Amazon.com Product Description

LEGO Soccer Mania lets you play soccer the way you want. Customize your own LEGO mini-figure teams and challenge the opposition. Use amazing power-ups in hilarious matches across action-packed, theme LEGO environments. It's an adventure that takes you from the frozen Arctic to the rugged Wild West, and even to the rocky, red deserts of Mars. No matter where you are or what planet you're on, this game will test all your soccer skills and strategy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Soccer Mania
Soccer Mania is highly entertaining game for soccer and Lego fans. Lego characters are really cool-looking and fun. Flaws for this soccer/Lego game are the controls(hard for first-timers). Otherwise really good game.

Here's a list for my ratings of the game Soccer Mania,
1(horrible) to 10(perfect).

Controls 6
Graphics 7
Characters 9
Arena 9
Overall 8

This game is cool!
LEGO Soccer mania is an awesome game because it combines the fun and adventure of all of the other LEGO games with a fantastic sports gameplay. ... Read more

Features

• Help Freddi Fish and Luther find the missing seeds in 40 different places!
• Fun dicoveries await childrenas they explore the ocean bed with Freddi -- you never know what they'll find
• Kids have a great time exploring more than 500 secret click points -- a new surprise every time they play!

Amazon.com Product Description

Mickey and the gang find themselves stranded in a haunted house inhabited by fun-loving and mischievous ghosts. Children ages 5 to 7 can explore and experiment within their environment, figuring out just how this wacky house works. It's a fun place that features experiential activities supported with curriculum-based lessons. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Fun Game That Helps with the Basics
This is one of the few games we own that challenges my four-year-old without boring him. Some of the other software we've purchased is too complicated for him to navigate on his own or the lessons are too basic. When he gets stuck in this game, a cartoon character pops up and gives a brief lesson. The lessons are short and catchy enough that they are actually interesting. Of course, my son often ignores the directions and moves through the game by trial and error. It helps to have an adult sit with him, so that he gets some educational value out of playing. On the other hand, sometimes we just let him do the trial and error thing, and he still has a great time. I think this is a wonderful game for a four-year-old to grow into. It helps, of course, that my son is a big Mickey Mouse fan.

The software basically allows the child to go to different "rooms" and complete tasks (games) that teach basic skills. In one room, the game is to alphabetize books that are labeled with just one letter of the alphabet. In another game, the child assembles suits of armor. Each piece of the armor is labeled with a number, and the child has to put the numbered armor together in different ways. The games get progressively more difficult as the child masters each step. I'm especially impressed with the fun way this game introduces addition and subtraction.

I'm now looking for a new game, and I'm trying to find one that's a cross between this software and Jumpstart's World Languages (the other game my son always wants to play.)

Great Fun....And Learning, Too!
This is a really great game. In it, Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and Donald have to navigate through a spooky old house while being watched by those "3 spooky ghosts" from one of the old Disney movies. There are five or six areas to navigate, and it also includes a progress chart area like the Jumpstart series. This is a lot more fun, tho. If you have ever been to the Haunted Mansion at DisneyWorld it makes it even better. My daughter who is almost 5 has been doing very well with it and instead of being bored with the "educational" components, she is having fun with it and being excited about learning. Def buy it! ... Read more

Features

• Join 2 partners in crime on a mission set in a vividly stunning fantasy realm
• Battle your way through dastardly enemies, war machines, and psychopathic robots
• Fight your way through 21 action-packed missions
• Explore 5 diverse environments
• Take down wicked enemies with over 17 outlandish weapons

Reviews (7)

Would have been great if it had more than humor
The biggest thing that Armed and Dangerous has going for it is its wacky sense of humor. That and its story. Everything else is kind of average.

You play as Roman, the leader of a group of bandits called "The Lionhearts", out to dethrone an evil tyrant king. The game alternates between missions and funny but ugly cutscenes that tell the game's story. Unfortunately, the missions are hardly integrated into the story. It's like the missions were created in a vacuum and then just thrown in after the storyline was written. For instance, you will play a mission where you have to save a bunch of villagers from the evil king out in the middle of nowhere, even though the previous cutscene mentioned nothing like this. Towards the end of the game when you are saving a group of villagers for the 10th time, it starts to get repetitive.

Repetitiveness ends up being the game's biggest problem. Half of the areas all look the same. There is a low variety of enemies and a very low variety of mission objectives. The missions are all "save the villagers" or "Blow up 5 buildings". There's also the occasional turret shooter mission. The variety of weapons that you get is pretty low, and so are the variety of enemies that you fight. If the developers had put as much effort into designing the missions as they did into the humor, then this would have been one of the best games of the past few years.

The game is the funniest since Anachronox. The humor is integrated into every aspect of the game. Even the manual is funny to read. The sound bites during firefights can make you chuckle. The enemies have this amusing "throw your arms above the air and run around and scream" routine that they go through when you stick a grenade to them, or when you use your topsy-turvy bomb to flip the world upside-down. The topsy-turvy bomb is one of the examples of the kooky weapons in the game. Armed and Dangerous feels like a 10-hour long episode of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

So in the end, it's the humor that makes the game worth playing, but not a lot besides it. I'll give the game a good rating, but if the developers had put as much effort into designing some good shooter levels as they did into the game's funny parts, then it could have been Game of the Year.

Super fun shooter game.
This game had me hooked as soon as I saw it. It is not your standard shoot the terrorists Nazi bad guy let's be realistic as possible FPS. This has lots of fun stuff thrown in, like the topsy-turvey bomb. FUN STUFF!

A nice change from the same ol' shooter...
As soon as I read about the Topsy Turvy gun, I knew I had to try this game. I have not been disappointed at all.
For those of you who are tired of all of the WWII games or any game with the same old selection of weapons, you need to try this game. It will spring new life into your love of shooters.
Just the Sticky Bombs alone had me hooked in the first 2 minutes.
The humor is excellent. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the lack of multiplayer.

A fast, hilarious and worthwhile game for your collection!!!
I read a few gamer magazine reviews about this title. They claimed it was great to play and had gut busting moments. IT WAS ALL TRUE!

Warning - this game would be good for kids....HOWEVER the jokes and comments are very adult. This game is a shooter....but the violence is mild and made funny, not gory. I would say it is ok for 12 yrs old and up.

