Screwball Scramble was a game I really enjoyed as a kid because it was different than any other "board game" in my collection. I don't know what came of the one that I grew up with, but when I spotted the game on the toy store shelves I knew that it needed to be added to my kids' game collection so they could grow up with it as well.

Product Description:

Screwball Scramble is a unique game where you attempt to maneuver a metal marble through an obstacle course using controls (levers, dials, buttons) located at the bottom of the game surface. There's a timer too - you can play to beat your best time or play against others to see who can complete the course the fastest.

The obstacle course itself is set up on the board game. There's really no assembly required - out of the box you just have to put the timer into its slot and put a little hoop for the ball to jump through into its slot. There are 8 little controls along the bottom of the game board that you can use to control the action on the playing surface.

Here's a general description of the obstacle course:

1) With the ball on the starting point, press button #1 to move the accordion-like "tilting walkway", then gently lift the ball to the ending platform

2) Twist dial #2 to move the ball via a magnetized crane to the parallel bars.

3) To get the ball to roll up the slight incline, slide lever #3 to widen the space between the far end of the parallel bars so the ball will start to roll down them, but be careful to close them back before the ball drops between the bars.

4) From the parallel bars the ball will drop onto the "unstable table" - a wide, flat surface with some pegs to keep your ball from rolling where you want it to roll. Maneuver lever #4 to tilt the table so the ball will fall out onto the walkway (but be careful because the other exit from the unstable table will drop you off the course

5) Hit button #5 to make the ball jump up the tire staircase, jumping through the hoop at the end.

6) Move lever #6 to weave your way through the blind maze (without getting stuck at a dead end)

7) Carefully turn dial #7 (which is the same as dial #2) to move your ball on the rotating platform without falling off.

8) Hit button #8 to catapult your ball through the hoop and onto the bell at the end of the course.

To reset the game from one play to the next all you need to do is reset the catapult and put the ball back at the beginning of the course. Two metal balls are included with the game, but you only need one for game play (I suppose the other is there as a backup).

The timer is a simple wind-up mechanism with 1 button to stop it and 1 button to start it. To use it wind the timer-arm up to the 60-second mark, then press the button on top to start it. The timer is rather noisy - presumably to up the pressure on the player as the seconds tick away.

The game is recommended for children ages 5 and up. There are no batteries required. There are instructions included, but the game play is so intuitive they aren't really needed.

Our Thoughts and Experiences:

I enjoyed this game a lot as a kid (back when I think it was called "Run Yourself Ragged"). I spent a lot of time somewhat isolated out on a farm in the middle of nowhere with my Grandparents and sister as my only company. Screwball Scramble was a game that could keep me occupied by myself for a while, or when my sister or someone else was available we could play together using the clock to compete and see who could get the best time through the course.

I gave Screwball Scramble to my 5 year old for Christmas this year. Upon seeing it he was quite excited - you've gotta admit that even at first glance this game looks interesting. My little guy is somewhat hyper and we try to find things to help him work on his ability to focus, and Screwball Scramble has been a great exercise for him. The game is very fun so it keeps him interested, but at the same time it keeps him concentrating on one thing for an extended period of time, which is good practice for him. Remembering to do things in order and not leave out any steps is also a good lesson for him to learn.

Aside from the focus/concentration aspect, there are lots of other little science lessons to learn while playing with this game. The accordion-like "tilting-walkway" at the beginning of the course teaches about momentum; you've got to have it to keep the ball rolling forward to the end of the walkway - if you rest in-between walkway sections (as my son is prone to do) the ball is just as likely to roll backward as it is to roll forward. Gravity plays a big role in guiding the ball through the "unstable table" and "blind maze". The parallel bars are the always fun "getting the ball to roll uphill" trick - you've got to open the bars wide to get the ball rolling, but close them at the right time to keep the ball from falling down between the bars. If you close them too soon the ball will just roll back to the beginning instead of to the next obstacle.

The hardest part for my 5 year old is currently the blind maze. To do it right you've got to tilt and move the maze according to where you think the ball might be to guide it through to the other side - and since you can't see the ball inside the maze you've got to keep up with where it is based off of your movements. You can also use the sound of the ball rolling and the weight of the ball pulling down a side of the maze to help you figure out where it is if you lose track of it along the way. He has a hard time picturing in his mind where the ball might be. He gets frustrated with it sometimes, but it is very good practice for him. You've got to really concentrate and focus in this part of the course - things he needs to work on anyway.

For me, the hardest part of the course is riding the little platform from the blind maze to the catapult at the end of the course. You ball sits in a little indention on the platform. Move the platform too quickly and the ball will fall off to the rear, however if you don't move it quickly enough you can't get the ball to leave the indention and roll off into the catapult.

Quickie Summary:
Pros:
+) Can play alone or compare times with other players
+) No batteries required
+) No assembly required (other than putting the timer and 1 hoop into their respective slots)
+) Teaches science concepts (momentum, gravity, etc)
+) Also encourages concentration/mental focus as well as coordination
+) Very much fun!!
Cons:
-) Once you master it you may lose interest

Final Thoughts:

I loved Screwball Scramble as a kid and am so thrilled that it is still available today so I can share it with my own kids. My youngest is still a bit too young for it, but my 5 year old has really enjoyed it. The game has been a great way to get him to concentrate and focus on a single task -- and he doesn't even realize that that's what he is doing - he just thinks he's playing a fun game!

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 20.99
Type of Toy: Game