What is Bop It?

If you have never heard of Bop It but are after a newly released game for your children over 8 years old, you are in the right place. In this article I am going to talk all about the game, the new version expected to be hugely popular this Christmas and its predecessors - read on to find out more!

What is the Bop It game?

Bop It, in one form or another has, been around for over 10 years. It is a highly addictive reaction game where you have to follow the leader by doing as you are told by the toy. It will ask you to move one of a number of levers on the toy. You have to know which one is which and find them in the short time the game gives you.

There are different levers on the different versions but basically you may have to choose from pull it, twist it, flick it, spin it, shout it and bop it. The main bop it lever is a circular button in the middle of the toy that you depress to perform the action. This is primarily a game for one player to compete against themselves or to pass onto a friend to challenge the high score. The idea is to perform as many commands in succession as possible.

There are multi player game options available in some versions. There are also different game modes. The easiest one is Vox Bop. This is where the commands issued by the toy are voice commands. The harder game mode is Beat Bop, where the commands are sounds instead of a voice. With this mode, not only do you have to remember where the levers are but also which sound equates to which lever. It is very tricky.

Which is the new version?

Confusingly named exactly the same as the original version, the new version called Bop It is the only game to possess the Shout It command. It has changed from a steering wheel type shape to more of a rectangle and its only other levers are pull it, twist it and bop it.

The Shout It command is a new addition and requires the player to shout into the in built microphone to score a point. With fewer levers than earlier versions this game is now more suitable to younger children as well as teenagers and adults. It also features a new Party Bop mode where you get to Bop It with various parts of your body rather than just your hands.

What are the older versions?

Going back to the mid 1990s the first Bop It was a baton shaped affair with just the twist it, pull it and bop it commands. It soon moved onto a more difficult game in the Bop It Extreme. This added two more levers to the mix - flick it and spin it. To fit these extra levers into the design the shape changed to a more circular toy.

The Bop It Extreme 2 came onto the scene and won the "Electronic Game of the Year" in 2005. The design did not differ to the first Extreme version but did include more music options and a new game mode.

The latest version before this year’s addition was the Extreme Download which was similar in shape but included a USB cable for players to download their own beats to play to. There were also more difficulty levels added.

So there you have it – if you are after a popular new toy that will keep your child or even yourself addicted for hours, try the new Bop It game or if you want a trickier version, try the Bop It Extreme 2.