A Space Adventure Puzzle
Written: May 02 '04 (Updated May 05 '04)
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Pros: Easy to learn, fun, cool robot playing pieces, makes you use your noodle.
Cons: Only comes with 40 challenge cards.
The Bottom Line: If you buy only one toy this year, this is the one to get. It's fun and challenging. Has cool robots.
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| robotnut's Full Review: Binary Arts Lunar Lockout Peg Game |
Imagine you're in a Space Pod, locked out of your Mothership. You must use your Helper Bots to help guide you to the ship's Emergency Entry Port. This is the main theme of this puzzle game.
The game comes with 5 Helper Bots, 1 Space Pod (that's you), a playing grid which doubles as the lid for the storage case, and 40 challenge cards. It's a one player game recommended for ages 8 and up.
The challenge cards present different game starting setups telling you where to position your Pod and your Helper Bots. There are 40 cards in 4 different levels: 10 beginner level cards, 10 intermediate cards, 10 advanced cards and 10 expert cards. The puzzle solution is printed on the back of each card.
To start the game, you simply choose a challenge card. Then position the Helper Bots and the Space Pod on the 5 x 5 square grid as shown on the challenge card. You must then maneuver the pieces in a way which will ultimately allow you to get your Pod to the center square on the grid. In some cases, there may be more than one solution to the puzzle. Not unlike chess, in order to figure out what piece to move and where to move it, you have to be able to think several moves ahead.
Although the game comes with 5 Helper Bots, some setups only involve the use of 4 of them. Generally speaking, the average adult player will not have any difficulty with the Beginner and Intermediate level cards. These may present more of a challenge to the younger players. Personally, I found that even some of the Advanced level cards were fairly easy. You will definitely be racking your brains on the Expert level cards however.
If you're a sci-fi fan or love robots (like me), you'll love the little robot playing pieces. They are designed after famous classic robots such as Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet and B-9 robot from Lost In Space. I also like the way the cards and the playing pieces all store neatly in the compact storage case. This makes the game easy to take with you and is great to pass the time on those long car/train/plane trips. The only thing I can find fault with this game is that it only comes with 40 challenge cards, I wish there were more Expert level cards. Once you start playing, you get hooked.
I would definitely recommend this game. But you may want to hurry, I think it may have been discontinued. I happened to stumble on this game at my local Toys R Us. But it was their last one and the box was pretty shelf worn. I had checked some Internet stores and many no longer carry it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 11.99
Type of Toy: Puzzle
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older
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Epinions.com ID:
robotnut
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Location: NJ
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 3 members
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