Rat-A-Tat Cat Collectible Tin
by Gamewright
Our Price: $69.96
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Toy
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: GamewrightBrand: Gamewright
Release Date: 2006-06-12
Model: 204T
Product features:
- Ages 6 and up
Toys and Games Reviews of Rat-A-Tat Cat Collectible Tin
Customer Review: Kids (and adults) love this card game
Summary: 5 Stars
Rat-a-Tat Cat in the deluxe tin is a high-quality card game enjoyable by children and adults. The rules are deceptively simple so that groups of all ages can enjoy the fun. Gamewright even includes rules for kids under the minimum suggested age of six.
THE COMPONENTS
The deck comes with 45 numbered cards 0-9. The Deluxe game includes 20 Power Cards with four special functions: Draw 2 (a player gets two chances to draw), Swap (a player swaps a card without peeking with another player), Peek (a player looks at one of his own cards), and Super Peek (a player uses a special red-filmed scanner piece to read the values of all player cards from their encoded backs).
GAME PLAY
Each player is dealt four cards face down in a row. When play begins, a player can only peek at the outside two cards to check their values. The middle two cards remain unknown--unless revealed by choosing a Peek or Super Peek card. By drawing from the rest of the deck and swapping cards with others, players must manipulate their cards to achieve the lowest sum value of all four cards held. When a player believes his cards are low enough to win the hand, he yells, "Rat-a-Tat Cat" and raps the table. All other players then get one more draw to fix their hand. The hands are scored and another hand played for a series of hands.(We typically play five hands, then tally the score of those hands to determine a match winner. You can play as many hands as you wish, though.)
PROS
Anything can happen in this game. It plays quickly, is easy to learn, and can be maddening as you try to accomplish the goal before others do, especially when they know your cards (through a Super Peek) better than you do!
The quality of the game pieces is high, with plastic-coated cards that should last if handled by players with clean hands. The scanner is set in thick cardboard. The tin is an attractive and durable means to store the game. A decent value for the money.
Both kids and adults enjoy Rat-a-Tat Cat, a difficult goal to achieve in a card game. Keeping track of the score of one's hand involves math, but does so in a fun, stealthy way that kids will enjoy. The game also forces players to use their memories, and children may actually do better at this than adults. My son routinely kills me in this game, even though I think my game play is sound.
CONS
Very few. Though math and memory skills are needed to win, the element of luck comes strongly into play. On a positive note, that luck balances out over a series of hands and keeps one clever player from dominating the game. It also contributes to the "anything can happen" nature of the fun.
This game plays better with more players, but that's true of most card games.
While the tin is sturdy, the black plastic insert that cradles the cards and holds the larger card scanner is flimsy and may not hold up over time. Again, a trivial con, but still worth mentioning, especially if kids get overly excited and break it. Then the card edges may get dinged by sliding around inside the larger tin.
CONCLUSION
A brilliantly simple yet fun game on the order of Uno, but with clever twists that enhance game play. Not being able to immediately know the value of all of one's own cards heightens the tension. When others may know your cards better than you do, it makes it all the more exciting (and frustrating--though in a good way). With cards being swapped and people guessing at card values in the early parts of the game, plenty of controlled mayhem ensues. A number of matches can be played in an hour, so everyone has a shot at winning in a short period of time.
One of the top card games for children and adults. Highly recommended.
Description of Rat-A-Tat Cat Collectible Tin
We know it's not fair to play favorites but we have to be honest - Rat-a-Tat Cat is the most loved card game at Gamewright HQ. Ever since its debut in 1996, we have been amazed how it has continually won over new players of all ages. So it was with great trepidation that we ventured to improve upon an already "purrfect" thing. Hopefully, you will agree that the enhancements -- brand-new art, more power cards, and the addition of a "Super Peek" power -- make the game even more fun. As always, try to keep a straight face when drawing cards, and most importantly, stay away from the Rat King! Reinforces math and memory skills. Contents: 65 cards, "cat vision" decoder and rules of play. For 2 - 6 players. Multiple award winner.Card Games Toys
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