Apples to Apples Party Box - The Game of Hilarious Comparisons
by Mattel
|
List Price: Our Price: $18.99 You Save: $8.00 (30%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $17.50 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
|---|
Toys and Games Reviews of Apples to Apples Party Box - The Game of Hilarious Comparisons
Customer Review: I FINALLY Got to Play This...
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
...and it wasn't even my set. I had the pleasure of playing Apples to Apples at a friend's home where it was the post-Thanksgiving dinner entertainment (oddly enough, I was planning to bring my copy with the intention of proposing a game so that I could finally review it, but I forgot to bring it). And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much fun this was (despite my lousy cards).
I'm sure that everyone and their mother has cited the rules for play in their reviews, so rather than contribute to the redundancy, I'll try to focus on why this game is fun. For one thing, the learning curve isn't at all steep--a definite plus if "liquid cheer" plays a part in your festivities in general. And while some savvy is required to distinguish your comparisons from those of the other players, actual skill is not; getting good nouns that'll work with the adjectives really IS the luck of the draw (I remember silently cursing when I drew "Joan of Arc" immediately AFTER "hot" had been played).
The real fun, though, is due to the fact that the probability of holding cards that really dovetail with the adjectives thrown down is pretty slim, hence some creativity is called into play. And trust me, it can get hilarious. One particularly funny moment occurred when a Russian friend's card had been chosen for the point and she responded by confessing that she wasn't sure of the meaning of the word on her card. Okay...I guess you had to be there, but still, it was fun.
I noticed that the game recommends a minimum age of 12, which seems about right to me. Unlike SET, my favorite card game, the Party Box isn't something that you'd want to play with young children because I can't imagine that most of them would get it (I noticed that there's a separate edition for kids). Once, they're older, however, this would make a great family game.
Being something of a cynic, I had no idea that games like this were being manufactured--smart, fun, reasonably priced, and not played on a monitor. I wholeheartedly recommend Apples to Apples for non-racy adult party fun--let's show support for toy manufacturers who produce games such as this. I'm actually considering buying at least one of the add-ons, but I think there's plenty of fun to be had with this basic Party Box in the meantime.
Customer Review: Very Fun Party Game
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Apple to Apples is an extremely fun party game good for 4 or more people.
The set up is very easy. The game comes with 756 red apple cards with name of a person, place, or thing on it. There are 252 green apple cards which a characteristic of a person, place, or thing.
If you play with four people each person gets seven red apple cards. You then draw a green apple card that the judge reads to the players and lays face down on the table. The other players have to choose a red apple card that best matches the green apple card. The judge picks the red apple card that is the best fit and the player that laid down that red apple card wins the green apple card. If you are playing with four people the first person to win eight green apple cards wins the game. (That number is reduced when there are more players).
It's even more fun because everybody gets to be a judge. The role of judge passes to the next player going counterclockwise.
There are many reasons this game is very fun.
First, you can get some very funny comparisons. For example, let's say the green apple card is "dainty" - delicate, elegant, graceful. Let's say you have several red apple cards but the only one you can come up with is "hippopotamus." The judge may find that such a funny opposite he or she may choose that card as the winner.
Second, you can't cheat. The judge is the sole person who decides who wins the green apple card. You can hide and not let the judge know what you played, or you can sit and lobby the judge to choose your card. It's a wide open contest. It does get a little annoying when someone always chooses their spouses card regardless, but it's not against the rules. You can even play to the personality of the judge.
Third, you can play with a lot of players and the more players you have, the more fun the game becomes because you get even more funny comparisons.
And finally, the game is very fast moving and often after one game is over, people want to play it again.
I highly recommend this game for an easy, fast paced party game.
Customer Review: SO much fun, quick & easy to play
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I love this game! It says it's for 4-10 players but we played it at home tonight with only 3 of us, and it was still a lot of fun. We even changed the rules to create a different kind of gameplay challenge for one of our rounds.
Some of the best aspects to this game are that it is SUPER easy and quick to learn AND play. Basically you deal the cards and you start playing with very little time spent reading instructions. And gameplay goes fast, too. You can get in as many rounds as you want but each round is fairly quick.
