The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

The Daleks will not be exterminated! Operate on the Dalek to make it strong enough to take over the world. But be careful... if you damage it it'll quickly tell you with one of its terrifying phrases! Whether it's the Targeting Sensor that you need to operate on, or the Manipulator Arm, you'll need a steady hand and nerves of steel!

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

Be A Dalek Doctor, 19 Nov 2008
First I must confess I have never played the original Operation game so I can't make a comparison to that but as a stand alone game this is good.

In this game you are a Dalek doctor. There are 12 Dalek anatomy parts you have to retrieve fom the Dalek without setting of the phrases "You are an enemy of the Daleks!", "Exterminate!" and "You must be destroyed!". A flashing light also goes off if you fail your operation. The sound effects are suitably loud and authentically Dalek sounding.

In single player mode you can just perform all the operations and remove the 12 parts but this game is best played with 2-4 players.

With more players you can use the cards and money which come with the set. There are 12 Doctor cards and 12 Specialist cards with a different operation task on the back. Performing the operation task successfully earns you money and the player at the end with the most money wins. Successful doctor tasks earn 300 doctor who pounds and specialist tasks earn 600.

The 12 specialist cards are all dealt out at the beginning of the game and each player takes one doctor card from the main pile at the start of their turn. If the player messes up the task dictated by their Doctor card they return the doctor card to the base of the main pile. They get a second chance if they also hold the specialist card for that particular operation. You get the lower fee the second time round if you succeed.

If the original Doctor for that operation fails and doesn't hold the Specialist card for that same operation the player with the Specialist card for that operation has a go. If they succeed they win the higher 600 fee.

With more than 2 players it can get quite confusing remembering who is the next in turn to draw a new Doctor card as the child sitting next to the Specialist automatically thinks it's their turn next but it isn't always. You have to think back to who drew the last Doctor card before the Specialist card and the player on their left is next to take a doctor card.

You always keep hold of your Specialist cards even if you fail so sometimes you are left with the trickiest pieces to remove time and time again.

The anatomy pieces are very small and flat and the holes you retrieve the items from are also small and difficult shaped spaces. It's not suitable for children under 6 and even children that age may struggle.

The good points are it's well made. The main part of the game is permenently fixed in the base of the box as are the tweezers so they don't get lost. The anatomy parts are small and easily lost though. You need to keep close track of them else you'll have to improvise with other items.

Each game lasts about 15 mins for those with steady hands.

I would have probably given this 3 stars but the Dr Who theme is worth an extra star.


DR WHO EXTERMINATES THE ORIGINAL, 15 Nov 2007
if you've HAVE read my first review, you will know that i am a huge fan of this game.

BIGGEST TIP TO ALL PARENTS

for any games with small parts we have found that a see-thru pencil case is perfect for keeping all those "BIT'S" that go astray, all together in one place.

TO AVOID TEARS BY BOXING DAY...IF BUYING THIS FOR XMAS

The most convivial scrabble set includes: a grid style board, which can be turned easily to allow play to pass from player to player. Raised grid surface keeps tiles in place whilst turning.This is a new luxury edition of the ever popular world famous word game for two to four players.

The object of the game is to compete for the highest score by forming interlocking words in crossword fashion on the Scrabble board using tiles displaying letters with various score values. Higher scores can be obtained by using the tiles in locations and combinations that make the most use of the letter values and premium squares(eg: triple-letter score, double-word score etc) on the board.

The manufacturers recommend that it is suitable for people age 10 years of age upwards which is more or less accurate but slightly younger children could play, especially if there is some measure of supervision.

The contents have all been designed to enhance their look and to increase their function. The large board, 38 cm square, has a rotating base allowing it be turned easily during play, a polished wooden frame, and an embossed playing surface with a raised grid to keep the tiles in place. There are 100 wooden tiles of various values, and 4 storage racks on which players arrange their tiles, and a velvet bag stores and holds the tiles. Also included is an excellent booklet explaining in a straightforward and clear manner all aspects of the game.

