Mastermind
by Pressman Toys
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List Price: Our Price: $8.72 You Save: $6.27 (42%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.79 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Mastermind
Customer Review: Great game, lousy design
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a really fun game, although I wouldn't start it on kids under age 8 without some adult help. I love to play Mastermind, and my (older) son and I have great fun with it. This version, however, is terrible. They've given us a storage component that is divided into two pieces, but if you put all the pegs in one compartment, the door won't close. The smaller of the two compartments is supposed to be for the smaller pegs, but there is no way to keep them divided - they are all over each other in seconds. AND you don't really get enough of the smaller pegs. Those that we do have include some that are broken.
If you buy this anyway, I recommend placing all the larger pegs in one plastic bag, and all the smaller pegs in another small plastic bag, then shoving them into the box. The box is, oddly, taken up by a large piece of cardboard for no apparent reason - thereby deleting half the storage space for the game. I won't buy from this company again - but I sure do have fun with the game. I'm off to buy replacement parts - if I can find them - so that we'll have enough smaller pegs....
Customer Review: Good for a while...
Summary: 3 Stars
Mastermind is a classic game, and I still play the occasional game even after having owned it for 15+ years. The premise and rules are simple, so it is easy to learn how to play. But that simplicity works against it in the long run- most of the time, I slip into the same optimum strategy and inevitably break the code. Since the game lends itself to this mechanical play, I can't give it more than 3 stars for fun. Before you find the strategy that works best, though (or, if you don't mind applying the same strategy over and over again) the game is great fun.Common durability problems among the several sets that I've owned include lost color pegs and broken password covers- of course, improvising solutions to these can add to the fun factor ;-/
The toy is excellent educationally. The game stands out for encouraging the codebreaker to apply rigorous thought to potential solutions. I remember busting my brain over this game as a kid. The mix of logic and creativity necessary to come up with satisfactory solutions make it a great game for budding minds.
Customer Review: "minutes to learn, a lifetime to master"
Summary: 5 Stars
that is the sales pitch barely legible still on the well-worn box that my copy of mastermind came in. i honestly cannot remember when i first learned to play this intriguing game, only that i am very grateful for the amazing woman who gave it to me. i still have the original box, becuase i plan on one day passing down this game to my children & their children. this wonderful toy is simple in design yet fosters critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and creativity without inherintly emphasizing competitiveness. i grew up playing it with my dad & it was something that inspired me to excell; we enjoyed one another's accomplishments (either one coming up with an "unbreakable" code, or the other being able to solve it) and didn't feel that one could only win at the expense of the other. also, i recently saw a version made out of wood; so perhaps a few adjustments to the design could increase the durability factor (though my little plastic version has lasted 15+ years! & i simply put the pegs in zipper bags to keep them from getting lost)
~enjoy~
Customer Review: Put On Your Thinking Caps For This One!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Mastermind" is a great game for those who like to use their deductive reasoning.I have the older version and it has lasted for years. It can be played by children(starting around the pre-teen age)and adults together and it's also great for just the kids or just the grownups to play on their own.The game consists of multi-colored pegs and a board.One person arranges several pegs(which are hidden from view) in any number of color schemes. The other player has several chances to guess the pattern by arranging the pegs in different orders until he guesses the correct scheme or runs out of chances. The first player indicates how many correct colors are displayed. Using the process of elimination is the key to winning!
It's a great game to take along when traveling or visiting (much easier to pack up then a computer and video games!). The pieces are very small so I would reccommend keeping it out of reach of toddlers.
It will really make you think!(I like to see my kids thinking, it's such a rare treat!)...Have Fun...Laurie
Customer Review: Poor quality and design
Summary: 1 Stars
Just purchased this manufactured version of the classic game and found it to be terrible!
The pegs the code makers has to enter to give clues to the code breaker are entered on a square pattern of holes!... which bears not resemblance/mapping to the linear arrangement of pegs for the code breaker! With the absence of this one-to-one mapping of the peg positions, it becomes very difficult for my 6-8 y old! (I suspect this un-natural arrangement of peg holes is to circumvent the original patent! -- Can't see any other reason why!?!).
The colors are off colors (not like the original).
The construction is very light platics (not $13 worth!).
The design of the mask for the code maker is cumbersome, even for small children fingers (I miss the simplicity of a removable mask like the original).
All these negative features negate so much of the pleasure of this game that I'm returning it and will try to find the original!