Customer Reviews

Carrom 400.01 Skittles Game

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Skittles is one of those toys that will provide your children with years of fun and still look like new when you need to pull it out for grandchildren. Our grandparents had this game and what I most remember is that it was one of the few things all five of my siblings could do together and have a guaranteed good time. We began using it when we were small (ages spanning 4-10) and were still playing when some of us were adults (ages 16-22). Sometimes our parents and grandparents would even join in! It is an exciting game that can be played according to the rules or just "freestyle." It is equally fun with one player or 4. Now that I am grown with three children of my own, guess what they play? Our skittles game. It is rare these days to have a toy of such lasting value. This has become a family treasure for us and will for you too.

This toy brings back memories. With a hard yank on the wind-up cord, then listening to the rattle and roar as the top dances across the board on its way to knock over the skittle pins, this toy can be loads of fun. With skill (?) and experience, you can at least imagine that you can steer the top in an initial direction even though knocking over all of the pins is pure luck as the top spins towards the back rooms. However, enough of my memories: my kids (8 and 6) enjoy playing with this game. Just enough competition to keep them going time after time.

I remember playing the Carron game "Skittles" at a friend's house back in the 1970's. I purchased one for my own kids when they were 7 and 10 years old and we enjoyed many family "competitions". When I began babysitting my 6 and 8 year old niece and nephew, I drug out the old game out and showed them how to play. Now they beg to play it whenever they come over. I plan to surprise them with a game of their own for Christmas. It's so durable--our old game still looks like new.

When a friend and I discovered this game, our initial reaction was to be unimpressed, that is until we gave the cord its first yank. As the top manuvered around the board we were instantly hooked, deriving strategies to obtain the greatest point total. It was not until an hour and a half later that we stopped that initial game, kicking ourselves for allowing our uninformed first impression.

We purchased this game 25 years ago for our children. It is still a source of fun every holiday when the family gathers together. Age doesn't matter. Now we are purchasing one for our grandchildren. We can't give it too high of a recommendation!

I remembered playing skittles when I was a kid in the 1950's. So I bought it for myself for Christmas wondering if my grand kids now 5 & 7 would like it. So I took it with me to Charlotte, N.C. On Christmas Eve I pulled out skittles, and they loved it. On Christmas they got many electronic games Xbox, etc. Guess what, by the end of the day they were playing skittles as much as Xbox and the other gifts. What a joy is was to know that old simple games held there attention as it did me in the 50's.

I bought this game because I remember playing it as a child and it did not disappoint. If you've never tried it, you will not believe how many hours of fun it can bring.

As far as this set in particular goes, I gave it a 4 out of 5 for quality. In my mind it only lost a few point for the quality of the top (as in the thing that you spin)

The set is made of real wood and is very well constructed. The top, itself needs a bit of work though. The dowel separated from the cylinder and had to be glued on for stabilization. We might make a new one on our own. This is really a minor complaint considering the low price and great quality of the rest of the set.

Also, just a few tips:
1) use your own cotton string, it grips the top better than the string provided
2) The flat side of the top actually works better than the pointed side for this game. It is a bit counterintuative, but try it.

I ordered Skittles 5 days before Christmas, as a last minute gift. The Discovery [...] informed me on Dec. 20th my order, which they had confirmed weeks before, was out of stock. I'll never, ever order anything from them again. Well, after about an hour on my computer, Skittles was the only present I liked that could be delivered before Christmas. The gift was for my 6 year old grandson that I was traveling across the country to visit. I arrived the Sunday after Christmas and my grandchildren had already openned all their other presents. I wasn't sure this "old fasion" toy would be a hit or not. My expectations were exceeded. Skittles was in direct competion with Wii and came out even. Everyone from 6 to 60 loved it. Unlike Wii, the game is so unpredictable it makes for great competition between children and adults. My grandchildren loved beating grandpa. So did my daughter and son-in-law. We had trouble getting the kids to stop playing and come to the dinner table. You will be surprised how much fun this game is. I was a grumpy Grandpa when I thought I wouldn't have a present for one of my grandchildren. But thanks to Amazon.com and Skittles I'm a greatful Grandpa.

My boys both loved this game last Christmas. We played it more than their X-box games. A timeless game that never loses its passion. Get it for your kids they'll truly love it as much as you did.

How much fun can you have with this game when the top is worthless? Like many other reviewers, I played this game with friends for hours a day when I was a boy. We even kept a running total of the points, with the winner the first to 1000. Now that I have a son, I thought it'd be great to introduce him to a game I enjoyed, a game that doesn't require batteries or the TV. I set it up, wound the string, and ..... NOTHING! I tried 20-30 times but the top ended up on it's side, upside down or even when right side up, it never got out of the first bay. I tried setting the board on a slant. Still nothing. I tried using cotton string as another reviewer suggested. Nothing. The instructions suggest moving the top down on the dowel. Couldn't even do that, the top is lacquered onto the dowel. It's stuck like glue. Pretty frustrated! I guess I'll have to head out to the workshop and MAKE my own top!

Very disappointed!