Want an example of FUNNY? One of your weapons is a Shark gun. Yes, you shoot it at an enemy, yet all you see is a shark fin swimming on top of the ground. Suddenly, a Great White shark lunges up from underneath the enemy, bites into him and shakes him around like a rag doll before disappearing into the dirt again...THEN IT PATROLS FOR MORE ENEMIES!!!! It can easily wipe out a gang that has you pinned! Best of all, it never gets old. I could watch it again and again and again!!!

Excellent job LucasArts.
The cutscenes are a must see. Do not skip anything, even the opening credits and titles for the game. Some are cute, some are funny and some will have you laughing out loud. True example - I was playing this game at 2am. One of the cutscenes made me burst out laughing. My girlfriend was asleep and did not enjoy being woken up to see me having a great time...lol

Basically, you are part of a crew of rogue-ish Scotsmen roaming the country side for The Book of Rule. You have a blind old Jewish man, a Mole and a robot Roman soldier as sidekicks. Comments while you play and shoot bad guys are made by your side kicks. Example - The Mole cries out in a thick Scottish accent, "Did you hear the one about Miners? Miners do it in the dark!" I have bad guys crawling all over me and I start laughing so hard they killed me quickly becasue I could not react!

Use a rocket to knock off a guy up on a cliff edge and watch and laugh as the vistim cries out something like, "Avenge my death!" and his body flies through the air and lands right near you with a hard smack. Down right funny.

My only gripe about this game - the cut scene graphics are a very low quality. I think the animation and character designs could have been better. Look at their arms...they look very puppet-ish and silly. The video itself is low quality and at times, hard to make out the details. I am really disappointed at LucasArts for that.

No other complaints, the game is awesome fun....play it the first time without the music on so you can hear all the funny screams, comments, etc. Play the game again WITH the music on..the music really adds to the game!!!!

Fun and Funny
Crazy weapons. Good looking graphics. Wicked sense of humor. Shooting sheep, turning the world upside down and launching landsharks! Great fun!! ... Read more

Features

• Experience the excitement of being a real firefighter
• Unique 1st-person view that puts kids in the driver¿s seat
• Control a pumper truck, ladder truck, fire dozer, and fire copter
• 12 important rescue jobs, each with 3 levels of difficulty
• Missions vary each time game is played; for kids 3 to 6

Reviews (5)

Arthur's teacher trouble
Much enjoyed by a 3-year old. Easy to manage. Should be of interest to youngsters 3-8+

Poor
Paid for and never received order.....putting in a claim to get money back

Fun for kids and parents!
We purchased this software for my daughter when she was younger and she adored it. Now that she's older, our 2 year old son has discovered her Living Books collection and he loves them, too! The story is wonderfully written (as are all of Marc Brown's "Arthur" tales) and translates well to the computer screen. I think I get just as many laughs out of the hidden objects as my son does! He was really excited when he found that some items, like Mr. Ratuburn's suit, show different results each time you click!

A wonderful cd-rom for your child. Enjoy!

Great edutainment software!
Excellent education/entertainment package. Both of my kids love to click the screen (almost anywhere) and watch the action.

Arthur's fear of Mr. Ratburn (his new third grade teacher) is put to rest as Arthur begins to prepare for the spelling bee. Reading and spelling (as well as Spanish) are taught in this beautiful, exciting package that your kids will love.

Arthur's Teacher Trouble was the first "Living Books" title we purchased. We now own about a dozen, but this is by far the favorite.

Arthur's Teacher Trouble - Excellent trouble!
This CD is not only ingenius for kids, but parents will have just as much fun playing with it. The graphics are great and very clever. The best Living Book that I've seen to date. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This deliberately paced program takes place in Charlie Brown's world,where kids dress the same day after day and the only character with attitude isa beagle. Players who persist through this CD-ROM's slow start will be rewardedwith games and scenarios that emulate what it's like to live in the middle of a"Peanuts" cartoon. This is a good thing for kids who like the strip and thehandful of "Peanuts" TV specials in existence. But kids who prefer the morefrenetic pace of modern cartoons might find Where's the Blanket, CharlieBrown? a bit too placid.

The mental workout this program provides is excellent. More than any other gamemanufacturer, Tivola has mastered the art of setting up a problem, then quietlyletting the player figure out how to solve it. Linus's blanket is lost, andplayers can either assume the identity of Charlie Brown or Lucy and find it.Once the problem is presented, players must navigate around Charlie Brown'shouse and use their powers of observation to get the game moving. This segmentcan make players feel like they're trapped in "Peanuts" purgatory, as they arrowCharlie Brown from room to room, desperately searching for a means out of thehouse and into the rest of the game. The on-disc Help file spells out exactlywhere players must look and what they must collect to move on--resist thetemptation to look at the Help file. You will miss the challenge and charm ofthis game if you lose patience and cheat.

As the story line leads from Charlie Brown's house to a library to Schroeder'spiano room to a supermarket with many other stops in between, games areunlocked. The nine games are short, smart endeavors. Some of the standoutsinclude a game in which Schroeder plays a short melody on his piano, and kidsmust click on sequences of actual notes that match the melody. Another greatgame requires kids to put poor, scrambled Peppermint Patty back together aftershe is magically rearranged by the Great Houndini. This descrambling has someadded twists that push it far beyond typical match-the-parts games. Each of thenine games has two levels of difficulty, and once they are unlocked, they can beinstantly accessed for repeat play.

