Game Review

Concept:

Mind Trap two is a trivia game filled with brain-teasers and logic problems. This is an updated version from the original, it adds picture problems, tangram puzzles and a game board.

Gameplay:

Players break up into teams. Each team selects a scoring token and places it on the appropriate path on the game board.  Teams are also given shape pieces and sticks that match their token's color.

Teams decide which group goes first. A member of the team whose turn it isn't is selected to read the question. The reader draws a card, then reads the question aloud to his/her team, then flips the card over and silently reads the answer. 

The choice of the question depends upon the color of the space that the answering team's token is sitting on.  A purple space yields a mystery question -- the object is to solve the mystery.  A pink space represents picture/sticks/shape puzzles,  and a blue space represents miscellaneous questions.  Finally, a space with an "M"  is a wild space where the answering team chooses the style of question they prefer.

If a correct answer is given, the team receives one point and then chooses to either answer another question or roll the dice for a number of bonus points (the dice has numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3.)

If the team answers incorrectly, the opponent team (without the member reading the question) is allowed to answer. If correct, they receive a bonus point.

Once the dice have been rolled, or a question was answered incorrectly, the other team is asked the questions.

The game ends when one team reaches the end of the board.

One special rule is applied to the questions: if a question is marked with a small black diamond, the players who are answering the question may ask "Yes/No/Irrelevant" questions to clarify the puzzle. Also, many of the questions require an explanation beyond the basic answer -- the expected reason is written in the answer; Simply guessing is discouraged.

Lastly, pink cards that use sticks or tangram pieces are team challenge cards.  The object of the cards is to create a shape that matches the image -- the team that does this fastest will win the point and take control of the next question.

Winning Conditions:

• The first team to reach the end of the board wins.

Our Opinion:

If you have played the original Mind Trap, then you know what to expect from this sequel.  It has a more polished look and a better range of questions, but for the most part it is the same game.

If you haven't played the original game, this is a good game to get.  The questions get everyone thinking creatively -- sometimes in very funny ways.  If you have to choose between the two versions, pick this one -- the range of questions is better, the additions of the tangram puzzles and stick puzzles are very worthwhile, and the team play aspects get more people involved.

If you like tangram puzzles, be sure to look into this game, too.

I repeat this warning from my original Mind Trap review: Don't play this game around a bunch of engineering students or computer programmers -- we've heard so many of these questions in school and just over time that after about 2 turns into the game, they can answer 10 questions in a row correctly. There's no time limit, so most of the questions are answerable after a short amount of logical banter between the math-centric players. In our house, we require the dice to get rolled after 2 questions so that both teams get to play.

This updated version actually compensates for the above warning with the team play questions.  By giving both teams a chance to play simultaneously, it is much harder to win in one round, and more people get to play.  This fact easily makes Mind Trap 2 the better of the two games.

If you already own the original version, don't worry -- the questions do not repeat.  In fact, on wild spaces, you are allowed to choose questions from the original game! Owning both versions is actually a plus with this game.

We  heartily recommend this game.  It's fun and smart, and you don't have to play using the board to enjoy the questions.

Where to buy:

Any local toy store -- It costs about $20.