Reviews (65)

Another awesome upgrade to the already great series!
I have seen and played many demos and have read tons of reviews on this product.

I have been a fan of this Junior Sports series since the very first original Backyard Baseball came out. I own 2 of the 3 baseball editions, both of the football versions, my brothers have both of the soccer editions, and we also have Backyard Basketball.

From what I've seen and read this is another great additon to any of your collections of these games. The gameplay is smooth, the graphics are stunning, there are EVEN MORE gamplay options than in BYB 2001, the MLB kids faces are very believable, the players ability to play is slightly exaggerated but hey, that's what makes it so fun.

Being a big fan and player of baseball I follow the majors like nothing else. For that reason I noticed the ratings (Running, Pitching, Fielding, and Hitting) on the players to be slightly off. But if that's the only problem, that's an extremely small sacrifice to make when buying this game.

This game is worth every penny you spend on it. I recommend this game for fans and non-fans of all ages.

The levels of difficulty are set very well for people that play it. I do wish though that they would add an extra "Major League" level of play for us older guys that are looking for some challenging opponents.

I haven't tried online play yet but I'm sure you would find some more challenging people to play against.

This series is getting better with every game and should soon become one of the top sports games on the market. I hope that soon they will expand their games and come out with Backyard Baseball Pennent Race Edition Expansion Pack that will include the new hot rookies in the majors. Who knows? Maybe it's not that far off from now.

In closing I want you to know that this game does not have the new backyard kid design. The new Backyard Hockey has new kids to chose from and absolutely stunning visual effects. I recommend that game also for the Backyard Series fans.

Oh yeah, one more thing, HAVE FUN!!!

Sincerely,
Ian Badeer
A True Backyard Series Fan

Baackyard basketball 2004
I think this game is really good. People say this is too easy but i am 11 and I play on hard mode and I lose sometimes It is deffinetly better then the first backyard basketball because the originial only had two pros and this has ten. This game has good pros and good pro selections but they could have had better people as well like Steve Francis, Baron Davis and Kobe Bryant. Some of the people in there have not very good attributes like Tim Duncan has no outside shot but in real life he is a good outside shooter and Pau Gasol has no outside shot but can make all of the three pointers he shoots. Making a shot is very easy from outside but inside shots are kinda difficult. This game has the same graphics and gameplay as Backyard Hockey which I like the gameplay but the graphics i don't like. I would reccomend this game for 5-12 year olds and if you want the ultimate team I would pick Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan as starters and reserves Yao Ming and Paul Peirce. Other than the bad graphics and the choosing of the pros and pro's attributes this is a very fun and good game.

forced to do setups
From the makers of putt-putt,freddi fish,spy fox and pajama sam comes backyard sports.It's fun but you buy it on software,that's where it gets **** instead of *****.Humongous FORCES you to do their setups BEFORe you can play your game.

The Best Baseball Game Ever!
This game is great and a little challanging! The menus are very simple. There are 2 modes that you can play on. A single game mode and season play mode. In single game mode, if you want certain players on your team you have to get them quickly because your opponent can get them before you do. A cool part of single game mode is that you can play tee-ball and watch a demo! On season mode you pick your players first so you have all the players that you want. Each player has four ratings, Batting, Running, Pitching and Fielding. There are three game levels. (Excluding tee-ball mode) A way that makes the game challanging is that there is pluses and minus'. Pluses make them stronger in a rating and minus' make them lower in a rating.If you want to play season mode I reccomend you first play some single games and watch some demos. Also you should start at easy level and work your way up to medium then hard. Heres a tip. Never get Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds! They get tired to easily and get lots of minus'. A very fun game!

Great game and to me fun to play!
This Backyard Soccer 2004 has my favorite players here.Like Brandi Chastain,Tiffity Milbrett,and Cobi Jones.This is a fun game to play,but the hard level still a piece of cake.You can make your color of your team,but the promblem is you have to choose from some choices instead of naming your team.That's my kinda suggestion.I won the game a hundred times already,but I love it and I keep on playing it!I think this is a 4 star rating for one reason why 4 stars,Way too easy! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Step into the stylish shoes of teen supersleuth Nancy Drew to crack thecase of the haunted mansion. As Nancy, you'll hang your hat in San Francisco,where you've been invited to help a family friend renovate a historic Victorianhome. Some strange things have been happening in the old house--could it bespirits from the past, or just shifty characters on the make? Use yourmagnifying glass to search the place from top to bottom for clues. You'll findtrap doors, personal papers, keys, tools--all sorts of spots and items toexplore or hang onto for later use. You never know when you might need a paintscraper or crowbar to help you out of a bind. To fill in some of the gaps, talkto characters in the game, and choose your responses to their questions based onwhat you want to know.

