Simon Flash (Game Giveaway)

If you know me personally and well, you know that I am not really a game person. If I'm going to play a game, I like it to be the sort that will allow for conversation to happen over and around it. Either that, or I like a good game of Solitaire. Games do not generally equate to fun in my book. (So how did I marry into a gaming family? Well, I just simply don't know.)

My oldest son (Bookworm1, age 5) would seem to take after his father though and loves games. When he wants to play something more heady, Daddy plays with him. Call Mommy in for games like Candy Land, Hi Ho Cherrio! or Don't Break the Ice. (Those types of games. I like those types.) When I saw an e-mail come through asking if I would like to review a copy of Simon Flash I thought it looked like something I would have fun playing with him so I said I'd be happy to take a look at it.

Simon Flash arrived and judging by the looks of the box I wasn't so sure it would be a winner in this house. First, my husband eyed in suspiciously. (That's always a bad sign.) I figured it would be up to me to introduce the game. My moment came last week when all five of us simultaneously came down with a cold. I figured this game might prove diverting and so out it came.

The basic idea is this, shamelessly stolen from Amazon:

Featuring four brainteaser games to challenge your child's memory, speed, and logic, Hasbro's Simon Flash is a high-tech twist on the legendary Simon game. Four electronic cubes utilize light, sound, and changing colors to keep your child having fun and learning new skills during each game. Revolutionary Wonder-Link technology allows each cube to know where you've placed it, when you win a round, and keeps track of the score.

There are four ways which you can play Simon Flash:

1. Simon Classic - the classic Simon game where you correctly repeat an increasing sequence of colors;

2. Simon Shuffle - you solve each puzzle by lining up the colors in the original order displayed;

3. Simon Lights Off - you solve each puzzle by lining up the cubes in the correct order so that all the lights turn off; or

4. Simon Secret Color - you solve the puzzle by figuring out the order to place the cubes in.

The game says it is for ages 8 and up but, as I mentioned, Bookworm1 is 5 and this game is perfect for him. The kid thinks in patterns and numbers though so I think that helped to make the Simon Classic version of the game approachable and easy. (He actually beats me when it comes to following the color pattern for the longest period of time.) Now, Bookworm1 has a hard time with Simon Shuffle because you have to move the lit squares around fairly quickly and his hand-eye coordination is not that great.

The great thing about this game is you can compete against others (given that each individual game with the cubes last from 90 seconds to 2 minutes in length) or you can play it all by yourself. (Hello, Mommy and her love of solitaire!)

Bookworm2 (age 2 3/4) really, really loves this game but he stinks at it. Definitely need to be older than two to play it, no matter how fun it looks. (Bookworm3 - age 9 months - is also a huge fan of the color flashing cubes and would like to eat them.) The good thing about Bookworm2 wanting to play it, however, is that it encourages him to learn his colors so that he can actually win the games! Because the game is all about colors and flashing lights, it is hugely attractive to younger people. As it is a game of speed and pattern (but is somewhat simplistic in nature) it holds appeal to those of us who do not wish to expend too many brain cells when playing a game, but will occasionally accept a minor challenge in this department.

On the whole, this mom is going to give this game two thumbs up. (It was also a perfect game to have around when everyone was sick and down and out. Bookworm1 laid on the couch for awhile playing the Classic Simon version of the game and we just passed it back and forth between us.) It's a low-key, low stress game and I like it very much for that. I don't know that I would have purchased it outright for our family because it just doesn't look like much from the packaging. My husband, being infinitely suspicious of new games, would have definitely passed it by. But I think it is surprisingly usable in teaching colors and patterns in a fun, flashy sort of way.

The great news for YOU is that Hasbro has offered to giveaway one copy of Simon Flash to one of you!

To win? Simply leave a comment below. This contest will be open through Wednesday, December 21st and is open to U.S. Residents only. Please leave a valid e-mail address along with your comment so that I can easily contact you, should you be selected as the winner.

(The games will be shipped post-January 6th so please do not expect to receive your copy before Christmas, should you be selected as the winner.)