"Every word counts when you're playing this deluxe version of the world's most popular word game."--Susan Naylor

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

Be A Dalek Doctor, 19 Nov 2008
First I must confess I have never played the original Operation game so I can't make a comparison to that but as a stand alone game this is good.

In this game you are a Dalek doctor. There are 12 Dalek anatomy parts you have to retrieve fom the Dalek without setting of the phrases "You are an enemy of the Daleks!", "Exterminate!" and "You must be destroyed!". A flashing light also goes off if you fail your operation. The sound effects are suitably loud and authentically Dalek sounding.

In single player mode you can just perform all the operations and remove the 12 parts but this game is best played with 2-4 players.

With more players you can use the cards and money which come with the set. There are 12 Doctor cards and 12 Specialist cards with a different operation task on the back. Performing the operation task successfully earns you money and the player at the end with the most money wins. Successful doctor tasks earn 300 doctor who pounds and specialist tasks earn 600.

The 12 specialist cards are all dealt out at the beginning of the game and each player takes one doctor card from the main pile at the start of their turn. If the player messes up the task dictated by their Doctor card they return the doctor card to the base of the main pile. They get a second chance if they also hold the specialist card for that particular operation. You get the lower fee the second time round if you succeed.

If the original Doctor for that operation fails and doesn't hold the Specialist card for that same operation the player with the Specialist card for that operation has a go. If they succeed they win the higher 600 fee.

With more than 2 players it can get quite confusing remembering who is the next in turn to draw a new Doctor card as the child sitting next to the Specialist automatically thinks it's their turn next but it isn't always. You have to think back to who drew the last Doctor card before the Specialist card and the player on their left is next to take a doctor card.

You always keep hold of your Specialist cards even if you fail so sometimes you are left with the trickiest pieces to remove time and time again.

The anatomy pieces are very small and flat and the holes you retrieve the items from are also small and difficult shaped spaces. It's not suitable for children under 6 and even children that age may struggle.

The good points are it's well made. The main part of the game is permenently fixed in the base of the box as are the tweezers so they don't get lost. The anatomy parts are small and easily lost though. You need to keep close track of them else you'll have to improvise with other items.

Each game lasts about 15 mins for those with steady hands.

I would have probably given this 3 stars but the Dr Who theme is worth an extra star.


DR WHO EXTERMINATES THE ORIGINAL, 15 Nov 2007
if you've HAVE read my first review, you will know that i am a huge fan of this game.

BIGGEST TIP TO ALL PARENTS

for any games with small parts we have found that a see-thru pencil case is perfect for keeping all those "BIT'S" that go astray, all together in one place.

TO AVOID TEARS BY BOXING DAY...IF BUYING THIS FOR XMAS

cheap, 20 Sep 2008
This item is cheap and plastic. I bought it for my partner as a present as we love scrabble, but was very disappointed with the cheapness when she unpacked it, it's not like it looks in the picture at all. However at the same time, unknowing to me my partner bought me Super-scrabble. Buy Super-Scrabble instead, a very good quality item that's even better than normal scrabble.

Horrid, nasty, cheap and tacky. Give it a wide berth., 02 Sep 2008
An extremely poorly-finished so-called 'deluxe' product, with nasty plastic parts everywhere you look. The worst insult is the horrid plasticky tile bag, which would have seemed cheap had it come out of a Christmas cracker. Thoroughly, unremittingly shoddy. Avoid.

An Abomination, 27 Jul 2008
DO NOT BUY SCRABBLE 'DELUXE'

There is absolutely nothing deluxe about it:

The 'spinner' is sticky
The 'Luxury wooden surround' is cheap pine, stained badly
The racks are horribly tacky and cheap-looking
There is no scoring facility
The tiles look like off-cuts collected from the floor of your local carpenters
The raised surface on the board down't work - it makes the letters harder to place, but doesn't stop them moving around after being placed.

The only thing deluxe about this product is its name.
BUY NORMAL SCRABBLE INSTEAD
(or if you're really into scrabble, get a custom-made board)

Another poorly made scrabble , 13 Feb 2008
I have to agree with the other poor comments about this set. We had the Scrabble Anniversary for £60 which was a nice set but did not have a grid to secure the pieces so that set was returned.

