Thread: A light game with some unique components.

Blott — 2007-07-25T21:01:34+00:00

Take Your Best Shot is a light filler game for 3 to 5 players. The box says it is for ages 10 and up, and due to the trickiness of some of the clue cards I would say this is about right. Included in the box are 5 scoring markers, a scoring track, 440 clue cards, 15 guessing balls (numbered 1 through 5 in red, black, and green), and the Determinator (2 parts – base and funnel.)

Each player selects a number between 1 and 5 and takes the three guessing balls that have that number on them. Also they place the scoring marker with their number on the Start space of the scoring track. The clue cards and Determinator are placed in the center of the table for all to use.

Players take turns reading a clue card. On one side of the clue card are multiple choice answers in three colors that match the three balls each player holds (for example = CUT, ABRASION, BRUISE.) The clue reader holds the card so that the other players can all see these possible answers. The reader then reads the clue on the back of the card (continued example = “Sounds like what a witch does.”) Then players rush to toss their ball that matches the color of the correct answer into the funnel of the Determinator (finished example = Black is correct - BREWS.)

Once the balls have all been tossed the reader takes the opaque funnel off of the Determinator. This leaves the clear base and reveals how the balls fell. Any wrong answer moves that player’s scoring marker back one space. The lowest correct ball scores 3 points on the scoring track. The second lowest correct ball scores 2, and the third lowest scores 1. The first player to reach the victory space on the scoring track wins.

Take Your Best Shot has actually been met with somewhat lukewarm reactions whenever I have introduced it. Some of this has to do with the pun-filled clues. Many of them are a simple play on words or something like that. It appears that it takes a certain kind of mindset to think in this way, because I’ve noticed some very intelligent people struggle when playing Take Your Best Shot.

I also have to gripe a bit about the components. Although they are very unique, they are not what I expected when looking at the box. The little balls are about the size of a large marble and are a bit harder than I would expect from a game where you are required to throw them around. Also I have noticed a bit of the white paint (the numbers) has begun to chip off a little.

The Determinator is good and sturdy, but it has a strange lip in it so that a ball can sit up in the funnel without falling down into the base. This is a problem when a player who knows the answer tosses it in first, and others see the ball that player threw and copy their answer. Because of the lip the copying players may get the points for first place without actually knowing the answer on their own.

Despite these drawbacks I still like Take Your Best Shot as a quick light filler game. It’s a fun family game, and it has a unique style of clues that I haven’t found in any other game I own. Also the addition of a dexterity game, of sorts, is somewhat enjoyable too.

I’d also like to give a quick mention to the variant offered in the rules where the reader is always the player who is in the lead on the scoring track. This is intended to keep the scores closer since the reader never scores any points. Don’t play with this rule! It makes the game unfair. Though the points may be closer at the end, a player who didn’t deserve to win will often overtake the one who has played the better game simply because the better player had to read.

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T09:56:19+00:00

Box Top and Side

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:33:47+00:00

Determinator with Guessing Balls inside, lift the goblet to see who voted first.

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:33:37+00:00

The Determinator

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:31:12+00:00

Scoring chips, one for each player number, used on scoring board.

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:31:01+00:00

Score board

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:30:45+00:00

Determinator with the goblet full of guessing balls

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:28:06+00:00

Box Bottom

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:25:31+00:00

Guessing Balls - each player gets a set of three (one in each color) stamped with their player number

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:24:47+00:00

Box Contents with scoring board removed

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Werebear — 2006-10-11T06:22:33+00:00

Box Top

Thread: Quick Description of Take Your Best Shot

Werebear — 2006-07-26T15:44:48+00:00

Each player has three different colored balls with their player number printed on the ball. Players take turns reading a question to the other players which have three possible color coded answers. When the players know the correct answer they quickly pick the ball of the correct color and race to toss it into the Determinator. Once everybody has guessed the Determinator reveals the order in which the answers were received. Correct answers get points, and you get more points if you answer faster. Players who toss the wrong colored ball (the wrong answer) will lose points. Players take turns asking the questions for the other players and at the end of the game the winner is the player with the most points.

Game: Take Your Best Shot

Thread: A light game with some unique components.

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Thread: Quick Description of Take Your Best Shot