UFO Throw

A Load Of Tossing

It’s going to be hard for me to dispassionately review this game as I guess I’m not really the target market. Personally I like fairly heavy Eurogames but what was wanted here was an easy to learn, quick to play party game and I thought UFO Throw would fit the bill and be a lot of fun. Well 2 out of 3 ain’t bad as Meatloaf once said.

Explained Flying Objects

The rules are simple: there are 2 cups and 60 cardboard discs(UFOs) – 30 red, 30 green. You make two teams sat either side of the table. Place the 2 cups touching each other in the middle of the table, your cup being on the other side of their cup. Shout “Start” and then throw your discs into your cup. When all discs are thrown whichever side has the most in their cup wins 1 point. First to 3 points wins.

And that’s it.

Exciting game in progress.

Command & Control

Once you have mastered the basics. You can add Mind Control cards. Each side has 6 of these and it says you can play them at any time but as there are no turns just a free-for-all of Flying Object flinging frenzy I’m not sure how you’ll get your opponents to stop and be controlled by your flimsy deck of cards.

For what it’s worth there are 2 useful ones for your team: – Rethrow 3 discs and Remove discs from the rim of your cup and 4 bad ones for your oppos :- Throw your next 3 discs with the wrong hand, from further back, with eyes closed or whilst squatting (This last is impossible for me and somewhat discriminatory against the old and infirm!)

They Come From Another World (Well Clarendon Games)

A word about the components. This is not an expensive game – but it might be overpriced. If all I’m getting for my money is the discs and 2 cups I expect the cups to be already made for me! Pushing the base into the ring wasn’t too bad but having to go through a 2-page instruction sheet (almost longer than the game rules) to learn how to correctly apply a decorative inner strip to said cup was a chore and it’s noteworthy they give you a spare in case you mess it up.

The discs do fit the cups well and provide the right level of difficulty. They are thin though. Whether this has been scientifically tested to be the right weight for throwing is a moot point. Personally, I would have preferred them a bit thicker. You certainly couldn’t play this outside with any slight whiff of a breeze and a bit of rough handling could fatally crease them.

The “Mind Control” card, too, are also small and flimsy.

There is a totally unnecessary cardboard crosswork inside the box that looks like it should hold the cups snugly but it doesn’t and finally the frankly skimpy rules are written on a piece of paper that when folded in four is too big for the box!

(On a more positive note, I have just been able to us one of the cups to catch a nasty looking spider that landed on the back of my hand. So, 1 more point for that!)

The Truth Is Out There

So, what do I think? Well, I was able to complete my brief and get wife, daughter and future son-in-law to play a game. We did quite enjoy it for the stated on the box 20-minute limit. And yes there were several times when laughter was heard.

I feel you could make your own house rules to hold your interest longer. Sadly, these might be along the lines of “shall we play something else more interesting?”

The game is not bad but overall it has not been put together with enough care and attention. For example, little things like the bottom of the Red cup is Green not Red that’s just annoyingly careless.

Finally, despite the promise on the box I did land more UFOs than my opponent and was not crowned Galactic Overlord!