Sportcraft Spiral ™ 3-in-1 multi-game table – family fun, even for little ones!
Written: Feb 03 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Family fun, not a huge space requirement, 3 different games to play to avoid boredom.
Cons: Small size, small edge around air hockey table no hard hits!
The Bottom Line: Family fun with a decent table that can fit into smaller places allowing for 3 different games easily!
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| Magick1's Full Review: Sportcraft Spiral 3-in-1 Multi Game Table |
I remember the days when there were arcades with many games, Asteroids, Centipede, DigDug, and many, many others. A lot of times there would be an air hockey table that you could slip in a quarter and play against someone to see who could win.
Well, this family entertainment is trying to be brought into the home. This game table tries to allow you to have 3 games in 1. I have seen many other table gaming systems have a lot more than 2 or 3 games, but this one takes care of a majority of the big games: table tennis, air hockey and pool.
The Product
Ok, when you think of air hockey, remember how LARGE the table was? Or, pool: remember? Well, don’t get your hopes set too high. If you want the regulation sizes, this is NOT for you! The dimensions on this table are as follows:
66 inches by 33 inches by 32 inches
Let me start with the assembly. It was fairly easy to put together. But, there was a problem with one of the legs. You have to fold all of the legs over on one corner to give them the L shaped corner so the game can be more stable. Well, while folding one of the legs, basically along the “tape line” or fold line, the tape-like covering split and had to be glued back together.
Well, that being said, assembly was a bit lengthy, but with only 1 person doing the work, it was about 1 hour from start to finish. The instruction book left a lot to be desired. The directions could use a bit of clarification. They were not the worst I have ever seen, but boy, they should have tried testing the booklet out on someone who has never seen the product and let them attempt the assembly by reading their instructions. It might be a bit challenging.
The table comes with a table tennis top, a pool table top and the air hockey. At first, when we flipped the table (which is easy to do, as it rotated on, I am guessing, a rod center placed) we thought there was no air for the air hockey. We did not see the cord as it was hidden in the pocket where the hockey puck drops. We found it and things were great! The air pressure isn’t terribly strong and the puck doesn’t “float” like the professional, huge models that you used to find everywhere. But, for a home version, it is pretty decent.
The pool table is decent as well. The felt top is rather thin, but, for a decent little pool game, it does the trick. This can also be said for the table tennis portion. The table tennis board just fits right down on top of whatever game you have up, hook up the net, and you are ready to go.
Changing between the games doesn’t take long. The table change takes just a couple of seconds. Getting ready, well, that will take a bit longer. The air hockey is pretty quick: get the puck, get the There are lockdown pegs two on each side, giving the table top a lot of stability, even when playing air hockey.
The table has a slider on each side for score keeping making it easy to keep track of who is winning!
The table does have holders underneath to store the pool cues. But, everything else, the ping pong balls, the billiard balls, the paddles, the hockey pushers and the foam inserts to protect your table when you are playing table tennis, you have to have somewhere.
Overall Impressions
We have been playing with this for quite some time and truly enjoy it. But, it is small. Two adults playing across the table can reach out and touch each other over the table without stretching.
The air hockey table has a decent amount of air moving through, but it, as mentioned above, doesn’t allow the puck to float across the board. The puck does glide nicely when you are playing, though.
The table size is small, but allows for smaller spaces to have a fun game set-up. The table is decent, stands firm and is not wiggly and it is holding up nicely. If you have rough and tumble kids that are hard on items, I think you could have problems if they are pushing into the table with their weight trying to make the puck go in or hitting extremely hard, it will damage the table quickly. The hockey table is only surrounded by about a ¼ of an inch of wood, making hard hits spring off the table easily.
This gaming system is for gentle play, not super, hard-hitting, vigorous or rambunctious play! But, for fun family entertainment, this table is great!
~Thank you for spending time with me today!~
Recommended:
Yes
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