Superfan Reviews New Fleeced Board Game!
Wallace & Gromit's cracking new board game, Fleeced!, has now hit the shops in time for Christmas! Want to know what it's like? Forum member and superfan Seb reveals all....
"Well here it is, I finally have a copy of Fleeced in my hands after waiting for over a year due to product delays in China! Upon opening you are greeted by the instructions booklet. With most board games this is the first item you find, and it’s usually a rather boring affair with the rules set out in a very unfriendly, uninviting way, but this is no ordinary game.
Indeed this game is the brainchild of Mr Nick Park himself so, like his films, you can expect something a little different! In this case, it’s the design of the instruction booklet. Presented as a newspaper you read about the problems that the citizens of West Wallaby Street are encountering as sheep run amok among the area – staking out in different buildings.
It’s a good job the instruction booklet is appealing, as otherwise it could be a real turn-off. You need everyone who plays the game to listen to everything in the leaflet carefully as there are a lot of rules which seem unfamiliar at first – a game like this having never been released before. After reading the instructions you should have a fairly good idea of what to do, but keep them at hand because for at least the first few games as you’re going to need to keep referring to them!
For a test-run of the game I got everyone in the family involved – my younger sister, myself (teenager), my parents, and even my mid-eighties Grandmother! I’m pleased to say that we all found it easy to understand (at least, once we had the hang of it!) and everyone was in agreement that it’s a sure hit and a game that will see a lot of use over the Christmas period and beyond.
The game takes a little while to get going, as there’s not much to do until you get sheep onto the board, but after ten to fifteen minutes it all gets going and you’re ready to rustle! From then on a game can go on for as long as you want it to. They can last for hours, but if you bend the rules a little and remove a sheep hideout from the board the game can speed up radically.
Sheep can be taken from either the village green, or you can steel them from other players before you take them back to your ‘base’ where they are safe (obviously I won’t go into exactly how you do that here – it’s a lot more fun for you to discover yourself!)
These are, however, the biggest drawbacks that we found, and really all it means is that you have to concentrate, which is never a downside as it means your mind won’t wander!
Overall the attention to detail far outweighs any real faults. From the rules created to assist parents with energetic children (no blowing of the whistles unless the rules specify you must – otherwise you must forfeit a sheep!), to the detail of the board. Wallace and Gromit fans will have a lot of fun looking at the clever artwork – one example being the ‘Drop Off With Snoozy Choc’ poster from ‘The Wrong Trousers’. The figures you use to play are also so wonderful you just want to remove them from the box and display them!
The big twists that can change the whole course of a game are also welcome – the best being any sneaky production of an ‘anti-rustle card’ that will stop evil doers in their paths (caught me out twice!)
Overall then, is this an essential purchase or not? Simply put – yes.
This is so original, and has to be one of the most fun games ever produced. Both Wallace and Gromit hardcore fans and newbies will enjoy this game for hours and hours, no matter what age you are. Nick Park has again created something so simple and yet so fantastic that it goes to show just how much of a genius he truly is.
One final thing to take into account if you buy the game: The instructions don’t say this, but once you use a ‘sheep hideout card’ keep it somewhere other than the envelope, i.e. don’t pick it again later. It seems they are specifically designed for one use and the game won’t work otherwise. This won’t make sense if you haven’t played the game – but, if you do buy it, bear it in mind!"
A big thank you to Seb for his great review of this game! You can check out more W&G film, game and comic reviews on Seb's fan site by clicking here. Want to write a review of this game? Feel free to post your comments below!
Click here to get more product information, or to order your copy online from Corgi!
Already bought Fleeced! but having problems with the whistles? Follow this link for advice: http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/forum/read/2336/1/
Yeah, long. But, Katie, is Fleeced coming to Glasgow! I'd love it for Christmas!!!
i don't like the whistles because i don't want other peoples germs on them so i might buy some cheap whistles from pound shop. 
Oh, stop bothering, Kieran. The whistles are fine!
the game is fab, weve played it loads since we got it and its really funny nicking one anothers sheep, its great playing it with people that have a great sence of humour its a screem, i spend most of the time in the police station for russling!!!!
but when i get out its easy pickings to nick any sheep on the green!!!
Is it really that great, Conty? If it is, I would love it for Christmas!!!
well my family love it but we do like a laugh and none of us are sore losers, i wouldn't like to play it with a salker as it can be frustrating when you've got your sheep nearly home and then someone nicks them he he
oh by the way ear plugs would of been a great addition to the game as sometimes the language can get a bit colourful too i love to pick on dad!!!
Well, it's definato going on my Crimbo list!
does no one kiss anymore? or is that germs too? i say get over it and have some fun!!!, or if your fussy and you dont use the whistles, you can puccer up those lips and whistle yourself
I agree, Conty! As Lauren Bacall said: "You know how to whistle, doncha? You just put your lips together and blow!"
And who knows, a sound might come out! 
If Kieran is concerned about germs etc. there are plenty of anti-bacterial products on the market that might well do the trick. Just wash, rinse, DRY THOROUGHLY!
Well conty I read something a while back about a kiss that there was I believe over 250 bacteria in the average mouth
but bacteria are good as it builds up the resistance in your immune system.
Penicillin (anti biotic) came from mould.
While on holiday in Norway we visited a small place that would always get cut of by the snow (this was years ago before snow ploughs) and they had a special cheese that once it had grown a layer of mould it would be churned back in again this process was repeated about 7 times in all which gave a natural anti biotic effect.
I bet Wallace hasn't stumbled across this one yet.
how many germs but somehow i dont think thats gonna put me off kissing girls!!!!
the rules of the game is if you blow the whistle out of turn or at the wrong time, off to the police station for you and miss a turn!!!
Why have we all started going on about germs and kissing girls and things like that?!!!
Well,I've never played the game before so how am I supposed to know what the rules are.NYYYYYAAAAAAHHH!
Will it come out in the USA because i really want to play it but i cant find it any where
Is it out in Scotland, anyone. I've been looking for it.
I'm still looking, folks, but there is one more place to try - by 'eck! This is worse than Yellow Pages and J R Hartley! 
... however! I have found the origins of the Were-Rabbit in Medieval Stockport!
...and it's quite interesting! 
Hey, Katie, has it been released in Scotland yet because I can't find it in my local shops like ASDA and other places!
Wow, thanks, Katie. That was a VERY fast reply! Katie, could you possibly answer my forum about CGI softwares in the Arts and Crafts one. Because that would be great!
Hello again, I'm not a CGI expert myself, but I'll ask someone in that department and see if they have any recommendations for you. I'll reply on your CGI thread when I find out
Thanks very much, Katie. You're a lot of help!
Ok thanks Katie
i got a copy of the fleeced game for christmas but it didn't have any instructions. does anyone know where i can get them. by the way i live in canada.
Wow, Canada. Anyway, go to the forum where you can download them. Katie says you can!
One of Preston.
I was reading through this thread and noticed: 1. Josephine said she found the origins of the Were-Rabbit in Medieval Stockport! 2: No one asked her what she found, even though she indicated it was quite interesting! I suppose that all the people responding were staying on topic...which is more than OK. But please PLEASE tell us what you found out about the Were-Rabbit, Josephine! 
I'll be chuffed to mega mintball if you would!
Yes, I would be too!