousins aged 8 to 14 and they all loved it.

I'm ordering a set for them now. Great, great game.

This is a rare and unique game. We've played it with our seven-year old daughter, and had a lot of fun. Here are my caveats:

* Make sure you read the rules thoroughly-particularly regarding BOTH ways of interrupting.

* Give the younger kids a bit of leeway, in both time and critical judgement of their story line.

* Don't give any leeway to adults!

This one makes you think. Have fun!

Busted both the Once Upon a Time deck and the expansion deck (Dark tales) today in the class; grade 7s, quite verbally talented. They took to it immediately. It reinforces basic conversation skills - waiting for a pause before interrupting and listening. They've been at it for nearly an hour without any direction from me. I just ordered 4 packs of the make your own story cards.

Linking it to any creative writing unit would be easy.

A friend introduced me to this game and after only playing it once, I knew I had to get it for myself. The very day I bought it, my family and I spent hours playing it. It really helps your storytelling abilities and it teaches you how to think quickly. I believe that children and adults of all ages would enjoy playing this game. The artwork is fantastic and I love that they provide blank cards for you to come up with your own story elements. As a writer, I also find the storytelling helpful in exercising my own creative talents. Everyone should at least play it once. I warn you, its very easy to get hooked after only one time!

Once Upon a Time is a delightful game in which players use cards in their hands to tell a story. Other players may interrupt a story by playing certain cards and then they continue the story. You are trying to tell a story to reach your Happily Ever After card. Every game is different, you are only limited by your imagination! The cards are beautifully illustrated and it's definitely worth the price!!!

I went to my local gaming store looking for a game that could be a bridge between the complicated nerdy games like Arkham Horror, Runebound, etc. and your regular games like Apples to Apples. The helpful staff suggested this game.

This game is way more fun then it has the right to be... given how simple it is to play.

Pros:

1. The cards are of good quality.
2. The rules are clear and not too long
3. The game play is fast so you can really play several games a night.

Cons:

My brother keeps borrowing my copy of the game (sometimes without asking) to share it with other people.

My brother plays this game with his friends to help encourage their creative juices so they can be better game masters in RPG games. It definitely has you thinking on your feet like a game master needs to. =)

My mom, who doesn't pick up games very quickly, picked up this game in about 2 hands of playing and had a blast.

When it was played at my wedding, people loved it and played it several times.

This game is awesome. If you are considering picking it up, please know that this is [...] well spent. You will enjoy it immensely.