5 Second Rule Spintensity Game Review And Giveaway (Age 12+) Sent for review.

Today's game review is the brand new 5 Second Rule Spintensity, and we've been sent a copy to review by Interplay. Suitable for 2 or more players aged around 12+, this is a fast-paced word game, and the electronic version is definitely even more pressured and frantic... 

The game is packaged in quite a small box, and it has a plastic insert to protect the spinner, but the smaller size means there's no wasted space and any plastic isn't single-use. You'll need 3 x AAA batteries and a small crosshead screwdriver, but then you can play straight away. 

The aim of the game is simple. Like all of the 5 Second Rule games (which you can also use with Spintensity), you have to name 3 things in a given category within the 5 second time limit. Categories are incredibly varied, you never know what it is going to be - or how hard you'll find it. 

All of the cards are double-sided, green or blue, which has no relationship to difficulty. Before you start to play, you can pick a side and everyone has to use that colour. Work your way through one colour and then the next, and it'll be a long while before you repeat a question. 

The Spinner is really very clever. One player starts, and presses the button. They get allotted time to take and read out a card, and then the light flashes to show it's time to give their answer. If they answer correctly in time, they press the button and keep going. If they don't, play automatically moves to the next player. 

When a player presses the button, the spinner decides what happens next. Players might have to continue by giving another 2 or 3 answers to their current card, take and complete another card, or pass to the next player. 

If you manage to answer the card in front of you within the time limit (and also extra answers if you're told to) then you get to keep the card. At the end of each round, count up your cards (usually 0,1 or 2) and move that many spaces around the spinner. First player to go from start to finish wins! 

There are some really clever touches to the game:

- You can place the Start and Finish tokens wherever you like around the spinner - making a longer or shorter game. 

- The spinner shape doesn't only hold the Start and Finish tickets, it's actually brilliant for keeping the pawns in place because of the long 'arms'. People aren't always entirely careful when they hit the button...

- There is an option to 'Pause' when you are reading out a card, which is really useful. Sometimes there wouldn't be chance to keep up, despite best efforts, or you might drop your card on the floor etc. It can be a bit frantic. (PS. Pause only works for a few seconds, leave it too long and it turns off.)

- You can use Spintensity with original 5 Second Rule, or the Jr. version for younger players, which increases longevity massively.

- The number of players on each team has no limit, just take it in turns to be the active player if there's more than 1 of you. 

A whole game doesn't take long, and the spinner ensures there is no time-wasting or cheating. You can play a whole game with 4 players in about 20-30 minutes. There's no set-up time, no complicated rules and anyone can join in - it's a real crowd-pleaser. 

5 Second Rule Spintensity is recommended for age 12+, and I'd say that's spot on. My 10 year old is a seasoned game player, and he has a great attempt, but he is at a disadvantage. Younger players don't necessarily have the quick access to lots of different answers, and may not have the general knowledge required for a fair game. 

A great game that is loads of fun, and even though it can be frantic, it's almost impossible to really get seriously competitive - you don't have time to be serious about anything! The card categories can be hilarious, simple, impossible or tip-of-your-tongue infuriatingly hard to think of on the spot. 

5 Second Rule Spintensity is available now priced £14.99 rrp from toy and game shops including Argos, Smyths Toys and John Lewis. 

Spinmaster Toys have very kindly offered a copy of 5 Second Rule Spintensity for one of my readers as a Christmas present. Entry to the giveaway is by the Gleam form below. No entries are mandatory, but each extra task completed earns you more entries into the random draw. 

None of your details are used for anything other than administrating this giveaway, then deleted. If you are new to Gleam, there's a link to help, as well as my other current giveaways, on my Giveaway page. 

Open to UK entrants only, the giveaway will end at midnight Sunday 6th December. Full terms and conditions are at the bottom of the Gleam form. 

5 Second Rule Spintensity Game Giveaway (Age 12+)

We were sent our copy of 5 Second Rule Spintensity by SpinMaster for review.