Apples to Apples is called a Game of Comparison, but it's really more like a Game of Choosing The Best Description. Frankly, it's very very very similar to Scattergories, only better. The "judge" lays down a card with an adjective on it, such as Fuzzy. The players choose from the cards in their hands a word or phrase that they think best fits that word. A player might have a selection of cards, for instance, that say: David Hasselhoff, England, Giant Squid, etc. Sometimes you have something that fits the judge's card word perfectly, sometimes you'll have nothing at all, but you always have to put a card down. Lots of times everyone ends up laughing at the crazy funny answers.
Then the judge chooses his or her favorite answer using whatever criteria they want to use. This is the really interesting part of the game. You can choose from your hand a card/response that you think fits best, something you think is possibly an inappropriate but riotously hilarious answer, or a card that you think that particular judge would really enjoy and probably choose. The latter option is usually the tactic that works best! But it's totally up to you, and gameplay changes with every hand that's dealt and with every judge of answers.
There's SO many possible answers to all the judges cards that you could play this game for years and never play it the same way twice, which is something you can't really say for Scattergories.
This is a wonderful game for every age, for parties, for large groups or small, and would make a terrific gift!
Customer Review: Apples to Apples
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a game that is always a hit at any party. And for any ages. Its one of the most played at any event that I've gone to and probably the favorite of many. A game can go on for hours, or even just a regular hour if desired.
The premise of the game is pretty easy. There are red cards, which have nouns on them and there are green cards which have adjectives on them. There are many ways to play the game, but the most popular is for each player to take 7 red cards at random. These cards are not shown to any other players and kept secret. Then a before chosen player (oldest, youngest, whatever) draws a green card and reads it aloud to the group. Then, the rest of the group must take one red card from their deck that they think the green card person will think most like the adjective on the card. An example of this would be a green card saying silly and someone submitting a card that says clowns or puppies. After reach player has chosen a card (except the green card person) they are shuffled and the green card person must choose the one they think is the best. That card's owner wins the green card. Everyone also has to replenish their hand of cards with another red card to remain having seven. Then the next person at the table grabs a green card and its starts over. Usually the first one with seven green cards wins.
There are a ton of cards in this game but sometimes it isn't enough. If the same group plays multiple times with the same people, things start looking familiar. Sure theres a random draw on cards but after awhile things begin to be the same. Expansion packs help but they are expensive. Some of the cards don't always appeal to a broad variety of players either. Audible groans can be heard when someone has a hand full of people cards without a place or thing card in sight (those are more desired after all). There is the option to turn in all your cards, but it would be nice if more cards appealed to everyone and weren't just for a select few. Some cards may be harder for younger players as well as they won't know who or what some things are.
Overall it is a wonderful game and even if it gets repetitive, it offers hilarity. Its a good tension breaker, and a good way to get to know new people. Its also great for groups large and small.
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Customer Review: Really Fun Game!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I was a little skeptical ordering this, but wanted to try something different for my family than the board games we usually play (Monopoly, Clue, etc). We all really love The Game of SCATTERGORIES because it usually results in a lot of laughing. Happily, this game was just as described - "hilarious comparisons" and it was easy to learn and start playing.
Very simple directions, "players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best."
I think this game is best played with a lot of people, especially people you know well. Since the judge is choosing the adjective they like best, knowing their personality and quirks helps you pick a card that'll get you the point, often with laughter. I played with 9 family and friends, and it quickly became a riot. One of our cards was "mysterious", and our friend from France chose "Microsoft" as his favorite noun! My brother had the green card "frightening" and he chose my "Sunday Driver" as his pick. It's not always about choosing the most appropriate noun for the adjective, but what the judge would pick. We had a lot of opposites used, and when someone doesn't have anything appropriate in their hand, they still have to put something down. So, some weird combinations pop up. This makes the game very subjective, hence being good for family and friends, but not necessarily for a group that doesn't know each other well.
Overall, this was an instant favorite for my family and we will definitely play again. I only hope they sell extra packs of cards since with a lot of people, you go through them fast. Very highly recommended!!