Any Excuse for a Party!
As part of my goals and aims for the year I am trying to become more intentionally present in my boys lives.
When I was asked if I would like to review a LEGO game of course I was more than happy but I was so thrilled when ‘Creationary’ arrived.
Creationary is the kind of LEGO game I like – it’s like pictionary but with LEGO and it is so fun. A roll of the dice determines your category and then a turn of the card reveals the nature/building/thing/vehicle you need to make. It’s aimed at ages 7+ and I can see why – wee Bounce just didn’t have the concentration to keep on playing or watch others – not that it stopped him being involved.
The Atlas suggested we have a Creationary party to make an occasion of our first game. The boys have been bursting to play since it arrived so this was very much in keeping with the excitement levels.
…. and as part of my parenting strategy for the year it worked so well – why not have a party to celebrate a new game?
We had some awesome LEGO lollies The Atlas got at some conference or other (wish I knew where you could buy them) so we made cupcakes and bought chippies. Ma n Pop joined us too and the adults actually really enjoyed the game.
We have some really creative friends and I can actually see us playing this at dinner parties with the right crew.
As for my boys – had I not received this game it is certainly one I would have asked the Grandparents to get us as a family for Christmas. Good games (I want to say board games but clearly this isn’t) are a pricey investment but pay-per-play and quality time factor I think they are worth every cent. There are 3 levels of difficulty (I found level 1 about right for me but the Flip went straight for the top-level) and it is quite mind bending when trying to figure out how to represent some objects. I was so impressed with the way Flip managed to represent the things he had some of which were really challenging. I love having something that will draw out his creativity and challenge his thinking.
It is tempting to wish the picture representations were in LEGO themselves but then it would take all the creative out of it. I am so pleased they didn’t do that – a game that encourages true creativity is definitely at the top of my awesomeness list.
We are definite LEGO fans and I’ve received rather a lot of street cred from some adults I know for being a blogger who gets LEGO to review – kind of makes up for the weird silence when you tell some people you blog (it’s at that point I want to hitch my pants high and make geeky laughing sounds).
Here’s all the important stuff you need to know:Product name: LEGO® Creationary
RRP $69.99
If you are looking for an excellent long-term game investment I can really recommend this one. It will be getting a lot of use in our house… and it will last for a lot longer than the cupcakes!
Feeling the Force
We love lego – it seems to come with the territory of having 3 males in one house….maybe it would be the same if it was all girls – I can’t say I have no expertise in this area.
When the new lego game ‘Battle of Hoth’ arrived in the mailbox poor Flip nearly burst his buttons in excitement and the effort required to wait until we were ready to play before we undid the box.
It was worth the wait a long leisurely morning with Daddy setting up – it took them nearly an hour of enjoyable ‘lego play’. I think even I could follow lego instructions. Certainly Flip loves the easy style of their instruction books, no words needed.
and then the great Battle began. Flip’s entire focus was on getting to the stage where he could roll the dice and attack. In his typical style without too much, any strategy he creamed Daddy and won the game.
I like that about this game it can be played with strategy (and I’m sure it will be in a few years) or you can just play it.
The Atlas, really liked the ‘childhood memories’ aspect of playing this with Flip. The excitement and ability to participate in the imaginary play part of the game and the arguements over who will be the goodie (he was very mature and let Flip choose).
I personally like the imaginative part of lego’s approach – even though it is a game players can choose to add in new characters (these are provided in the form of Chewbacca and others) and change the style of the game. Even in the rules/instructions there is encouragement to make the game your own. And of course the pieces all work with any other lego you have.
The game is based on the battle of the same name from the ‘Empire Strikes Back’ Star Wars movie.
I ended up making a clear plastic case for the pieces with a velcro top because I didn’t think the box would ensure pieces being safe at our house.
I was sent this game to review with my boys and when I get something this awesome I score major points for being cool which I figure buys me less eye-rolling when I am doing my serious work of blogging! Although it’s recommended for 8+ I think it can be accessible for players 5-8 if they play with an adult.
We’d recommend it for those who like games that can be played on a fun or thinking level and for Star Wars lovers, Lego lovers and the geeks 
who love both.
