Apples to Apples Party Box

3 Comments

1. Daniel L Edelen says:

   November 23, 2004 at 6:17 pm

   Rating

   Trying to find a game that a large number of people can play, one that can be a great equalizer of abilities, yet is always fun? Go no further than Apples to Apples.

   We purchased this game a year ago and it has been so well-received by the people we play it with that now many of those same people own it themselves. What higher praise can you give to a game that you play it and then want to own it yourself?

   The play of Apples to Apples could not be easier. It contains nothing more than two sets of cards. Each green card has an adjective or description on it (like “Awful,” “Scary,” or “Scintillating”)while red cards have nouns (like “Waterfalls,” “The CIA,” “George Washington,” or “Mad Cow Disease.”) Each person gets a set of red cards and each will be a judge in turn for the winning answer. The judge turns over a green card and players must play a red card from their hand that they believe will line up with the word on the green card or will appeal to that round’s judge. Table talk is encouraged and makes the game more fun. The judge then decides which red card best fits the green card and the one who played the winning red card wins the round. It’s that simple.

   The fact that everyone gets to not only play, but also judge, makes the game unpredictable. Some judges will look for the most logical match, while others may go for the absurd pairing. You can also add some other tricks, too, that enliven the game. If you have six or more people playing, you can play so that the last person to play a red card has to take his back and sit out the round–makes for quick thinking and crazy answers.

   We’ve never had a single person ever dislike this game and it is the one we reach for over Cranium, Taboo, Balderdash, and all the other party games like them. For its cleverness and simple play, Apples to Apples has won numerous awards, including Games Magazine’s Top 100 Games award and a special citation from Mensa.

   This edition is loaded with cards and has virtually unlimited gameplay. It’s the best deal for the money. It is hard to tell if this version is the one that includes the wooden box (once called “The Crate Edition”), but that nice, woodburned box is truly wonderful to have and makes the game seem even more special.

   Purchasing this game is a true no-brainer. It’s fun for a wide variety of ages and number of players, takes no time to learn, and always plays differently from one match to the next. And it’s a hoot! If there is any con, it’s that the cards can get a little manhandled over time since they are not fully laminated, but that’s not enough to diminish the joy this game brings.

   A can’t miss game and worth every penny.
2. Mark Baker says:

   January 9, 2005 at 2:51 pm

   Rating

   I was introduced to this game a year ago and fell in love with it. It’s great for kids and adults and sure to provide plenty of fun.

   Each player has seven red cards in their hand. They have actions or nouns on them. Things like “Charging Rhinos,” “James Bond,” “Paying Taxes,” “Mirror,” or “Walt Disney.”

   Each round has a judge. The judge turns over the top green card, which contains an adjective like creative, handsome, feminine, horrid, scary, etc. Each player then picks the card from their hand they feel best matches the green card and plays it face down. Now the fun starts. The judge picks the red card he or she feels best matches the green card. Obviously, there are some loosers since it’s hard with seven cards to always match everything. But there are usually some good options as well. Once the winner of that round has been chosen, they take the green card and then become the judge of the next round.

   Obviously, the more you know about the people you’re playing with, the better off you’ll be. And the funnier it can get. And you’ll get to know other people quickly this way.

   So what makes the Party Box Edition different from the regular version? This box contains not only the original cards, but also the cards that are in the first two expansion packs. You get twice the number of cards as the original box for only a little higher price. More fun. More outrageous comparisons. What’s not to like?

   This really is a game that kids and adults can play together and keep everyone entertained and competitive. And it’s rather addicting. I can’t wait to play it again.
3. J. Dueck says:

   June 25, 2008 at 6:48 am

   Rating

   This is a great game, easily learned and played by younger players. Since it’s hard to know what a game is like without knowing how to play it, im going to try to explain it too you.
   
   Its simple: each player has seven RED cards with names of people, places or things on them. A GREEN card is randomly picked from a pile and set on the table: each GREEN CARD has a characteristic of an object or person, such as “Graceful” “Wild” “Neat” “Ancient”, to name a few. Each person has to pick the RED card (out of their seven cards) that best matches with the GREEN card on the table, like the “pushups” red card would fit well with the “exhausting” green card, etc. Once everyone has placed one red card in the middle with the green card, a judge (assigned at the beginning of each round, so you take turns) picks the card that they think matches best, and the person that had that card gets a point. What makes this game fun is, like a previous reviewer said, is that there are no wrong answers, you can pick whatever you want. There also 5 or six variations to the game which can be VERY fun. May I warn you though, this game cannot be played with less than three players, and isn’t really fun unless you have 5 or more, so bring friends over to try it out. I hope my review and explanation helped anyone considering buying it..