Suspend

Suspend

Suspend is possibly the only thing I like from Melissa and Doug as it is a fantastic game. It is basically a dexterity game, but this also includes an element of 3D or mobile building.

My son and I have been playing this game for a little over a year and I think we have many more years left in this. I would say with help definitely a 3 year old could play it.  However there are aspects are are difficult for them so if you have an easily frustrated child, don't get this one.  There is a "junior" version of this game where the pieces are made out of plastic instead of metal - DON'T get that one.  In the main version of the game the metal pieces are hard to balance and therefore stuff does fall, as well as the metal on metal is slippery so again stuff falls.  In the junior plastic version, nothing falls because the plastic just sort of sticks to itself.  So really instead of balance building like you should be in this game you are just stacking.  If you just want a stacking game read my review about Animal upon Animal and get that one, you will regret it less than the junior Suspend!

Suspend is a game for 2-4 players, although you could probably play it alone as well.  Officially it says to play from the age of 8 but like I said if you just watch your child and are careful then you can play this with younger children.  These are metal pieces though so I can't stress enough to be careful with them as they would easily take someone's eye out (Wow flashback to childhood when I promised I would never say that!).  If you or your kids tends to throw stuff around during a game, don't get this one as it would be too dangerous.


Game Play

Suspend, like most of the other building/stacking and dexterity games that exist is very simple.  Players are trying to be the first person to get rid of all their pieces. There is a set up of a base and a hook which everyone collectively builds from.  Everyone gets one of each colour metal rod. Any additional rods are kept out as well as they are used as well.

On your turn you roll the die and it comes up with a colour on it, you must place your corresponding stick onto the structure.  Rules of placing are simple: you must place an empty loop on your stick onto at least (although more is allowed) one empty loop already on the structure and the metal rod must not touch the table/ground.

If you roll a colour you don't have you must take that colour from either the extras available (first option) or the player to your left (second option), if they don't have it, then move left (third option) and so on.  Unless there are actually none of that colour left then you are allowed to roll again.  This means the game stays very balanced and the winner doesn't tend to win by just lucky rolling.  The first player must place the first piece onto the empty hook, and after that nothing else can go directly onto the hook.  The most painful rod to place is the yellow one - just warning you!


What happens if something falls:
The original game dictates that on a player's turn if anything falls all the rods go to that player to have, so you could end up with quite a lot in this game. I have a huge problem with this and playing with children as it seems really unfair since their dexterity just isn't as good. My solution is to do follow an adaption of the rules in Animal upon Animal about things falling, namely that the player's whose turn it was that had the fall gets two rods (and only two) and the others get set aside to be used as people roll colours they don't have.  I believe this is sufficient punishment for little kids and if you are playing with only adults you can add in the original rules if you want but I honestly don't think it's necessary to have fun!


Review

I love this game as it is really portable coming in a tube but you do need space to play it.  We often play this game when I am ill and need rest as our coffee table is big enough for it and it doesn't require concentration from me and at this point my son knows how to play. Sometimes he just builds 3D sculptures with the pieces and then tells me about them, and really I love any game that a child can play on their own if you are ill.  This one comes out regularly and costs around £15-17 from online retailers. I haven't seen this in a Friendly Local Game Store in a while but you might be able to find it anywhere that sells Melissa and Doug things.

In addition to playing this game as stated above you can play it without the die all together and just putting one rod on each turn, which makes this even easier in those early years when kids die rolling is unpredictable and could upset the whole game.  As simple as this game is, it feels versatile and I have played it with as young as 3 and as old as 70 before - with everyone enjoying themselves!