So I bought the electronic version thinking it would be a simple improvement - more words in a random sequence. It's not that simple.
Pros:
- The size of the word list, and the fact that you can choose categories is a great addition.
- The portable design. You only have to carry around 1 unit, rather than a box with the unit, the cards, and the buzzer.
- Still the same great game.

Cons:
- The fact that there's no "off" switch hampers the portability. Since the game turns on if you press one of the buttons, if you just pack this in a bag, it can easily turn itself on, and start making that LOUD beeping sound. You need a screwdriver to remove the batteries, so that's not really an option either.
- There's no volume control and the default is very loud.

- Restrictive gameplay. The original card based game was pretty loose. You could split up into teams, or you could keep score in some other way. You could play up to a number, or you could keep playing until you got bored. The electronic version forces you to split into 2 teams and play up to 10 points. There's a voice calling out the score after each point, which is annoying. Also, there doesn't seem to be a way to reset the game- if you end in the middle of a game, it'll pick up in that game the next time you play, whether you want to or not.

I think the basic strengths of the game outweigh the problems with the electronic version, but if you're someone used to the offline version, don't assume that the electronic version is exactly the same.

128 of 133 found the following review helpful:

A Nerve-Wracking, Yet Highly Contagious Game  Nov 27, 2001
By Lee DeWald
"Catch Phrase" is one of the many cool things I have discovered since being in college. I'll bet hardly anyone has heard of it (no one had heard of it where I come from anyway), but it is one of the most contagious games around.

The premise of the game is simple: After setting the timer, your team has to guess what word or phrase is visible on the screen. The unit cannot be passed until someone says exactly what is on the screen. When someone does guess correctly, you pass it on to a member of the other team.

For example, if the word was "pumpkin," you could say something along the lines of, "Okay, guys, Peter-Peter-blank-eater!" If someone has been keeping up on their nursery rhymes, he or she will know that the word in place of "blank" is "pumpkin." Make sense?

This game is a blast when you get a huge amount of people to play. About a month ago, around 20 of us were playing it at the same time. Good times there, folks!

Fun: Fun, fun, FUN. I can't reiterate it enough. It's interesting to see how nervous people get when the timer starts beeping faster; hence, the buzzer is about to go off. For some reason, people get really panicky when the pressure starts to build. It's only a game, people! Of course, you don't realize that at the time. Everyone is yelling out answers, and with all the excitement going on, your heartbeat can rise in a hurry.

Educational Value: This is a thinking game. That's the only way I know how to put it. You have to think about what it is your teammate is trying to say without he or she actually coming out and saying it. And they're not all as easy as "pumpkin." There are some real stumpers in this game, and that only adds to the fun (or frustration depending upon what side you're on).

Durability: This game is very durable. Just don't drop it! It probably wouldn't hold up very well since this is the electronic version.

In short, "Catch Phrase" is a very cool game. It's great to play with a lot of people, and it never gets boring. I've played this numerous times, and I always have interesting stories to tell the next day.

51 of 52 found the following review helpful:

Fun Party Game!  Dec 11, 2001
By Howard Lee
Remember the old $100, 000 Pyramid game that still reruns on the Game Show network with Dick Clark? This game is sort of like that. There's no silly cardboard cards to fiddle around with, and it's fast paced and fun. You describe the various words that pop up on your screen without saying it to your fellow team member, and you should see the look on people's faces when they try to pinpoint the word. It's comical - and the shouting never stops. But unlike the old pyramid game, you can get a lot of people to join in on the fun, by dividing it up into two teams.

There's a really loud beeping noise that accompanies the game - and it grows more intense minute by minute, until the device buzzes, and the person left holding the unit is the one who gets the 'raspberry' sound. (There's no volume control by the way, but if you're playing this with a lot of people, and there's tons of noise, you'll have a hard time even hearing the beeping)

Great party game, and good fun!

36 of 36 found the following review helpful:

One of my favorite games!  Aug 16, 2001

Catch Phrase may not be a popular game, and few have heard of it, but in reality, it is extremely fun for all ages. I've played with a 9 year-old and a 40-year-old before, and no one got bored! And not only is it fun and entertaining, but it improves vocabulary skills. One of the best parts of this game is, once you've had it for a week, your kids will still be playing it. It never loses its fun. So I recomend you try this game. If you liked this game, you should also try Cranium. A game that focuses on many different talents and is fun for everyone.

29 of 29 found the following review helpful:

limited gameplay  May 05, 2007
By J "J"
I loved this game at first. I played the card version a few time, then got the electric one. I agree with another reviewer that this is a lot more portable. Instead of lugging around a box, I can just toss this in a bag and bring it along. Unfortunately, there is no off button and it is easily set off on accident. I can live without the loud noises coming from my bag. Poor design. It also has a limited number of words. Although the game is a lot of fun, you can run through the words pretty quickly and there is no way to update the list or add an expansion.

See all 200 customer reviews on Amazon.com