Steve McClure
United States
Fowler
California
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I'm putting together a quick review of this game, after just a couple of plays. This is my first crack at this, review writing that is.
First things first, I'll let everyone know that I'm writing this from the perspective of a parent of six and ten year olds. I often struggle finding a game that is compatible for both of them, let alone both of them along with me and my wife.
The Magic Labyrinth was recommended by the guy at the FLGS. Once we got it home, I cracked it open and sorted out the pieces for punching out. The boards are really nice quality, and this game punched out like a charm. I wasn't fighting with any little bits or hanging chads that weren't machine punched. This means all of the pieces are cleanly punched sans any of those annoying "tags" so often left behind by the process. Along with the boards, the rest of the pieces are good quality as well. The tokens are printed on one side, black on the other, and are entirely adequate to their task, if not moreso. Adequate seems almost disparaging, but that isn't what I was going for. The playing pieces are standard, and contain magnets that are strong enough to meet their requirements, and not too strong as to make "cross" magnetism of neighboring pieces a problem.
On the way home from the FLGS, I was a bit leary of the magnets poprtion of the components as well as that gameplay bit. I was afraid that mechanical issues would detract from gameplay. I'm happy to say that that fear did not come to fruition. The balls are held beneath the top game board firmly, and are not a source of distration.
I followed the quick setup of walls described as intermediate in the instructions, and spun the board around as described in the directions. Then we jumped into game play. There were only a couple of questions that came up, and they were clearly answered in the instructions. By the way the instructions are brief and to the point. Anyone with an attention span longer than my own or my six year old son's would have read them from cover to cover in two minutes, and not had any questions at all. I wanted to play, so read the instructions mid play. Our questions. "What happens when we draw a token, and someone is already on that square?"..Answer. That player gets the token, and draws the next from the bad. Also "Can we both be on the same square at once?" Answer; "No. A player can 'pass' another player, but may not end their turn in the same square as any other player". This one turned into a couple of situations where one player effectively blocked another as they both ran for a nearby token, but neither out rolling the other by enough the pull away/make the pass. It wasn't a mechanic that caused trouble though, and doesn't seem like something one of us could easily abuse. Certainly no one around my game table is cagey enough to do it at least.
After the first play, which was a back and forth affair filled with many smiles and quite a bit of laughter when Dad ran into "that wall, AGAIN". Very much a success.
The children wanted to setup the next set of hidden walls. There wasn't any question that we'd play again. I gave them a quick set of rules on construction, don't completely block any cell off, and don't put more than two walls around any one square. I didn't want it to be too difficult after all. They managed to follow instructions, and after a quick review of their work and a few spins of the board and the top, we were into our second game.
All in all this was a very successful purchase for us. It is quick to set up, quick to play. Turns are short, and yet filled with decisions. Yes the decisions are simple ones, but you really do have to decide which direction you'll move that next space. We thoroughly enjoyed the game, and will most likely be purchasing another copy as a Christmas gift for a nephew.
All in all I highly recommend this game to parents of children that aren't ready for the more abstract concepts present in games that are appropriate even for some seven or eight year olds.
Tips and other useful info: Use the magnets to pick up the balls from under the board. This is in the instructions, but worth mentioning especially for us parents with large clumsy fingers or when your ball rolls into a quadrant away from you.
Also, when the kids were setting up the walls, I made sure they removed the lower board and placed it on the table. This will make sure that the gentle pressure required to set a wall, will NOT bend or depress the board that supports the walls.
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Ian Peters-Campbell
United States
Santa Cruz
California
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Nice review and great title Mr. Barnes.
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Nice review.
I'd like to get this game for my kids but haven't managed to find it in the UK yet 
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Rindel wrote: Nice review.
I'd like to get this game for my kids but haven't managed to find it in the UK yet :(
For exports to the UK there is always amazon.de. If You buy directly there is flat rate shipping and the games arent that expensive to begin with. Often cheaper than in an FLGS in UK even including shipping.
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thanks, I'll take a look.
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20 Euros: http://www.amazon.de/Drei-Magier-Spiele-40848-Kinderspiel/dp...
Shipping is 6 Euro flat plus 0,50 Euro per kg. Dont think that the game weighs a ton so shipping is reasonable and You might add a game or two that You like and found hard to find or too expensive.
Edited. The game is 998 grams. So when they weigh it alone You are charged 0,50 Euros, more probable with packing then I might say 1 Euro...
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aaron belmer
United States
St. Louis
Missouri
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Nice review, thumbs up for Hudsucker Proxy reference
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Trevor Douglas
Canada
Toronto
Ontario
2'x2' Carcassonne Tile
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Thanks for the great review, because of you I went out and bought two copies for my nieces and nephews. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it.
If you have any other games for that age category I would appreciate your input.
Mantle
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Steve McClure
United States
Fowler
California
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zenmazster wrote: Nice review, thumbs up for Hudsucker Proxy reference
Thank You. I just discovered that I get GGold for reviews. I've been saving up GG for my Hudsucker Proxy themed Avatar.
Now I need to go actually type up a review or two that I've been looking at.
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Steve McClure
United States
Fowler
California
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Mantlerom wrote: Thanks for the great review, because of you I went out and bought two copies for my nieces and nephews. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it.:star::star::star:
If you have any other games for that age category I would appreciate your input.
Mantle
Cool, I hope they enjoy the game. I got a few more plays in with my kids and some others, and the game has held up. My six year old loses interest after two plays, but for two plays, he is quite involved.
As I just noted, I will be putting a couple more reviews out for this audience.
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Adam Daulton
United States
Indianapolis
Indiana
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Do you think a 3 year old would enjoy this game? Considering purchasing it and see that the BGG votes say a 3 yearold is a good age...
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ooogene wrote: Do you think a 3 year old would enjoy this game? Considering purchasing it and see that the BGG votes say a 3 yearold is a good age...
I've played it with a couple of younger kids in the 5 an under bracket, an there is perhaps a frustration element they tolerate a little more as they get older. So, depends a little on the child, but most of the kids I've played with have said that there are other games they like more .
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Adam Daulton
United States
Indianapolis
Indiana
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Thanks, I appreciate it.
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