We then purchased the cheaper so called 'Delux' set for £30 and other than the well written manual on playing the game the rest was terrible and seriously tacky to say the least. The center tile area with the apparent grid just didnt function, the grid varied in depth all over the board, the board being made of cheap tin metal, the underside is really cheap plastic, the wooden sides are certainly nothing to write home about and seem out of place to be honest as wood normally means quality and yet the rest of the item is tacky.

No extras like a score pad or timer, so why its called 'Delux' I have no idea. Franklin Mint might be able to say 'Delux' to there £400 scrabble set but thats another story which we intend to investigate as it appears the Franklin Mint scrabble might be your only option if you want to play on a decent set as there is nothing to my knowledge under £100 thats any good or worth buying.

I think this set is highly overpriced for what it is. Really do not advise purchasing this.

New Deluxe Scrabble, 29 Jan 2008
A real disappointment compared with the old deluxe. The tiles do not fit into the raised grid, which is not sufficiently deep to keep the tiles in place. Plastic tile racks and plastic edge to the board. A waste of money!!

This is another edition of the world-famous popular word game for two to four players.

The object of the game is to compete for the highest score by forming interlocking words in cross-word fashion on the Scrabble board using tiles displaying letters with various score values. Higher scores can be obtained by using the tiles in locations and combinations that make most use of the letter values and premium squares (eg: triple letter score, double word score, etc.) on the board.

The manufacturers recommend that the game is suitable for people age 10 years upwards, which is more or less accurate though slightly younger children could play, especially if there is some measure of supervision.

Contents: there is a moulded plastic travel case, 23x12x5 cm, which features a built-in playing board with a non-slip surface uniquely designed to hold the special tiles which fit securely on the board. There is no need for paper and pencil to score as there is an integral scoring device on the edge of the board for each player. All the contents can be safely and tidily stored away inside the moulded case. There are four storage racks which are specially designed to hold tiles in place during the playing of the game and which keep them hidden when they are packed away if play has to be interrupted. There are 100 tiles of various values, a cloth bag to hold the tiles and a rules leaflet which is explicit and easy to follow.

This is an excellent, compact version of Scrabble which should give hours of pleasure when on the move. --Susan Naylor

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

Be A Dalek Doctor, 19 Nov 2008
First I must confess I have never played the original Operation game so I can't make a comparison to that but as a stand alone game this is good.

In this game you are a Dalek doctor. There are 12 Dalek anatomy parts you have to retrieve fom the Dalek without setting of the phrases "You are an enemy of the Daleks!", "Exterminate!" and "You must be destroyed!". A flashing light also goes off if you fail your operation. The sound effects are suitably loud and authentically Dalek sounding.

In single player mode you can just perform all the operations and remove the 12 parts but this game is best played with 2-4 players.

With more players you can use the cards and money which come with the set. There are 12 Doctor cards and 12 Specialist cards with a different operation task on the back. Performing the operation task successfully earns you money and the player at the end with the most money wins. Successful doctor tasks earn 300 doctor who pounds and specialist tasks earn 600.

The 12 specialist cards are all dealt out at the beginning of the game and each player takes one doctor card from the main pile at the start of their turn. If the player messes up the task dictated by their Doctor card they return the doctor card to the base of the main pile. They get a second chance if they also hold the specialist card for that particular operation. You get the lower fee the second time round if you succeed.

If the original Doctor for that operation fails and doesn't hold the Specialist card for that same operation the player with the Specialist card for that operation has a go. If they succeed they win the higher 600 fee.

With more than 2 players it can get quite confusing remembering who is the next in turn to draw a new Doctor card as the child sitting next to the Specialist automatically thinks it's their turn next but it isn't always. You have to think back to who drew the last Doctor card before the Specialist card and the player on their left is next to take a doctor card.

You always keep hold of your Specialist cards even if you fail so sometimes you are left with the trickiest pieces to remove time and time again.

The anatomy pieces are very small and flat and the holes you retrieve the items from are also small and difficult shaped spaces. It's not suitable for children under 6 and even children that age may struggle.

