Mindflex Game

Mindflex Game Review

3.5 from 5

First, let me say that some people expect more than what technology has to offer. The fact that you can only move the ball up and down with your mind is still a huge step for today's toys!

Those who say the reading is sometimes "off" simply haven't played the game long enough to develop an understanding of how to control the ball. After a few days of playing my kids ages 13, 9, and 6 were able to control the ball well enough to complete the obstacles in a matter of seconds, including my ADHD child.

As for the parts, they only break if you use excessive force while putting them together. All of the pieces fit nicely back into the box, and the game only takes a few seconds to disassemble and return to the box.

For those who say it eats batteries... use better batteries! Mine has been played several hours a day for the past week and the batteries have yet to die.

As for the price, is not too much to ask for one of this year's top toys, but I'm sure it will go down to a more-appropriate - as the hype wears down.

All in all, my kids and I say that this game ROCKS! I am very pleased with the game, and am glad that I bought it!

PROS:
focus training
hours of fun
group-friendly
current technology
...just to name a few

CONS:
only that my dog won't wear the headset either :-)
(in response to the reviewer who's cat wouldn't wear the headset)

Mindflex Game Overviews

A lightweight headset containing sensors for the forehead and earlobes measures your brainwave activity. When you focus your concentration, a small foam ball will rise on a gentle stream of air. Relax your thoughts and the ball will descend. By using a combination of physical and mental coordination, you must then guide the ball through a customizable obstacle course–the various obstacles can be repositioned into many different configurations. Mindflex™ combines advanced technology with the power of thought to create an interactive experience unlike any other– a game where players compete in the ultimate mental marathon!

For ages 8 and up.
Requires 4 "C" and 2 "AAA' batteries.

Mindflex Game Specifications

Mindflex--featuring a headset that reads your brain waves and a levitating foam ball--is the kind of game that must be seen to be believed. Recommended for players aged eight and older, the game begins when you strap on the headset so you can use your powers of concentration to move the ball around the game console and through a mind-bending obstacle course. A dial-in console lets you to keep the ball lifted on a cushion of air, but raising and lowering the ball must be accomplished by alternating concentrating and relaxing your mind.

At a Glance

Ages:

Requires:

4 "C" and 3 "AAA" batteries (not included)
Screwdriver for battery installation

What We Think

Fun factor:

Durability:

Ease of assembly:

Educational factor:

Novelty factor:

The Good: Adults and kids guide a foam ball through obstacles using the power of their minds.

The Challenging: Players unable to perceive a relationship between their minds and the ball's height may grow impatient.

In a Nutshell: Foam ball really does rise and fall, and choice of games and obstacle courses provides hours of amusement.

Your telekinetic fantasies becomes a reality with the Mattel Mindflex. View larger.

The challenging obstacle course will hone your mental focus. View larger.

Headset Measures your Brain Waves
Tired of games that depend on the roll of a die or lucky draw? With the help of advanced technology, Mindflex introduces a whole new way to play--by using the power of your mind!

You'll feel like a character in a science fiction movie as you strap on the headset, connect the clips to your ear lobes, and align the metal forehead sensor just above your left eyebrow. But even this strange accessory won't prepare you for the sight of a foam ball quivering five inches above the game console!

Move the Ball with the Power of your Mind
Skeptics will be quick to point out that the console's moveable fan nozzle holds the ball aloft on a cushion of air. However, as players learn to alternately focus and relax their minds, the ball will respond by rising and falling. An instruction manual provides various concentration and relaxation techniques to try such as math problems or visualization and practice exercises.

Once you feel like you've mastered the art of telekinesis, you can test your mental acuity with five challenging games designed for groups of one to four players. Use the game console to select your game, set the difficulty level, and track your scores.

Design a Mind-Bending Obstacle Course
A variety of hoops, hurdles, funnels, and a teeter-totter can be positioned however you choose on the game console. Players use their minds to move the ball under, over, or through the obstacles. Several games test speed, while another challenges players to lift a ball up and through a funnel, shooting it across the game console to score points.

While Mindflex's advanced technology is sure to intrigue, mastering the games may prove difficult for some. Because concentration techniques will vary from person to person, the game rewards patience and a willingness to experiment. Fans of mazes and brain teasers will appreciate the mental challenge, and creative types will like designing the obstacle courses.

Mindflex's game console requires four "C" batteries (not included), and the headset requires three "AAA" batteries (not included). The four foam balls should be handled with care to keep their ability to levitate. Fortunately, the game console features an inner compartment for safe ball storage.

What's in the Box
Game console, headset, four foam balls, and various obstacles. (Batteries not included.)