On the way to these games are numerous other minigames, opportunities forproblem solving, and goodies you can feed Snoopy to keep his Snoopy meter onfull. Players can play this game in German as well as English. Where's theBlanket, Charlie Brown? probably won't hold up to a lot of repeat play byolder kids, but the gentle way this program forces players to use their entirebrains to find that darn blanket is remarkable. (Ages 4 to 102 according to themanufacturer; we say 4 to 8, although hard-core "Peanuts" fans of any age willalso enjoy it.) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fun and Humor at a Great Price!
I love Peanuts and I just loved this game. The characters were drawn exactly as they are in the comic strips and the game remains true to the Peanuts legacy. I really enjoyed my interactive Peanuts fun - and it's a great price for such a wonderful time!

dialog may not be the greatest for younger children
I purchased this game at Target as a gift for my 5 year old daughter. I noticed that it had won some sort of Parents Choice award and she is a big fan of the Peanuts "specials". The game has a charming detective game at its base which is a bit too difficult for her to figure out. She would be happy to continue trying but I am just going to throw this one in the garbage. My problem with the game is the constant negative talk that Lucy and Charlie Brown spew as they search for the blanket. Lucy is even more bombastic on the software than she is on the specials--constantly calling people stupid and putting them down. Charlie Brown is virtual stream of negative self-talk. I am aware that much of the Peanuts humor relies on negative humor and putdowns but it seems really excessive in this software. Even though I threw the game out and definitely didn't get my moneys worth I gave the it two stars because the basic game seems challenging and fun. Definitely not a good choice if your trying to teach your child to be kind and upbeat. I

HELP!!!
My daughter is trying to beat the game and is stuck at the supermarket level...i can't seem to figure it out either... of course it could be because i'm not that great at video games but if someone could just post a thing on here and let me know how to get past it i would really appreciate it!

Thanks

Great game, and good for German students, too!
Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? is a fun game all Peanuts fans will enjoy. The pace might be a little too slow for the younger set expecting constant action, and a four-year-old might get easily frustrated not being able to exit the Brown household, but all-in-all it is an appealing game with lots of nice extra features. The reviewer who mentioned the fuzzy graphics probably installed the game on the Quick Install method - if you use Full Install, the graphics are crisp (although it does take up a bit more disk space)! Finally, the game is also great for German students, such as myself, as it provides more exposure to the language in an entertaining way by playing the game in German.

Mostly fun & addictive game for Peanuts Fans!
This game is fun for Peanuts fans of ANY age to enjoy. Don't be put off by the marketing, which touts this as a game primarily for young children. I am an adult (also a gamer) and I thoroughly enjoyed this game. It's interesting because there are games within the game you unlock. These are not challenging in and of themselves but it's fun to have these pop up randomly. The game is true to the spirit of the Peanuts characters, with Lucy being the fussbudget she is and Charlie Brown being resigned and wishy-washy. Although, it's not a Mensa workout for adults by any means, I think children will find it challenging and engaging and even adults may find themselves stymied by the sheer simplicity of the game, i.e. I sometimes found myself "thinking too hard" and missing obvious solutions because I'm a grown up. The only gripes I have, which is why I didn't give it 5 stars are the graphics and sound. The drawings are a bit ragged around the edges and the sounds don't always match the action (and the words don't always match the mouth movements). Additionally, the sound is set too loud (the lowest setting was still too loud at least on my iMac). Other than the few technical glitches, overall, this game is just as fun as the Sims and it's nice to play a game that doesn't involve violence. Besides, who doesn't love Snoopy and the gang? If you're a parent, this is a good game for kids and if you're a Peanuts fan, you'll love it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Disney's Animated Storybook Collection is a three-in-one package thattakes new readers to familiar Disney stories. Along the way, it helps them learnto read those tales on their own. The collection offers three storybook versionsof some of its classic cinematic releases: Toy Story, 101Dalmatians, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too.

Each follows a relatively straightforward format--a pared-down version of thestory is presented to users along with an interactive illustration. As the storyis read aloud, the words being read are highlighted so children can, withrepeated viewings, learn to recognize them. This reading practice isinterspersed with animations and games. In one such activity, players help putaway Andy's toys before a hoard of children descends upon his room. In another,Roo of the 100 Acre Wood plays tic-tac-toe with you.

This package provides a pleasant diversion for preschool children who arealready interested in learning to read. The amount of text provided is far fromoverwhelming, and the vocabulary is kept simple. There are enough distractionsfrom the educational content to keep the program from becoming drudgery, and thefamiliar Disney content should pose little challenge to most users. As childrengain reading proficiency, though, they may become frustrated with the games'insistence on playing out the lengthy animations. There is little scope forplayers to skip ahead, in other words--even if Pooh has explained the gamenavigation menu to them 40 times, children will have to sit through theinstructions again.

This aside, Disney's Animated Storybook Collection is ideal for Disney fansages 4 to 6. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not very interesting, even for a 2 year old
We have had an older Pooh storybook for years. Both my kids loved it. There was a lot to see and do -- songs, funny things that happened if you clicked on the picture, and nice graphics. So when that storybook finally died, I ordered this one. We were so disappointed! The graphics are simplistic, the storyline choppy, there are no songs, and very few fun things happen when you click on different parts of the picture. When you click out of the story, you have to endure a slow listing of options before you can get back to where you were. This seems to have been put together quickly and cheaply and is not worth the money. Even my Pooh-crazy 2 year old was bored silly and disappointed.

Great for your kids!
I own a lot of Disney Learning Series CDs, like Kindergarten, Preschool and 1st grade. My kids love them all! I got this one a few months ago and both my kids love the story books!! I'm very happy with them and better yet my kids are having fun and learning to read at the same time. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It's off to Martian boot camp for the good-hearted Butt-Uglies. Evil Emperor Bog is eager to conquer Earth and is convinced the Butt-Ugly Martians can't hack it. Dr. Damage, no nice guy himself, has sent our friends on a wicked course. "Send them to Martian boot camp," he scoffs. "Let them prove themselves on my treacherous Bog-stacle course." With robot fighters, intense laser cannons, out-of-control asteroids, and alien brutes--Jax, Humanga, and Gorgon--this Bog-stacle course is the most difficult challenge the Butt-Uglies have ever faced. Kids must help our ugly Martian friends prevail at all costs, so they can return to Earth as its secret defenders. If not, evil Emperor Bog will get his way, and Earth will become space dust.