The good points are it's well made. The main part of the game is permenently fixed in the base of the box as are the tweezers so they don't get lost. The anatomy parts are small and easily lost though. You need to keep close track of them else you'll have to improvise with other items.

Each game lasts about 15 mins for those with steady hands.

I would have probably given this 3 stars but the Dr Who theme is worth an extra star.


DR WHO EXTERMINATES THE ORIGINAL, 15 Nov 2007
if you've HAVE read my first review, you will know that i am a huge fan of this game.

BIGGEST TIP TO ALL PARENTS

for any games with small parts we have found that a see-thru pencil case is perfect for keeping all those "BIT'S" that go astray, all together in one place.

TO AVOID TEARS BY BOXING DAY...IF BUYING THIS FOR XMAS

cheap, 20 Sep 2008
This item is cheap and plastic. I bought it for my partner as a present as we love scrabble, but was very disappointed with the cheapness when she unpacked it, it's not like it looks in the picture at all. However at the same time, unknowing to me my partner bought me Super-scrabble. Buy Super-Scrabble instead, a very good quality item that's even better than normal scrabble.

Horrid, nasty, cheap and tacky. Give it a wide berth., 02 Sep 2008
An extremely poorly-finished so-called 'deluxe' product, with nasty plastic parts everywhere you look. The worst insult is the horrid plasticky tile bag, which would have seemed cheap had it come out of a Christmas cracker. Thoroughly, unremittingly shoddy. Avoid.

An Abomination, 27 Jul 2008
DO NOT BUY SCRABBLE 'DELUXE'

There is absolutely nothing deluxe about it:

The 'spinner' is sticky
The 'Luxury wooden surround' is cheap pine, stained badly
The racks are horribly tacky and cheap-looking
There is no scoring facility
The tiles look like off-cuts collected from the floor of your local carpenters
The raised surface on the board down't work - it makes the letters harder to place, but doesn't stop them moving around after being placed.

The only thing deluxe about this product is its name.
BUY NORMAL SCRABBLE INSTEAD
(or if you're really into scrabble, get a custom-made board)

Another poorly made scrabble , 13 Feb 2008
I have to agree with the other poor comments about this set. We had the Scrabble Anniversary for £60 which was a nice set but did not have a grid to secure the pieces so that set was returned.

We then purchased the cheaper so called 'Delux' set for £30 and other than the well written manual on playing the game the rest was terrible and seriously tacky to say the least. The center tile area with the apparent grid just didnt function, the grid varied in depth all over the board, the board being made of cheap tin metal, the underside is really cheap plastic, the wooden sides are certainly nothing to write home about and seem out of place to be honest as wood normally means quality and yet the rest of the item is tacky.

No extras like a score pad or timer, so why its called 'Delux' I have no idea. Franklin Mint might be able to say 'Delux' to there £400 scrabble set but thats another story which we intend to investigate as it appears the Franklin Mint scrabble might be your only option if you want to play on a decent set as there is nothing to my knowledge under £100 thats any good or worth buying.

I think this set is highly overpriced for what it is. Really do not advise purchasing this.

New Deluxe Scrabble, 29 Jan 2008
A real disappointment compared with the old deluxe. The tiles do not fit into the raised grid, which is not sufficiently deep to keep the tiles in place. Plastic tile racks and plastic edge to the board. A waste of money!!

Almost perfect - but not quite!, 08 Dec 2007
I was looking for a replacement for my travel magnetic scrabble as the letters on that tend to fall off as the glue holding the letter to the magnet melts in the heat. Apart from that, it was a well designed set which was compact and everything fitted into the board when not being used.

This version is much bigger. The board opens on one side (not on both as per other reviewers - maybe they have changed the design) to hold the racks and any unplayed tiles while played tiles can simply remain on the board.

My main gripe is that shuffling the tiles on the rack is not easy as they are quite a tight fit. I m anticipating losing a few tiles before long.