Play Message in a Haunted Mansion in one of two modes: new or youngerplayers can sign in as junior detectives for more simplified play, while oldpros can log in as senior detectives for serious sleuthing. Once you're in, youmay never want to leave--the graphic detail of the Victorian-mansion setting isstellar. The Chinese-influenced décor is authentically and exquisitelyreproduced, and many elements can be highlighted to better focus on the level ofdetail. (Those interested in Victorian interiors will be especially pleased.)Also realistic are often-overlooked touches that add a true-to-life ring, suchas photos of family and friends on the wall, and sunglasses kept in the kitchendrawer. The sound effects further add to the sense of realism and heighten theair of suspense. You'll hear doors and cabinets creak open and shut, hauntingcries, and loose chandeliers swaying overhead.

This third installment in the popular Nancy Drew interactive series (a follow-up to Stay Tuned for Danger and Secrets Can Kill) is successful not just for its design and production, but forits thoughtful features that keep players hooked, even as things start to feelhopeless. When you're in a bind, you can call home or old friends Bess andGeorge for help. And if you make a game-ending decision, simply pick up rightwhere you left off before the terminal mistake by utilizing the Second Chancefeature. There's even a self-updating journal in Nancy's suitcase that recordsclues as you find them, to help you keep track of all the facts you unearth.And, of course, you can save your game after each session--no backtrackingthrough clues you've already found, or conversations you've already had.

Our only complaint: the game takes some time to install, which can be hardto stomach if you've played the previous Nancy Drew games and are as excited toplay the third as we were. But once you're in the game and can see the wealth ofwhat awaits, you'll realize that it's worth a lengthy installation. A niceimprovement over previous games is the inclusion of a tutorial to explaingameplay to new users. (Ages 10 and older) --Leah Ball ... Read more

Reviews (495)

Fun But Could Be A Lot Better
I read Nancy Drew religiously in my early teenage years and although I outgrew the books about ten years ago, I was still anxious to try these games when I heard of them. I have now played three of them (SCK and FIN are the other two) and The Final Scene is the only one of them that I would recommend to anyone. This one was fun, but it just isn't worth buying. It has some cool puzzles and clues to solve, but it just didn't take long enough. I finished it in about half of the 20 hours that the package promises and I played on senior level. And I'm not a genious or anything. I even failed a couple of classes in high school. The characters in the story were kind of flat and dull, too. And the game is just way too limited. From the title, I was expecting a big mansion with lots of rooms and secret passages to explore. Upstairs, you can only go in to one bedroom besides Nancy's and then the attic. Downstairs, you could only go into the front entrance area, the parlor, library, and dining room. Then there was the basement. There just wasn't enough places to explore. Another complaint I have about this game, along with the others I've played, is that, for the most part, the characters stay in the same places doing the same things. They leave at certain times so you can search the areas they're in, but other than that they're always in the same places doing the same things unless it's absolutely necessary that they be somewhere else. It would just add so much realism, not to mention length, to the games if you could go more places and if you had to search for someone when you wanted to talk with them instead of being able to just go right to them. It's not like the game designers have to put the characters in fifteen or twenty different places. Just having the characters in two or three places throughout the game would be enough. There should also be more interaction with the characters. It would also make the games a lot better if George, Bess, or Ned were actually in it instead of just being on the phone. Or maybe have Nancy's father or Hannah in it and Nancy could go home and discuss the case with them. Sure, this would make the designers' jobs harder, but if you're going to do something, do it right. Because I really do not feel like paying 20+ dollars for a game like this if it's only going to take me a few hours to play it. Because these games are really not that good after you've played them once. Most of the game is just searching for clues and talking with suspects and once you know where everything is and what everyone's going to say, the game is just not that fun. I'll play them a second time just to see if I missed anything the first time, but after that they're pretty much useless.

You'll Love It!
My sister started to get into the Nancy Drew series, so for Christmas, my Mom bought my sister Nancy Drew: Message In A Haunted Mansion. My sister started it, but she really has no enthusium for computer games. So it sat by our computer for a couple of months until curiousness got me. I didn't expect much and figured I'd be bored because I'm 15 and this looked a little juvenile to me. I was completley wrong. Right from the beginning, I was hooked. I would be on my computer for hours trying to solve case. I was completley intrigued. I was playing the game so much that my family had to tear me away from the computer just so they could check their mail. I loved the story line, the fun chinese history that tied in with it, I loved all the mystery, problem and puzzle solving, and spending hours working on the mystery. I would definetly recommend this game to everyone (even my 9 year old brother played it and loved it)who wants to spend countless hours on the computer trying to solve a fun, mystery filled, and exciting case. It's a great game, you'll love it!

Also recommend: Nancy Drew: Treasure In A Royal Tower. It's even better then Message In A Haunted Mansion!

BUY THIS GAME!
My kids say, "We have played every Nancy Drew game. This is by far our favorite one. It was challenging but not frustrating. It even had spooky moments! Graphics were awesome, never ending sluthing, and excellent ending climax. Overall PERFECT game!"

WE BOTH RECOMEND IT

Message in a Haunted Mansion
In this third game in the series, Nancy is in California visiting a friend at her huge mansion that she is renovating into a bed-and-breakfast. While Nancy is there, strange things and accidents are happening at the mansion. You can explore the whole house, in fact, it's the only place you're at during the whole game. But that doesn't make it any less fun. I loved this game!