Kids play as their favorite Butt-Ugly Martian and fight villains from the Nickelodeon TV show. They can compete against the computer or take on a friend in this wickedly fun game. Packed with eight different Bog-stacle course challenges and loads of mini missions, kids are challenged in the action-packed B.K.M. Battle, Asteroid Field, Energy Field Maze, Robot Rush Hour, and more. Outrageous environments, like deep space and other interstellar locations, are filled with spaceships and dangerous black holes. When taking a break from all the action, kids can hang out with the Butt-Uglies at the Bog Star or the Alien Cantina for more out-of-this-world, alien adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Butt-Ugly Martians: Martian Boot Camp
From simply the best company in the world when it comes to Edutainment software fror children, Knowledge Adventure, and thier Jump Start Learning series - comes a fanatically, fun to play, funny, great game for anyone over six years old. Grant it the title "Butt-Ugly Martians: Maerian Boot Camp will have a lot of people that are very "square" and are strict church goers turning the other way - most people cringe when they see the words like "Butt-Ugly", but why? They are just two words - I am a fifty-nine year old Grandmother and let me tell you folks I am really enjoying this game - now some of you may say or think that I have very, very, low goals for my life if I think this is a great name for a game - well I will agree the name does kind of make you sit up and take notice - but be broad minded look beyond the the title - this is one heck of a game, fast, funny great sounds, and music, and a pure joy to play - nice going Knowledge Adventure - this old Grandma has not yet given it to my 7 year old grandson, be I know he will love it and so will my "tomboy" granddaughter - buy for under [$] and have yourselves a "heck" of a lot of fun - Come On every one "Let's Get Ugly"!
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

Don't let the "Butt" in Butt-Ugly Put You Off-- Great Game!
At first I was NOT going to let my son have this game because I was a little put off by the Butt-Ugly Martians title on this game; but he was relentless in wanting to "be a Butt-Ugly Martian, just like the guys on TV" and I gave in. Boy, am I glad I did! First, the Butt-Ugly Martians is a Nickelodeon cartoon (I did not know this until my boy showed me the show on something called SLAM on Sunday afternoons on Nick)and these martians aren't really THAT ugly--they also save the Earth every week from other aliens that are a whole lot uglier. Anyway, back to the game--it's a PC/Mac game that kids can play by themselves or with a friend. I installed it on my machine (it had no problem installing on Windows XP) and let my son go at it. There are numerous mini-games (8 or 9--quite a lot for a game like this) and the kids can play the games as they tell a story about how the Butt-Ugly Martians need to prove themselves to their leader, a REALLY butt-ugly guy named Bog (the games are set up in a "Bog-stacle Course"--get it??) Bog is an arrogant little ruler and the fact is, the B-U Martians are secretly protecting Earth from Bog's other warriors while pretending to be trying to invade us on their own. Get it? I guess you need to be 8 years old. Anyway, the games seem both challenging and fun, the dialogue is hilarious, and my son can be involved in the game on his own or with a buddy (which few of these kids PC games seems to be able to accomplish.) It's all good clean fun--and the "Butt-Ugly" is just part of the fun. Bottom line: for kids 6-12, especially boys, this is an excellent game that I would definitely recommend. Apparently there are some other games featuring these guys on the market and I will be putting another one in my son's Christmas stocking this coming holiday.

FUN! Exciting to play with lots of games
Totally worth it--I bought this game with my birthday money and I'm glad I did. I like the Butt Ugly Martians on TV so I also like this game.

Excellent kids game for 1 or 2 players
I just bought Butt-Ugly Martians: Martians Boot Camp for my two boys and we are all very happy with the product. I admit that at first I was a little turned off by the "Butt" part of the title, but I realize that it is all just part of the fun of this game. When we got the game home, I installed it on my computer and let the boys go at it. There are actually a bunch (like 8-9) of smaller games that can be played by 1 or 2 kids as they progress through the story of the Martians being shipped back to Martian training camp in order to prove themselves to their king, a guy named Bog. My older one (who is 9) gets computer games pretty easily, but the younger one (he's 7) sometimes has trouble; fortunately each game has easy instructions (from a helpful device in the game called an "Instructikon") that anybody can grasp. The games strike a good balance between being challenging and fun, and some of the dialogue is hilarious! The thing that the boys seemed to like the best is that the games change often enough where you don't get bored of the activity before you must go on to another challenge. I watched my sons play this game together for almost 2 hours (more than I usually allow at one sitting, but I couldn't bring myself to stop their fun!) without stopping--another positive element is that the gameplay is balanced so that 2 kids can play together even if they are at very different skill levels, as my boys are. I highly recommend Martian Boot Camp, but you will have to intervene so your kids don't play for hours on end.

EXCELLENT GAME!
This game is soooo much fun! It is really a bunch of games all rolled up and you can play by yourself or with your friend. The graphics are pretty good and it is easy to learn to play the games becase there's easy instructions that come up before you play. Awesome gift!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Armed with pizzas, a skateboard, and a cool attitude, Pepper Roni--a freckle-faced pizza delivery boy--must save LEGO Island from a bad guy called the Brickster. Our hero dude travels from the depths of the sea to the outer limits of space (to Ogel Island... get it?) in pursuit of his man in this engrossing CD-ROM.

Boasting a whopping 18 subgames scattered throughout an intricate realm of islands, undersea worlds, deserts, and space, LEGO Island 2 focuses more on adventure and less on construction than previous LEGO titles. Players assume the identity of renaissance dude Pepper: pizza delivery, deep sea diving, astronaut training, and jousting are just a handful of the well-rendered experiences that await adventurers. The arrow keys get quite a workout as the game progresses, as they control everything from speedboats to parachutes to tyrannosaurs as Pepper changes modes of transport. Pepper churns through this world fending off the Brickster's henchmen robots, collecting pages of a "Constructopedia," and mastering various challenges in order to progress. Subgames must be completed in a sequence, and can then bere-accessed from Pepper's house. Players must work to build Pepper's pad, find the subgames, and chat with other characters for clues about how to move through this LEGO landscape. Players who want it all handed to them on one clickable screen will be frustrated: LEGO wants you to work for your pleasure, and get some calluses on those fingertips.

The charm of this impressive Windows-only program lies in the attention paid to detail, dialogue, and creative fun. The undersea game doesn't just have fish--it has narwhals and rowdy pirate skeletons growling curses. A knight straight out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail intones "Nay, nay, nay, one-who's-name-is-a-spice" when Pepper asks for help. Creators put a skateboard park on the island just for the heck of it. LEGO Island 2 provides both great game play and ample opportunity to freestyle. Also, the fluid detail of this program belies the chunky origins of LEGO life as we know it.