Great fun!, 04 Sep 2007
Travel scrabble is ideal for those long haul flights where you just wish you had a game. The all-time classic now comes in a version you can use in the air or on the ground, and the tyles will never fall off! The handy pop-in mechanism really works and it won`t wet you down in any sort of turbulance. I all ways found it annoying that when you are short of time and in the middle of a game of scrabble you have to just abandon it and throw the bits back in the box - but not any more! With these pop-in bits you can literally preserve a game you would have otherwise have had to cut short. Supprisingly, this version is more durable than the orrigonal and is deffinitley a great buy!

Not very well made...., 12 Feb 2007
For anyone who enjoys playing Scrabble, and like us, only gets the chance when on holiday then the travel edition is perfect for you. However, I agree with an earlier reviewer regarding the quality of the actual board itself. It is not as good as the original which had the holes for putting the letters in. This version is quite bulky, the hinges break easily and we have found we've had to buy a new one every couple of years.... maybe it's a good marketing ploy!

Also on the last one we bought the ink ran on the tiles, not only did it rub off when you handled them, but when the board is closed and they touch the tiles on the opposite side they can transfer the ink on each other.... hence we played one game wondering who had the blank only to find it had been played as a 'U'!!

I do think Mattel need to improve the travel version, but for now as we are addicted to the game itself we will have to keep hoping.

Scrabble, 10 Feb 2007
This is a classic game and with good reason and this is perfect to take when on the move. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.


Nearly perfect essential for the Scrabble fanatic, 14 Nov 2006
You can play up to 3 other people on the official Scrabble board, with all the tiles, word score boxes and more, but this is ideal for use in a car (maybe not while you're driving!), bus, train, plane, etc.

The letter tiles clip securely onto the board, scores are kept on the side using smart number sliders, and even the player's tile racks fold over to hold each person's tiles in place between turns. If the game has to be interrupted, the racks fit under the board and the board folds over on itself to store the game in progress until everyone is ready to go again. I say 'nearly' in the title only because there doesn't seem to be enough room to store all the tiles, bag and rules in the folding box that makes up the board. Other than that, this is a great way to get your Scrabble fix, and for the price it can't be beat. Get this for travel and the deluxe wooden set for home play.

Two scorepads and a pencil to complete your scrabble experience. 10 Years +

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

Be A Dalek Doctor, 19 Nov 2008
First I must confess I have never played the original Operation game so I can't make a comparison to that but as a stand alone game this is good.

In this game you are a Dalek doctor. There are 12 Dalek anatomy parts you have to retrieve fom the Dalek without setting of the phrases "You are an enemy of the Daleks!", "Exterminate!" and "You must be destroyed!". A flashing light also goes off if you fail your operation. The sound effects are suitably loud and authentically Dalek sounding.

In single player mode you can just perform all the operations and remove the 12 parts but this game is best played with 2-4 players.

With more players you can use the cards and money which come with the set. There are 12 Doctor cards and 12 Specialist cards with a different operation task on the back. Performing the operation task successfully earns you money and the player at the end with the most money wins. Successful doctor tasks earn 300 doctor who pounds and specialist tasks earn 600.

The 12 specialist cards are all dealt out at the beginning of the game and each player takes one doctor card from the main pile at the start of their turn. If the player messes up the task dictated by their Doctor card they return the doctor card to the base of the main pile. They get a second chance if they also hold the specialist card for that particular operation. You get the lower fee the second time round if you succeed.

If the original Doctor for that operation fails and doesn't hold the Specialist card for that same operation the player with the Specialist card for that operation has a go. If they succeed they win the higher 600 fee.

With more than 2 players it can get quite confusing remembering who is the next in turn to draw a new Doctor card as the child sitting next to the Specialist automatically thinks it's their turn next but it isn't always. You have to think back to who drew the last Doctor card before the Specialist card and the player on their left is next to take a doctor card.

You always keep hold of your Specialist cards even if you fail so sometimes you are left with the trickiest pieces to remove time and time again.

The anatomy pieces are very small and flat and the holes you retrieve the items from are also small and difficult shaped spaces. It's not suitable for children under 6 and even children that age may struggle.

The good points are it's well made. The main part of the game is permenently fixed in the base of the box as are the tweezers so they don't get lost. The anatomy parts are small and easily lost though. You need to keep close track of them else you'll have to improvise with other items.

