Halex 60657 Boccerball Table Game

This Halex boccerball table exceeded all of my expectations. Considering the sale price I paid, I was expecting very little from this game table. When I helped the kids open it on Christmas morning, I cringed as I looked at all the assembly necessary and assumed it would be a very frustrating experience trying to put it together.

To my surprise, the table pieces were all included and they all fit together exactly as shown! After a few minutes of relative fun, my daughter and I had the table put together. Not only did it go together easily, it is a very sturdy and well designed table. However, be aware that it is very short and is best played on your knees or sitting in a chair.

For the rest of the day, the boccerball table got the most use of all of the kids' Christmas presents. We had company over on Christmas evening and the highlight of the evening was the boccerball tournament. For a relatively cheap game table, this appears to be a very good purchase for a small basement. I highly recommend it.

Our entire family loves this game, particularly the competitive ones. Experience doesn't guarantee a win. Friends often sit down to the challenge, too. One key to lots of use is to have it in the Family Room, where it gets lots of attention. We look forward to having this in place for our future grandchildren.

The assembly is a bit involved. Follow the directions or you'll quickly be lost. Some corrugated cardboard squares under the feet of the game will help to get it level, too.

I was intrigued by this game winning the "game of the year award", and it is fun to play, until you've played it about 8 times then you will never want to play it again. It's just not very compelling. I believe it is now "end of life" so I guess I'm not alone in my opinion.

Boccerball is pretty cool but the biggest disappointment was the size. I assumed (I know, I know, don't assume) that it was the same size as a foosball table. No, it is not. A normal adult (I am 5'9") has to be on their knees or on a chair. It would be really cool full size. The other problem I had was that one of the return tubes was broken. I didn't want to call the manufacturer so I simply duct taped it together. It is working fine (it is also under the table so it doesn't show). There is a little plastic door on the return tube that my daughter promptly ripped off. You are not paying for the highest quality.

Other than the return tube and door, the construction is pretty good. The legs can fold up. The directions are pretty good.

Overall, I like it. There is definitely some skill in timing the marbles to hit the Boccerball (you want to be on the uphill side). It is also noisy but fun. Really, you are getting what you are paying for. If I had paid a few hundred dollars for this quality then I would be upsent. For the price, I think this is a fun little addition to our game room. I also bought one for my nephews. I am really curious what my nephews think. The size is the biggest disappointment but if you know what you are getting, then you can't complain.

I am curious if it is a lasting toy that is used for a while by my 5, 7, and 9 year old kids. My kid's favorite big toy by far is the trampoline. The air hockey is not used much nor is a cheap foosball table.