That detail comes with a price: it takes some time to load the subgames and scene changes even if your system meets the game's requirements. If LEGO Island 2 were one of Pepper's pizzas, it'd be an ultra mega deluxe, piled high with mummies, pterodactyls, and renegade robots. It'd also take a longer time to bake than your plain cheese, but the wait would be worth it. (Ages 6 to 99) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

OK Game, but...
This game has much better graphics and you have more freedom of movement than the original, but as for the gameplay, it is not something you want to play over and over again. While in the game, you have an objective at any given time, and whenever you talk to someone, they tell you your objective and point towards it. In other words, you really have to complete the objective unless you just want to go swimming or something. The freedoms and graphics may have not been that great in the original LEGO Island, but the gameplay is much better, and you can choose what missions you want to do when you feel like doing them. If you can, rent it or something and beat it in the 2 days it took me and then give it back, since I dont think it was worth the $... i paid for it.

Sweet game!!!!
This game is one of the best lego games yet! It's so fun even if you're not in a mission. The graphics rock although the loading is a bit slow but it's worth it! But when I bought my game, one level was messed up and I needed to buy another one. I would've gave it a 5 but it didn't work. Overall, it's still fun!

To robelaine From South East Michigan
I purchased Lego Island 2 for my daughter for Christmas, my computer didn't support the game either, so I attempted to return the game to Toys R Us and of course that was pointless, however I did call Lego Media myself and they told me to send them the game back to them with a note stating that the game was not compatible with my computer and the receipt, and they would send me a refund. The consumer affairs information is on their website, check it out!! You don't have to be stuck with a product you can't use.

Lego Island 2
This product has really cool graphics, however it takes way too long to load!!! For each individual area of the game you want to enter, you have to wait for the game to load. Infact, you even have to wait for it to load if you want to "Quit" the game too. It could be a really cool, but for my 6 year old daughter, it was just frustrating. I sent the game back to company for a refund and purchased the game for the Playstation instead.
I personally don't recommend this product.

Check the system requirements
I didn't check my video card memory and I have 6 MB and it needs 8 MB. My system is only 1 1/2 years old. I now have software that I can't use and I can't return (Toysrus policy). I don't want to upgrade, but my son wants to play the game. He keeps reading the box and telling me all the things he could do. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very good
My 11 year old received this game a couple of years ago. He still plays with it every now and then, but prefers to play it on Gameboy. But now his five year old brother is thrilled with the playing the computergame. He alternates between this one and Digs n Rigs. We are definitely getting our money's worth out of this one.

Good - But NOT a software for Dig-N-Rig unit
We bought this software hoping, but not clear, that this would be additional software for the Tonka Dig-N-Rigs game. If you are not familiar with Dig-N-Rigs, its a GREAT game that comes with a dashboard unit that mounts on your computer keyboard. You load the software and then all of the controls are on this dashboard, like the steering wheel, crane levers, key, and horn. It is a 5-star game and my 4 year old son said, after playing for a few moments that he would be playing the rest of the day and the rest of his life. We'll, just realize that Construction 2 is not a supplement to that game and you just use your mouse. Its still a good game but not near as gratifying as Dig-N-Rigs, and I hope they eventually come out with supplemental software to that game.

other review isn't accurate
I haven't played this game in awhile but that other review isn't right. There isn't a news van, docks or warehouse. The game encompasses a bunch of activities. The meat of the game is the city activity where kids can tear down old buildings, dig holes, pour foundation and build a new building. Its really cool because you can customize how everything looks and there are a lot of add-ons (windows, doors, roofs, trees, bushes) that you can add to your building. I think most kids will have a lot of fun with this activity, the other activities are mostly fillers.

Tonka Construction 2
This sequel to Tonka Construction takes kids back to Tonka Town to tackle all-new construction projects using 14 Tonka vehicles in six different landscapes - Quarry, Desert, Mountains, City, Warehouse and the Docks. Kids also have infinite building and customization options, enabling the little engineers to design, build and personalize their very own Tonka Town. Kids visit Tonka Joe in the Construction Trailer to punch their time cards and to get an overview of the jobs that require assistance, and if they find the News Van each time they play, Jenna Pressly will send kids on a surprise mission. With beefed up vehicle functions and movement, infinite building and construction as well as plenty more fun activities and print functions, Tonka Construction II is sure to be a hit with little engineers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This trailblazing adventure builds real-life skills, such as decision making and problem solving. As the leader of a wagon party, you can choose your team and supplies, read maps, plan your route, and guide your team through the unknown wilderness. Tough choices lie ahead, but with the help of your wagon party and people you meet along the way, you'll conquer this challenging journey and arrive in a new land. You'll need to build a team with the skills you think are important for survival on the rugged trail to Oregon. To find the best route, you'll rely not only on maps and guidebooks but also advice from fellow travelers and your gut instinct. On the trail, you'll face all the trials and tribulations of the first pioneers: raging rivers, buffalo stampedes, sickness, and gunshot wounds. Your adventure comes to life with 3-D travel, 360-degree panoramic views and full-motion video. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Great game... maybe I got lucky?
I remember playing Oregon Trail as a girl in elementary school - recently I saw it here on Amazon.com and decided to get it, even after reading all of the negative customer reviews. Maybe I got lucky or something but there was absolutely nothing wrong with any of the software and everything loaded up and installed great. My computer's pretty new, too... I didn't have to go through the hassle of downgrading anything (I have Quick Time 4.0), like some people had complained about in their comments. I definitely recommend the game - brought back lots of memories, only with better graphics and easier game controls. And you can't beat Amazon's price. Awesome game!!

oregon trail
it is a fun game for all ages for people who just want to have fun. it is also a good learning experience for all students learning about the oregon trail. it gives true accounts of how hard a journey the trail was. i give this game five stars.

Not so good.
I got this as a gift, because I loved playing Oregon Trail in grade school. This version, though having much prettier graphics, isn't nearly as fun. Half the fun of playing it was naming all the people after your family, and reading the dirty limericks people wrote on the gravestones. Save your money, don't buy this.

A Classroom Favorite
My third graders study the Oregon Trail every year and enjoy playing this game. It is educational and exciting! Kids take a small party on a covered wagon trip from Independence, Missouri to Oregon. First, they buy everything they need, from oxen to bullets. They must provide their own food along the way (by hunting, trading, or buying at a fort) and are often faced with illness and even death. If someone does die, you can write their tombstone, and maybe see it on your next trip!

