A Cluzzle Review from Toys "R" Us Online
Cluzzle is a great game to pull out for a mixed crowd. It's a ton of fun, and has the added benefit of getting you to think outside the box. Having worked with kids for over three years, I have had a chance to play a wide variety of games with children aged 6-12. Cluzzle is definitely one of the better games which will be enjoyed equally by kids and adults.
The scoring system in Cluzzle evens the playing ground for even the most diverse group. Rather than rewarding the player with the best fine motor skills, Cluzzle rewards sculptural ambiguity (or those who are merely average at sculpting) and adroit questioning. The earlier one's sculpture is guessed, the fewer points one scores for it. But be careful because an unguessed sculpture won't get you any points either!
In terms of educational value, there are several ways Cluzzle really forces kids (and adults) to think. Try sculpting "love" or "charity" with a tiny lump of clay....not as easy as you would think, eh? :) Now try figuring out what that other player's lump of clay is supposed to be. Also, you have to be careful with how you word your questions to each other, lest you give away your train of thought! I think there is enough in this game to keep children fully engaged, while adults can explore some of the more strategic elements in the game.
Parents who have quieter, shyer, artistic children take note: Cluzzle, if played correctly, should give your kids room to shine! The various mechanisms built into the game force assertive children to sit back and let everyone have a fair chance. Also, it gives younger kids a chance to gain recognition when their sculptures are correctly identified.
The clay that comes with this game is of excellent quality; it is not the greasy kind which stains fingers, clothing and furniture. It also comes with little baggies which if used properly, should extend the life span of the clay significantly.
Everyone I play Cluzzle with ends up wanting to play again. Probably because half the time we were laughing too hard to concentrate on the game! There is a lot of replayability and fun in this game. A very good buy for your money.
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