To operate or not to operate

My son received the classic game "Operation" for his birthday. While he and a friend were off doing Jedi Death Battle (or some such) with the toy lightsaber he got, my daughter requested a game of Operation.

It was such an annoying game for both of us that we didn't finish--it was all but impossible to get even a slight grip on some of the pieces, and the tweezers were so fat they were almost guaranteed to hit the edge of the bins. (Miss Dallas is convinced that the "wish bone" is physically impossible to pick up.)

It was so obnoxious that on a whim, I went to Amazon to see if it was getting good reviews. They seemed to be fairly split between "This is a great game! A classic! Everybody should have it!" and people who felt like I did.

So, what do you think?

I remember liking it as a kid, but then my daughter got a travel version of it a year or so ago. It sucked big time.

TRAVEL Operation!!?? So not only is it tiny, but you're supposed to play it it the car?

Sure, with plastic instruments. Honor system.

I haven't played it since I was a kid, so perhaps the QC department of Milton Bradley has slipped and the tolerances are less stringent, making it impossible.

The wishbone *was* always the hardest piece, though, even as a kid.

Preferred playing Doctor. :blush:

Elspode wrote:

The wishbone *was* always the hardest piece, though, even as a kid.

No way! The pencil was harder--in the guy's left arm, if I recall. It was the only piece I don't think I ever successfully got out. I remember enjoying the game as a kid, but not hugely. I strongly try to avoid noise-making toys in my house nowadays.

My nephew got the Homer Simpson version from Santa--it's AWESOME!

Does it buzz or say D'Oh! when you touch the edges? I thought that version looked very, very cool.

However, I also think that these character versions of classic games are, well, dirty somehow. Like they've whored Monopoly out ... (this is commentary from someone who owns both Star Wars-opoly and QVC-opoly).

The Homer Simpson version says, "D'Oh!" and some other Simpson sounds. It's way cool. I want one.

I didn't know there was a QVC version of Monopoly! Far out! I want one of those, too. I like Lisa the best. She could sell ice-cubes to Eskimos, she's that good.

I don't know if QVC-opoly is still available. I got mine at the Studio Store at Studio Park in West Chester, Penna. (It's the old Commodore factory, if you want a touch of geek nostalgia). I think they sold it on-air for a while too.

wolf wrote:

However, I also think that these character versions of classic games are, well, dirty somehow.

I agree. I took my kids out to use up some of their birthday gift cards today and I had to steer my son past Star Wars Risk and Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. (He might actually be good at that last.)

Star Wars Trivial Pursuit I can live with. A licensed trivia game restricted to one topic area can be fun for big fans. Trival Pursuit established a pattern of putting out topic-specific sets only a year or two after the master game was first introduced (sports, silvers screen, etc.)

Star Wars Risk meets my criteria for franchise whoring. So would Nascar edition Uno.

I can live with character chess sets, and to this day regret not spending $29.95/month for the Star Trek Chess Set from The Franklin Mint.

Brianna wrote:

The Homer Simpson version says, "D'Oh!" and some other Simpson sounds. It's way cool. I want one.

I was looking at this in the K-Mart this afternoon. In addition to The Simpons Sounds, the body parts are different from the original game. I especially liked the Twisted Ankle and the Pea Brain, but I thought there wasn't enough detailing on the Rubber Neck.

wolf wrote:

I can live with character chess sets, and to this day regret not spending $29.95/month for the Star Trek Chess Set from The Franklin Mint.

You mean this one?

I remember playing that game as a kid (I owned it), but it'd drive me insane now. I can't believe my mother used to play it with me all the time (cause I had no friends) lol. Now I know that she really was insane!

Yes, that one. And while I have recently parted with $30 for a repro of The Bride's Sword from Kill Bill on ebay, I'm willing to let the $300ish chess set pass at the moment.

I've voted For, because I loved it as a child. No option for those of us who haven't encountered it since though....

My favourite game was Guess Who. Endless variations and special sets of rules devised by me, my sister and our next door neighbour. I remember sitting in pain some Sunday afternoons because I didn't want to leave the game to go to the toilet.

Happy days.