This game turns textbook learning into reality. It is hard to make it all the way to Oregon (Hint: it goes faster if you have a lot of oxen). But along the way, you will learn to take care of your party and to appreciate things like good water and good weather. I happily recommend this game to kids age 8-10.

I love this game
I got this game for baby-sitting we loaded it on and the people did not work. We got with the technical support and they told us to got to broderbrund.com they told us how to get the people to work the only thing the didn't tell us was to totally delete the game when you are done with the process. Most people don't like this game true Oregon Trail 2 was the best yet with lots more trails to go on and such. There is some difficulties with this game but all in all it has only exited twice on me. It probably is just the peoples computer. Note the disapering people usally only happen with Windows. I also think that you should read the box that's says 10! and up seven year olds should not play this game enless they know the reason people got those illness's. This game is very educational and great for older kids. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get ready to travel the world, encounter exotic sights and sounds, meet unusual people--and arrest them! Carmen Sandiego's international crime ring is furiously filching world treasures ordinary thieves wouldn't dare tackle. We're counting on you, Gumshoe. So, when you think you've got the goods on the bad guys, submit your evidence, make the collar, and go to court. But beware! Your evidence must be airtight or your suspect will go free! (Ages 9 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
This is a good game that will teach children about world geography but younger children may get frustrated with this game. It is really geared toward pre-teens and you have to listen closely to the clues in order to determine where is the world is Carmen. This game will work with Windows XP Home Edition but you have to run it in compatibility mode.

Warning: It¿s not an easy game.
This game is a little frustrating for any child who cannot yet associate a continent with the following clues: kroner, Ho Chi Minh trail, outback, Sahara. I had to help out more than either of us would have liked. On the other hand, it's fun, so she is motivated to try. And she is learning a lot!

Carmen has made my child a geography whiz!
I have a 10 year old daughter who I have seen spend, literally, multiple hours on our PC engaged in what I call "virtual globe- trotting" in an effort to find Carmen and her partners in crime.

Players use the Digiketch to piece together a composite image of the suspect as they unlock clues describing his/her appearance.(Once you get a complete image, you can issue an arrest warrant!)

There is a World Wiz Database that helps players learn more about the countries that the suspect may have visited. This game introduces foreign phrases, international travel, and problem solving skills in a way that no other medium could.

I highly recommend this game as a means by which a child's horizons can be greatly broadened.

A first-class program.
I love this game. While chasing Carmen and her gang around the world, you come across funny characters, puzzling clues, interesting locations, and you learn a lot about geography and history at the same time! They did a magnificent job on this game - I wish I could find that missing last disk so I could install it again on my new computer!

Educational And Fun!
This is simply a brilliant,but yet educational,game.It challenges childrens' (& adults') geographical knowledge,while incorporating strategical planning as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Let your child escape into a fairy-tale world with the Barbie as Princess Bride CD-ROM, and help Princess Bride Barbie prepare for her magical wedding day. Prince Ken has had to undertake a long journey, and while he is away Princess Barbie dreams of her wedding day and waits for the prince's return. Barbie is helped by Butterfly Fairy in her preparations for the wedding. Invite the guests, make and decorate the cake, sing love songs, retrieve items from the well, conduct the orchestra, help Prince Ken sail home, design the wedding dress and photographs, and enjoy many more exciting fairy-tale activities.

The game can be played in two modes: Story mode plays the adventure from start to finish, and Magic Mirror mode allows players to complete the activities in any order. The CD-ROM is accompanied by an excellent booklet, which should be read before beginning. It is very easy to follow and uses simple language and visual clues. Particularly useful are the helpful tips for troubleshooting if problems arise. The music of Barbie as Princess Bride can be played on any audio CD player, by starting with track two. The manufacturer's recommended age range is 4 and older, but help will certainly be required at the lower end of the range. --Susan Naylor, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (9)

For the Girl in All of us!
I have 2 young girls (5 & 3), they both love this game! They get to decorate a wedding cake, design a wedding gown for Barbie and for the flower girl, bake a cake, etc. There is a lot of learning in this while they enjoy themselves! They learn to follow directions and even a bit of fine motor skills to get the items out of the well. Memory skills are enhanced with collecting the invitations and delivering them. Any young girl will enjoy this game! Good buy!

Pretty Good
My daughter liked this C.D. Rom and she is 4. She needed some help, I wish they would put setting for different levels on the some of the activites. The mazes, cake baking,and music were to difficult and she needed some help, but overall she had fun. I don't think an older child would have problems. The music is pretty and the whole adventure is enchanting. My daughter loves dressing her for the wedding.

Wonderful Software
I love playing Barbie Princess Bride. It's WONDERFUL!!!!!

Barbie as Princess Bride
My 4 1/2 year old twins (a girl and a boy) just LOVE this game! They especially enjoy decorating the wedding cake! I highly recommend this game for young children.

Fancy girls will love this
My daughter received this for her fourth birthday. She is a girly girl and LOVED it immediately. Almost a year later, she still plays it. It has a lot of different kinds of activities. Some are educational (matching, following instructions) and some are just fun (choosing the style of the dresses, decorating a wedding cake). My only wish is that this game had levels of difficulty. My daughter played with this so frequently when she first got it that she mastered it quickly. And while she still has fun with it, the challenge of it is long gone. ... Read more

Features

• Kids will go on a great adventure that recreates the hit Disney film
• Wild adventures as they play seven fun activities
• Interact with Lilo, Stitch, Mr. Bubbles, and the aliens Jumba and Pleakley
• Follow the storyline from the film and help Stitch return Lilo home safely!
• Ages 4 to 7

Amazon.com Product Description

Scooby-Doo Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom is a PC mystery game that combines the exploration of an adventure game with the strategy and endless playability of a traditional board game. The characters come to life in 2 1/2-D, a special rendering that keeps cartoon characters looking true to their 2-D appearance, yet gives them added dimension. Just like the TV show, the game places players in sticky and sometimes humorous situations, where they must solve a mystery and uncover the game's true villain. Hunt for clues, set traps, and munch down on Scooby snacks. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A lot of fun for a "kids game"
I bought this game for my wife as kind of a "gag gift" as she likes Scooby Doo (as do I) but the game is actually fun. You can play up to 4 players (Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy; you can't actually be Scooby but he does help you throughout the game) on 3 differnt difficulty settings to find the Phantom. This is where it may get a little repetitive though. The Phantom is 1 of the 8 other characters in the game. But the variety of traps one can lay for the Phantom actually keep you interested.

