Review - KLASK (2016) - Competo - Buffalo Games

There has been a lot of buzz about KLASK. It's mentioned in Forbes as a toy to watch in 2016. It's a recent addition to the shelves in Target. It was about time I grabbed a copy and brought it home to try with Tyler.

The Blurb

The KLASK game board is shaped like a ball field with two deep holes functioning as goals in each end of the field. In the middle of the field, three white magnetic pieces serve as "obstacles" – do NOT attract them to your own gaming piece! Your gaming piece is a black magnet. You control it by holding a large magnet under the board. This magnet is connected to a small magnet placed on the field. The purpose of the game is to push the small, red ball around on the field with your magnet/gaming piece, shoot the ball past the obstacles and your opponent and into the goal hole (Klask). It’s so much fun when your opponent suddenly is covered in white obstacles or you drop your gaming piece into the goal – something which might happen if you get a little too eager!
Place the game board on a table between the two players. Place the three white magnetic pieces on the white fields on the board. Put two coins in each point slot next to the "0". Each player has a black magnetic gaming piece in two parts. Place the short (thin) part on top of the board and the long (thick) part under the board in such a way, so the two parts “catch” each other. Place the ball in the corner start field. Steer it with the black gaming pieces.
The youngest player starts the game. You score a point if:

• The ball ends in your opponent's hole and stays in the hole.
• Two or all of the three white magnetic pieces stick to your opponent's gaming piece.
• The opponent accidentally pulls their gaming piece into their own goal hole.
• If the opponent loses their gaming piece.

Each time you get a point, you must move your coin one point forward in the point slot. The player who first reaches the KLASK field wins.
During the game:

• If one of the white magnetic pieces sticks to a gaming piece, the game continues; if two of the white magnetic pieces stick to one gaming piece, the opponent gets one point.
• If the ball falls over the edges of the board, you must place the ball in the corner start field in the half from which the ball fell.
• If one or more white magnetic pieces fall over the edges of the board, the game continues.
• Each time a player scores a point, you must put the white magnetic pieces back on the white fields on the board, and the player who did not score a point places the ball in their corner start field.

The Gist

Score 6 Points first using any tactic at your disposal.

The Play

We decided to play a best of 3:
Game 1

The first thing I noticed is that Ty must have played a lot while I was at work, because he was deceivingly better at the game than he was yesterday. I wanted to give him a few days with it before we reviewed it. And he quickly went up 2-0 in the first game. I came back to tie it, and then went up 5-2 and wound up winning 5-3.

Dad 1 - Tyler 0

Game 2

I was up 5-3 in the second game and put the winning shot in.....but it rolled out! and he was able to score that point and then next and make it 5-5. He then scored on a quick shot and won 6-5

Dad 1 - Tyler 1 


Game 3

This game was much slower than the other two, with each of us taking our time with our shots. Ty was up 3-2, and after a couple of shots we were tied at 4. I went up 5-4 and then put in the series-winning goal and won 6-4

Dad 2 - Tyler 1  DAD WINS!

The Bits

Dad:

"I love the way the game looks with your player pieces. The way they look like they are moving on there own is really an impressive visual."
    

Ty:

"The white magnets. It's all about the magnets. It's a different scoring mechanic than I have ever seen in a game before."

The Good, the Bad and the Rating

Before I get into the rating, I want to say something. When we finished writing the review up, Tyler said, "So, we're going to play again, right? Right now?" This is our 25th game review together, and this is the first time this has happened.

 

Dad:

"This game is quick, with multiple levels of strategy. You adapt as you play. Do you hit the magnets? Do you just go for the goal? Do you try to lure your opponent towards the middle and try to knock them off their magnet? (By the way when my wife does this to Tyler, she grabs his piece, screams and runs around the board with him, and then jumps into her own net with him attached.) This game hits on all levels for me. It's easy to teach, fun, strategic and quick."
5/5

Ty:

"IT'S GREAT! I love how there are multiple ways to score points. That makes the difference." 5/5