Each game lasts about 15 mins for those with steady hands.

I would have probably given this 3 stars but the Dr Who theme is worth an extra star.


DR WHO EXTERMINATES THE ORIGINAL, 15 Nov 2007
if you've HAVE read my first review, you will know that i am a huge fan of this game.

BIGGEST TIP TO ALL PARENTS

for any games with small parts we have found that a see-thru pencil case is perfect for keeping all those "BIT'S" that go astray, all together in one place.

TO AVOID TEARS BY BOXING DAY...IF BUYING THIS FOR XMAS

cheap, 20 Sep 2008
This item is cheap and plastic. I bought it for my partner as a present as we love scrabble, but was very disappointed with the cheapness when she unpacked it, it's not like it looks in the picture at all. However at the same time, unknowing to me my partner bought me Super-scrabble. Buy Super-Scrabble instead, a very good quality item that's even better than normal scrabble.

Horrid, nasty, cheap and tacky. Give it a wide berth., 02 Sep 2008
An extremely poorly-finished so-called 'deluxe' product, with nasty plastic parts everywhere you look. The worst insult is the horrid plasticky tile bag, which would have seemed cheap had it come out of a Christmas cracker. Thoroughly, unremittingly shoddy. Avoid.

An Abomination, 27 Jul 2008
DO NOT BUY SCRABBLE 'DELUXE'

There is absolutely nothing deluxe about it:

The 'spinner' is sticky
The 'Luxury wooden surround' is cheap pine, stained badly
The racks are horribly tacky and cheap-looking
There is no scoring facility
The tiles look like off-cuts collected from the floor of your local carpenters
The raised surface on the board down't work - it makes the letters harder to place, but doesn't stop them moving around after being placed.

The only thing deluxe about this product is its name.
BUY NORMAL SCRABBLE INSTEAD
(or if you're really into scrabble, get a custom-made board)

Another poorly made scrabble , 13 Feb 2008
I have to agree with the other poor comments about this set. We had the Scrabble Anniversary for £60 which was a nice set but did not have a grid to secure the pieces so that set was returned.

We then purchased the cheaper so called 'Delux' set for £30 and other than the well written manual on playing the game the rest was terrible and seriously tacky to say the least. The center tile area with the apparent grid just didnt function, the grid varied in depth all over the board, the board being made of cheap tin metal, the underside is really cheap plastic, the wooden sides are certainly nothing to write home about and seem out of place to be honest as wood normally means quality and yet the rest of the item is tacky.

No extras like a score pad or timer, so why its called 'Delux' I have no idea. Franklin Mint might be able to say 'Delux' to there £400 scrabble set but thats another story which we intend to investigate as it appears the Franklin Mint scrabble might be your only option if you want to play on a decent set as there is nothing to my knowledge under £100 thats any good or worth buying.

I think this set is highly overpriced for what it is. Really do not advise purchasing this.

New Deluxe Scrabble, 29 Jan 2008
A real disappointment compared with the old deluxe. The tiles do not fit into the raised grid, which is not sufficiently deep to keep the tiles in place. Plastic tile racks and plastic edge to the board. A waste of money!!

Almost perfect - but not quite!, 08 Dec 2007
I was looking for a replacement for my travel magnetic scrabble as the letters on that tend to fall off as the glue holding the letter to the magnet melts in the heat. Apart from that, it was a well designed set which was compact and everything fitted into the board when not being used.

This version is much bigger. The board opens on one side (not on both as per other reviewers - maybe they have changed the design) to hold the racks and any unplayed tiles while played tiles can simply remain on the board.

My main gripe is that shuffling the tiles on the rack is not easy as they are quite a tight fit. I m anticipating losing a few tiles before long.

Great fun!, 04 Sep 2007
Travel scrabble is ideal for those long haul flights where you just wish you had a game. The all-time classic now comes in a version you can use in the air or on the ground, and the tyles will never fall off! The handy pop-in mechanism really works and it won`t wet you down in any sort of turbulance. I all ways found it annoying that when you are short of time and in the middle of a game of scrabble you have to just abandon it and throw the bits back in the box - but not any more! With these pop-in bits you can literally preserve a game you would have otherwise have had to cut short. Supprisingly, this version is more durable than the orrigonal and is deffinitley a great buy!

