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171 of 172 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Multiple Cranium Game Reviews:, December 1, 2005
We have several Cranium games at our house, and have played various
ones at various times, depending on the age and interest of our kids
(currently ages 12, 9, and 6). This is a review of the ones we have used.
So, in no particular order:
Hullabloo - great, silly fun and very kinetic. It works best when a
parent is willing to get down on the floor and be silly with their
kids. It holds their interest for a relatively short time (10-20
minutes), but it does burn up the energy and generate the laughs.
Cadoo - a fun, quick board game that taps into different part of you
brain - memory, analytical, creative, expressive, etc. - but keeps
things fun and fast-paced. We found it more approachable for our
younger kids than Cranium
Cranium - like Cadoo, it mixes in many different ways to use your
brain, this time in a longer board game format. This one is a bit
tougher on younger players. Also, both games do a fair job of
letting younger players be competitive, but they are still games
that can be a challenge to keep fair and interesting to all players
if the age range between them is too great.
Bumparena - In this one, players take turns adding bumpers and
rubber balls to a sloped game board, base on easy-to-understand game
cards (all pictures, no reading). When the balls are released, the
bumpers divert the balls to one of three player goals. Collect 6
balls and win. This game sets up and moves quickly, you could
probably complete one game within 15 minutes of opening the game
box. It is simple to learn, and it probably could be played by most
6 year olds with minimal adult help. While the concept is easy to
grasp, but there is some strategy involved, as well as some
appreciation of physics (angles, rebound, gravity, chance). This is
another good game for getting young and old siblings to the same
table.
Ziggity - Ziggity is a card game - think Uno with the added twist that, like other games, different parts of the brain are used. The cards have a number, a puzzle piece, a letter, and a shape, one in each corner. On each turn, the player is required to match shapes, add numbers, complete a puzzle or spell words in order to play the cards. There are also draw cards, skip cards, and wild cards. This is a fun game for kids old enough to spell and add, as well as for the rest of the family. The games are very quick, unlike the cranium board games. We will sometimes get in a quick few hands before bedtime when we want o play a family game but don't have much time. Finally, the plastic cards are very colorful and durable, a big plus when you have young `uns wanting to learn to shuffle.
Cranium Family Fun Game - Teamwork is probably the best aspect of the Family Fun Game, and it's seems like such a novel idea that you are left wondering why more board games don't use this approach. Unless you have twins, then having multiple kids in your family means wide variations in ability. That is okay for games of chance, but for games that require dexterity or creativity, it's very hard to find a game that kids who are 13, 10, and 7 can enjoy together. This game solves the problem by dividing into two teams. Teams then alternate between completing certain tasks. Examples include "find three items that start the letter S", answer a true/false question, or "build a tower with blocks and then knock it over using the frogs" (they hop like tidily winks). Like other Cranium games, the tasks use your whole brain. Also, the team concept lets at least half of the players come away winners and teaches cooperation, both rare in board games. Another winner from Cranium.
Overall - great family games that stimulate parts of the brain often
neglected by board games, yet keep it so fun that kids won't even
realize that they are educational.
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