The game is more fun if you have some friends to play it with and is even a lot more fun over the internet (if you can find a game though) as you can sabatoge your opponent and not feel to guilty about it:-)

Overall the game is nicely done and is fun for the entire family. The graphics are nice and the sounds and voice overs are above average. Gameplay is fun and exciting and is great for kids as it challenges them to remember where the various clues and trap pieces were throughout the game. The game is a lot of fun and will not disappoint.

Great Game
I bought this game because I love Scooby Doo. I thought the graphics were excellent(though I didn't think the characters looked exactly right), and the game was very captivating. You walk around looking for clues and traps, and when you get the right ones, you set the trap to capture the ghost. I was a little disappointed in that you can't be Scooby, but that wouldn't be really fair then, would it? I just got it and I really love it. The sound effects match up with the character's movements, and the videos are really quite good and fun to watch. The only major complaint I have is how LONG it takes to go through turns, but that really isn't a fixable problem. I really think the program is great!

Back to the Stone Ages
This game was visually nothing. It really is just a tedious click, move a few steps, and click again to move a few more. The view is from overhead. You have to collect the correct combo of 3 pieces and go to the correct location to use them. With 27 possible pieces and 9 locations, it was just a real pain. No visual excitement. It must have been one of the first video games ever written.

Scooby-Doo and friends help a couple in need of help!
If you are wondering why I am giving this 4 stars instead of my normal 5 stars, is because I think the computer players are smart, if you don't want them to be. Scooby-Doo and his pals, Fred, Daphne, Velma & Shaggy run into another mystery when thier mystery machine breaks down in front of the Gobs, a couple that is in trouble because they had to close down the park because the fun park phantom scared away thier guests.

At first, Mr. Gob thinks they are there for the park. So Mr. Gob strikes a deal, with Shaggy, Daphne, Fred & Velma that if they can find out who the phantom is he will fix thier mystery machine. So here is the areas of the park. Fun House, Midway, Log Flume, Ferris Wheel, Bumper Car, Pirate Ship, Roller Coaster, Merry-Go-Round and the Miniature World.

Now when you begin the six suspects are assigned to the areas of the park. And your character(s) are aslo assigned to an area(s) of the park. The suspects are a security guard, a magician, a farmer, a groundskeepr, a clown, and a banker. You'll find that these people all have a reason why they would like to see the park closed. Thier are 9 areas of the park and 6 will have a suspect in them where they are suposed to be for the whole game.

Think before you buy this program
Though this has a similar title to the excellent game Scooby Doo Phantom of the Knight, this program is very different in style. The gang compete against each other to get the phantom (which doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you think about the show), and it gets so tiresome after awhile because it is played almost like a board game. You have to either play with a friend, or against the computer and end up doing a lot of waiting for others to take their turns. Fun for a little bit, but very tedious after awhile. The point is, this program is not terrible, but it is not what you would expect with the Scooby Doo name. It is a competitive game, whereas the Scooby Doo Phantom of the Knight is an adventure with the whole gang working together to solve a mystery together. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Tarzan Action Game takes you through Tarzan's life, from boyhood to manhood. Develop skills and abilities like tree-surfing, riding elephants, and swinging on vines. Play as Tarzan, Jane, Terk, or Tantor and combat snakes, alligators, and other jungle enemies. Enjoy 13 action-packed levels of 3-D adventures with Tarzan and his friends. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Even teens like it !
This game is very entertaing though the age on it is wrong. I am 12 years old and I still play this game I can't make it pass Trash The Camp level the other levels are plenty simple.I know after I get pass that level comes the maze too the boat .Anyway in my headliner it saids Even Teens Like It .I wasn't lieing it is a great disney game if only I knew a sercet way out of the campsite ,but unfouantley there is not a way even if I tried I'll never get past the plate throwin monkey on top of the tent...

Entertaining adaption of a modern Disney classic
For some odd reason I had a compelling need to play this game after I saw several reviews and trailers online. So I tracked it down and paid more than $... by far, but I certainly got my enjoyment from it. The graphics looked great on my computer, and the video quality of the clips between levels looked as good as a DVD version. The skill level could be changed from easy to hard, and additional challenges were sometimes added the harder the level of difficulty.

The music was almost an exact duplicate of the Tarzan soundtrack, featuring instrumental versions of the songs "Trashing the Camp," "Son of Man" and others. The graphics were amazing, especially the backgrounds and waterfall effects. Some dexterity is needed, but younger children should be able to play this game with some help setting up. I used a computer game pad with joystick and it was very easy to control Tarzan/Terk/Jane. There are bonus levels and cutscenes to collect, and the game has definite replay value, especially if your kids love Tarzan. I still haven't managed to beat it on the Hard level yet, so there are hours of gaming pleasure ahead. And at less than $... it makes a perfect gift.

Tarzan Game
I found this game very entertaining and very easy to control seeing as it is a 3-D graphic game.

The levels get harder (obviously) but the good thing is you can go over the levels you have already done to see if you can achieve a higher percentage of coins collected and level completed.

The characters are very entertaining and you get help along the way which gives you helpful tips.

Another bonus is that you meet butterflies along the way which save the game from that spot so if you die further on you begin again at the point of the butterfly and not at the beginning of the level. You can also save the game as you go along.

Hope you enjoy it as much as me (30 years old) and my daugther (11 years old) do, its great fun and well worth the money!!!

TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT
I thought Tarzan was going to be the best game in the world, but actually it's a BIG WASTE OF MONEY. When you can't pass a level, it get's boring.Two words. BORING GAME.

