Play with words!!!
Written: Nov 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Witty, exciting and education fun word game for the entire family.
Cons: Words might run out if you play it regularly.
The Bottom Line: Taboo is a simple family game which can take you to the limits of ecstasy and despair within 60 seconds. Great fun for everyone!!
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| dellbhai's Full Review: Taboo - The Game of Unspeakable Fun |
Taboo is a simple word game but can be as exciting and thrilling as any other that you would have played. It may be a poor cousin to Pictionary in terms of popularity but all my friends have got hooked on it after they have played it once. Its plain simple fun thats it.
What's the game all about?
The game comes with 504 word cards, a buzzer, a good old fashioned hour glass timer, a cardholder and a score-sheet. That's it!!! To play the game, you divide all the players into two or more teams. One person in each team is the cluer and the other members in the team guess the word. You are given 60 seconds to guess as many words as you can (and boy 60 seconds are really short buts its amazing how many words you can guess in it!!!).
Let me give you an example. On each card will be written a word that you are supposed to clue to your team and 5 other words which are "Taboo". That means that you are not supposed to use any of the 5 "taboo" words or derivations from them, when you try and clue your team-mates. The way you make your team guess the word is to just go on talking about it- without using any of the taboo words. If you can make them guess the word, your team gets one point. If they cannot guess or you use the Taboo word (the opposite team ring the buzzer whenever you say a Taboo word) you lose a point. The team with the most points wins. You can say anything you like, just NO Taboo words.
For example:
So if the secret word is "kitten," you can't say "meow", "cat", "purr", "furry", or "animal". You can say anything else. Like say " a mouse's worst enemy" , " what aunt hilda feeds every morning", " the thing that I always see in the card store". You get the hint. Be as smart and as creative as you can. It really helps when you know your team-mates. It gets really imaginative when you know the person. I have heard people giving clues using the time when they went shopping in Manhattan to what he likes having for breakfast this morning. It often makes you laugh at the clues that people give to explain the word.
Pros of the game
- You have to play the game to realize the thrill of playing it. Believe me, your superb brain can figure out the best of clues when you are not under the gun. But, the moment you are facing that 60 second timer and people are giving the weirdest replies to your clues, all the great ideas flow away like the Hudson. We have always felt that in this game, the best clues come from people who are not playing at that time. Its the pressure that you feel that really drives the adrelinin. As I said, 60 seconds just flies and people clue upto 6-7 words in it.
- You have to be on the same wavelength to be really good at it and I think that adds charm to the game. The smartest people might give the smartest clue and everyone in the audience might think its superb, but if you team-mate does not understand it, you are a cropper. You might link up some opera star whose name sounds the same as the word, but if your partner has never seen opera, you clue is worthless. Its a true team game is that sense, and its fun when you see people curse each other in good spirit, when they cannot understand straight forward clues.
- I think the game improves your general knowledge as well as your awareness of words. Don't be surprised when you come across words you have never heard of and you are supposed to clue that. Once you face that scenario, you can bet you will never forget the meaning of that word ever!!. Nice way to improve your knowledge (especially when you play it with your kids).
- Game is very fast and thrilling. I think if you look at Pictionary, it can take very long to play. If you don't have much time and you want to play quickly, Taboo is the perfect game because it really flies !!!.
- Its a great ice-breaker for parties. I mean after this game you can bet all your friends will know each other and have plenty to talk about.
Cons
- The words are limited - only 504, and they will run out if you play it regularly. Pictionary has a phenomenal number of words and you can play it longer. Taboo has tried to by pass this problem by offering more words in the new extended edition and in their electronic Platinum edition.
- Not for the faint-hearted (I am kidding !!!)
Summary
I think its an excellent game for both adults and kids from 10 years. They recommend it for 12 and above, but my cousin of 10 plays it better than most of us. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary and you can get it for a very cheap $20 in Walmart. I was won over by its simplicity and clean family fun. Try it once and I can vouch for it that that it will become your favorite family and party game.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20.00
Type of Toy: Game
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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Epinions.com ID:
dellbhai
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Location: Northern NJ
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Strong believer in customer's rights to choose. Love using Epinions and writing for it.
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