Customer Reviews

Harry Potter Whomping Willow Game

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

 

 

This is one of Mattel's more interesting products for the Harry Potter series, but is worth the money you spend. The game has 3 different modes that are easy enough to understand. There is a little assembly required, which isn't too hard, plus it required 3 AA batteries to run.

When you get the game, you will get 3 large tree pieces, a lot of smaller branches you can attach to the tree, (could be a choking hazard), and 4 Ford Angelica's. The cars each have a small picture on the windshield of Harry and Ron. The game also includes 4 sets of luggage, books, and owls. You will also get a set of instructions (easy to read).

Once you put the 3 large pieces of the tree together (can be a little tricky at first), you have the option of adding on the smaller branches; that depends on how difficult you want the game to be. The extra branches snap into play very easily and any extras can be stored inside the box.

The game, as mentioned, above has 3 different modes. Before you pick a mode, you can set the tree to BASIC (the tree will rotate slowly), and ADVANCED (faster and more random). The basic object of the game is to use the cars to grab objects off the tree as it rotates and moves. The cars have exhaust coming out at the end that is used as handle. You grab objects using the long antenna.

The TIME mode is played by each player taking a turn to grab all the luggage; there is no time limit, but once you finish and stop the tree, it will sound car horns telling you how well you did (5 is excellent, 1 is poor). The VS mode allows 2 -4 players to play at the same time. The object is to obtain one piece of luggage, a set of books, and an owl before the other player. The FREE-FOR-ALL mode allows 2- 4 players to play. The goal is to get as much luggage before your opponents. Of course, in all these modes, if you knock an item off or drop it, you have to put it back on the moving tree with your hands.

The tree, of course, makes a lot of creaking and grinding sounds while turning (don't worry, it's suppose to), which just adds on to the fun. This game is a lot of fun, but not sure about the educational value. It can help develop your speed and coordination, but that's about all. The pieces seem to be quite durable, but if you drop the tree, it feels like it could damage a lot of the branches.

This game would be great for your next Harry Potter party or a great display in a room. You won't be disappointed with this purchase.

Whether you have the Mattel Castle, the Lego version of the Castle and/or Train, or a vivid imagination...the Whomping Willow makes a great accessory for Harry's magical terrain. This toy's failure is only the manufacturer's attempt to market it as a game instead of an action play toy. It is really kind of a hoot...really,really. mah

In my opinion, this game is for younger kids. When it is spining, you have to try and take one of each of the objects on the tree. The first person to get one of each wins. Its still really fun! Basicly the only problem is that the branchs fall off to easy, and it takes too long to set up.

I bought this for my 9 year old for Christmas and it's been played once. The pieces of luggage fall off the tree regardless of how carefully you arrange them. We spent most of our time putting fallen pieces of luggage back instead of trying to take them off. Save your money.

this game is one of the worst i have ever played...i did not buy it from amazon.com and the place i did buy it from said it was suitable from aged 5.

this game was way too hard for my son and was also way to hard for the two thirty something women who tried to play it (me being one of them).

the tree moved around so quickly and changed direction so often that it was near impossible to get the items off of the tree...the only things that did come off were the things that weren't meant to...namely numerous pieces of the branches that for some unknown reason the designer of this toy had decided should all be made separately and should all be placed on separately....which in itself meant that it took an awfully long time to put the toy together.

we had several attempts at this game and so did the children but found it so frustrating and annoying that we gave up on it and puit it in the bottom of the hallway closet...hopefully never to see the light of day again :-(...what a total disappointment

this toy is cheaply made and badly designed...it really is the worst game i've ever played...harry potter mad kids will want everything harry potter but do not buy this just because your child is a harry potter fan, i am sure there must be many better harry potter toys on the market...this one is a total dud however and i would not recommend it to anyone...what really bugs me is that i paid twice as much as the amazon price...what a waste!

my advice unless your into frustrating, annoying and ultimately tediously boring games is to steer well clear of this :-(

My kids got this toy for Christmas and we played it today for the first time. It was not much fun at all. We put it all together and hung all the pieces on the tree and turned it on. My kids got bored w/ it very quickly and started just hitting the items off the tree. We played for about 5 minutes and then looked at each other and said, "this isn't fun at all!" This toy will be one that will be sold at the next yard sale.

My son asked for this for his bd and we got it for him. He didn't ask to play it again after the first time we played it. It's really not very much fun, the tree just rotates back and forth and you are to take off one of each school supply to win. This is definitely going to be a dust-catcher in the back of the closet. Save the [$$$].

My kids, ages 6 and 3 1/2 played this game for about 20 minutes and became bored. As the others wrote, the object of the game is to pick items off the tree as the tree rotates. Since we end up knocking more items off than actually picking them off, the game becomes tiresome and a yawner. A waste of money.

It was hard playing this game, but somehow we started laughing because we knocked luggage off the tree instead of catching them. It was really funny when my mom started hitting the tree with the flying car. She felt the tree needed a good thrashing. :) I thought it was very entertaining when my mom hit the tree with the car. We both want to play this game again.

This game is fun for hours. It gets boring after a while though. when you have alot of friends at your house it is a good game.