Not very well made...., 12 Feb 2007
For anyone who enjoys playing Scrabble, and like us, only gets the chance when on holiday then the travel edition is perfect for you. However, I agree with an earlier reviewer regarding the quality of the actual board itself. It is not as good as the original which had the holes for putting the letters in. This version is quite bulky, the hinges break easily and we have found we've had to buy a new one every couple of years.... maybe it's a good marketing ploy!

Also on the last one we bought the ink ran on the tiles, not only did it rub off when you handled them, but when the board is closed and they touch the tiles on the opposite side they can transfer the ink on each other.... hence we played one game wondering who had the blank only to find it had been played as a 'U'!!

I do think Mattel need to improve the travel version, but for now as we are addicted to the game itself we will have to keep hoping.

Scrabble, 10 Feb 2007
This is a classic game and with good reason and this is perfect to take when on the move. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.


Nearly perfect essential for the Scrabble fanatic, 14 Nov 2006
You can play up to 3 other people on the official Scrabble board, with all the tiles, word score boxes and more, but this is ideal for use in a car (maybe not while you're driving!), bus, train, plane, etc.

The letter tiles clip securely onto the board, scores are kept on the side using smart number sliders, and even the player's tile racks fold over to hold each person's tiles in place between turns. If the game has to be interrupted, the racks fit under the board and the board folds over on itself to store the game in progress until everyone is ready to go again. I say 'nearly' in the title only because there doesn't seem to be enough room to store all the tiles, bag and rules in the folding box that makes up the board. Other than that, this is a great way to get your Scrabble fix, and for the price it can't be beat. Get this for travel and the deluxe wooden set for home play.

Excellent way to track scores, 23 Mar 2008
This fantastic score pad allows you to keep a record of every game.
It helps keep scores tidy and easy to follow, and helps you keep a consistent record of game scores over time.

It saves anyone hunting around for paper when you play and it is set out perfectly.
What more could anyone want?!?

Poor show, 21 Mar 2008
This "official" scrabble notepad is a big disappointment.

I bought it as I thought it might be nice to record our scrabble scores in a pad rather than the numerous scraps of paper that have filled the box of our scrabble set over the years.

On opening this score pad for the first time the pages were coming away from the backing... and then fell off within seconds of gentle inspection. This is a poorly bound low quality note pad.

The pages themselves perform their function, so this may still be of interest to some. Consider buying this if you happen to see it while making a trip through its rightful habitat... the pound shop.

Say the time out loud and try to make a match on your activity-packed playing board. Children learn and develop numeracy skills with analogue and digital times. Play value may be extended by also using the Penguin Clock Face. Links with National Curriculu

Trivial Pursuit has just moved into the 21st century with the Genus Edition. Ever felt disadvantaged at Trivial Pursuit simply because the questions related to a time just before you were born--to 50s films and politicians? If so the bang up-to-date Genus Edition is what you've been waiting for. "Which Tory boy inspiration did Harry Enfield say has, 'a revolting greasy head of hair, disgusting pudgy nose and no discernible chin'? (Michael Portillo)"

The rules and objectives of the Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition are basically the same as for the original Trivial Pursuit we all loved nearly 20 years ago. It is still the ultimate adult party game to test and show off your general knowledge. The categories of questions are the same: Geography, Entertainment, History, Arts & Literature,. Science & Nature and Sport & Leisure. Yet the questions in each category are much more current than their predecessors. "What is the colour of the bottom of the Macintosh apple?" (Blue)

At times this more current context may give an impression of dumbing down Trivial Pursuit but in reality it is simply that the questions are more relevant to today's generation. "Which magazine was first produced in the room where Willie Rushton was born?" (Private Eye)

The game includes a game board, 400 question and answer cards, two cardholders, one dice, six scoring tokens and 36 coloured wedges.

For two to six players or teams. The Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition is the classic party game to be enjoyed with friends and family.--Victoria Mackenzie

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right