Excellent Graphics and Gameplay
Wow! I wasn't expecting much from a Disney game, but Tarzan has a lot going for itself. First of all, the graphics are excellent. The fluid animations and the eye-popping backgrounds make this game something to own right away. But the game play is also good. The controls are easy to learn and the game, while challenging, isn't too difficult for younger children. This game should be in your collection! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Based on the popular PBS television show, Zoboomafoo Animal Alphabet takes kids on a guided tour of their ABCs, allowing them to brush up early reading and spelling skills while learning about animals from the Kratt brothers and their leaping lemur friend.

An educational activity center for children in the 3 to 6 years age range, this game offers a variety of simple minigames designed to build alphabet knowledge by capitalizing on a young player's curiosity about the animal kingdom. Users can color animal flash cards or play an arcade-style round of Penguin Pong, bouncing ice floes off each other to reveal the answer to a quiz question. Alternately, they can go to Animal Mixups, a top-notch activity where kids mix and match animals, grafting a zebra head, to take one possibility, onto a tiger torso, perhaps with a cow or reindeer tail to finish.

As an extra bonus, play is interspersed with lengthy live-action sequences from the television program. A win in one of the spelling games triggers a shot of the Kratt brothers going face-first into a mud pit. The Kratts and Zoboomafoo the leaping lemur also host a collection game, where players seek out animals whose names start with the different letters of the alphabet, and then get to see video footage of the creature itself.

Animal lovers and fans of the show should enjoy Zoboomafoo Animal Alphabet thoroughly, especially if they have never seen a game of this type before. More experienced players may recognize that about half of its activities are standard fare, reworked versions of games that appear repeatedly in educational software. This is the only complaint to be made, though, with what is otherwise a completely engaging game with lots of fascinating animal facts and great potential for teaching young learners some basic reading skills. (Ages 3 to 6) --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Nice mix of learning and fun
My 3 year-old really enjoys this game. It is perfect for a child who is learning her capital letters, but who is not quite ready for phonics yet. Also, while the graphics aren't superb, they are good enough for a pre-schooler and make her feel like she is interacting with the show. The CD-ROM also has a nice variety of games where different skill sets are tested. My only reservation is that that the software seems to have a few glitches on my Windows XP.

a good collection...
of games that teach spelling, reading and letter recognition. In addition to this, are the usual colouring and puzzle games. The positives: my 3 year old is quickly learning how to spell simple words and seems to enjoy the animal movies and graphics. The negatives: the font they've used for the games utilizing the alphabet is quite difficult to read (the k could be an x, etc.) Easy readability is crucial to a teaching program such as this, when will they learn? Also, the "Penguin Pong" program needs a patch but it is easily retrieved if you go to the Learning Company's website.

Pass On This One
With all the software titles available now days, I would suggest passing on this one. My child loves animals and learning, however, this is one of our least favorites. Maybe this is because we have access to more software (family "hand-me-downs") so this one just sits. After using this a few times I kept thinking there would be more substance, there isn't. I would suggest one of the JumpStart learning series (jumpstart advanced preschool etc.).

kids and parents deserve better than this lame software
I am really startled at the praise this software is getting. We own approximately twenty software titles for children and I would rank this as one of the three worst. In its favor it does not crash, but the quality of both format and content is poor.

First off, the resolution is bad. We've run this game on a Macintosh laptop and desktop computer, and the introductory footage looks fuzzy on both.

The live-action introduction is fun for fans of the show, but the few live-action sequences in the game's interior are not enough to keep little ones happy. The Kratt brothers are charming hosts of the television show but we don't see enough of them in this game. After the introduction children see a pan-and-scan version of Animal Junction populated with twenty-six clickable animals, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. When kids click on one of the animals, they receive a "page" with a picture and an assortment of facts about that creature, though in eight instances a child is presented instead with a game (more about these later). Confusingly, when a game is finished we hear Zoboo say, "That was great! Here's your animal page. Do you want to play again?" Instead of seeing an animal page, kids get a Yes-No choice. If they choose Yes they go to a game repeat. If they choose No they then go to the appropriate animal page. Did they beta test this at all?

Finally, the games are neither well-explained nor are they well-designed for children. Penguin Pong, even at the lowest of three difficulty levels, moves slowly and, in the vein of the classic game Pong, you have to knock out 49 blocks. It takes forever and kids get bored. Similarly interminable, the letter scramble is also a mess. A child must rearrange letters to form the name of a pictured animal, then click on a virtual spinner to advance Zoboo 1, 2, 3 or 4 spaces on a "game board". First complaint: when a child uses a letter from the scramble list it remains active, which is confusing for little ones. Second complaint: the game board is 35 spaces long -- it takes at least nine scrambles, and usually many more, for Zoboo to get to the end. Third complaint: when Zoboo does finally reach the 35th square, nothing interesting happens, unless you count that now-familiar non sequitur, "That was great! Here's your animal page. Do you want to play again?" What's the lesson here -- lowered expectations? In the Noodle Hut game, Zoboo asks for a letter and your child is supposed to click on it amid a field of noodles, each with a letter on it. But even at the lowest difficulty level, there are multiple examples of letters, again confusing to little ones. If there are three "R"s, which one should they click on? Also, some of the letters are presented at a three-quarter view which makes them less recognizable. Why would you do that to young children just learning their letters? My final complaint, and an important one, is that the games are not presented within any story or context to make them either interesting or meaningful.

I could continue to find fault with each of the other games, but why bother? This is lazy, sloppy software that is not good enough for your child. Instead, buy Blue's Clues or Franklin or Reader Rabbit software -- consistently well-designed and well-written. It is strange and disappointing that PBS, long considered THE leader in creative educational children's programming and products, seems to be faltering in the wake of recent competition.

Our family will continue to watch and enjoy the Zoboomafoo television show, but this software is a loser.

Your Favorite Lemur Is Back
Animal kids is here now on CD.
On this game you must collect 26 pages for your animal book.
There are also 8 great games.
They include penguin pong,the mud pit,and Wiggys noodles.
There are many other games too. ... Read more

Features

• With the help of your animal friends, rescue all the petnapped puppies [Ages 8 and Up]
• Escape Cruella's wrath in a free-roaming 3D action-adventure.
• Sniff, dig, and dog-paddle through 16 levels and six fun mini-games.
• Explore huge colorful playgrounds, including Big Ben, Picadilly Circus, and more
• Interact with old favorite characters and meet new friends [Windows 95/98]