Message in a Haunted Mansion review by Christina
I thought this game was pretty good. I thought the stuff about the seance, ghosts, and "spirit of Valdez" was kind of goofy, becuase I don't believe in the occult or anything. But other than that it was a good game, although easy to solve. ... Read more

Features

• Cruise and explore the big city with the My Scene girls
• Plan for one of twelve events
• Take fun tell all quizzes to discover things about you and your friends
• Attend art shows, charity events and more
• For one or more players

Reviews (9)

My Scene computer game
This game is fun but after you play all twelve games then when you play again you do the same thing and buy the same stuff. Also, Chealsea and Barbie walk slower than the other people, but Madison is as fast as them. And when you see one of the other My Scene girls they just ask if Nolee called you or you ask them if they want to go somewhere and they say they can't, then they walk away and if your not Madison you can't follow them, they just walk off the part of the screen you can see and you can't catch up with them.
In the game, you have to buy the things you need for something your doing. To get money, you can decorate a store window, design clothes, or make music. I like the clothes and window games, but the music one is boring. And you can only play the games twice. You can also pick boyfriends for the My Scene girls. The boys are walking around. You can also talk to girls. To find out what clothes you should get, you need to read a magazine. You can also take quizzes and try on clothes after you've bought the clothes you need.

Slightly Disapointed
I look for a game since usually my volume wont work that will work and be simple if you have no volume like the sims. I cant end the game when I cant hear wher i haft to meet barbie or any of the crew. This game often freezes 2 and it's not just my computer Vivendi universety can do better.

The Reviews Here do not go to MY SCENE
I purchased My Scene because of the reviews listed under it. I purchased for a 5 year old. The reviews listed right now with this product are for other Barbie computer games. This game, My Scene, is probably lots of fun for any girl who can read pretty well and follow instructions. Very difficult for a 5 year old. My 11-year old niece enjoys it, but be careful reading the reviews (unless Amazon fixes the problem, as I did contact them.).

My Scene is super fun!
My 6 year old LOOOOVVEES playing this game. It's age appropriate for kids of all ages! I love playing it with her, so does her brother! I kind of wish the game was a little longer or if you played it more than once you had different options, like more variety, but it serves it's purpose. It was worth the buy and amazon had it at a great price!

A Very Impressive Game
I am 17 yrs. old and had put this game on my Christmas wishlist. I recieved the game on Christmas morning and have played it every day since. This game has some of the best graphics I have seen and is great for any young or old girl who is into fashion, music, and friends. You basically get to become one of the MyScene characters and help them get ready for many different events through fashion activities and money making jobs. I have been extremely satisfied with this game and recommend it to anyone between the ages of 8 and 100. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Go on an epic adventure of math and logic with the Zoombinis Logical Journey and Zoombinis Mountain Rescue educational software titles. Embark on a dangerous quest to a new Zoombini homeland and learn critical logic and mathematical thinking skills. Trek across treacherous terrain strewn with perilous mind-bending puzzles. Learn important life skills such as deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, hypothesis testing, and more, while leading the Zoombinis to freedom. These entertaining adventures are a journey into the math of the information age. Develop the cognitive mathematical thinking skills used in writing computer programs, organizing spreadsheet data, and searching for information on computer networks. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Love, love, love this game...
I was introduced to this game while helping out in an elementary school computer class (yeah, I'm technically a grown-up). It's an engaging way to teach logic skills, and the puzzles are a lot of fun. I agree that there are a LOT of Zoombinis to save (the purpose of the game)and that once you've mastered the higher levels it's a bit tedious to keep playing the harder versions of the puzzles, especially if there are any you don't like to begin with.

On the other hand, this game is wonderful for a variety of age groups (some of the younger kids may need some help figuring out the logic behind the puzzles), for different ethnicities (the Zoombinis are blue), and genders (most of the characters are somewhat ambiguous on gender, and the Zoombinis are all equal). I've seen it played solo, and in groups, with equally enjoyable results. And there are a number of resources available for educators, parents, etc. to help your kids make meaning from the games they are playing.

All in all, this is a must for any elementary/middle school computer educator, and a highly recommended for parents who want their kids to use computers as a tool as well as a toy.

One of the best logic games, all in a fun package
I'm a 13-year-old boy, I loved Zoombinis ever since it came out about 7 years ago, and I still love it now. Zoombinis is a great education game, it teaches logic and mathematical skills essential to learn, and also lets children (and adults) have fun while doing it.

Zoombinis is set apart from so many other logic games by adding characters that are enjoyable and funny to a 2nd grader, while not being so annoying or childish that a 7th grader cannot enjoy or laugh at them as well.

Another way Zoombinis excels is in the way it adjusts to the user's ability. The game will start out easy and teach more simplistic concepts, and after the user is comfortable with that, it will move on to more complex problems.

A nice thing about this game is that it will encourage someone to learn and keep going. It can all happen because the game is both educational and fun, and the child will get a sort of self-satisfaction when they accomplish something. Whenever a puzzle is completed, the user gets a little bit closer to the goal of saving all the Zoombinis, and this gives them something to work for.

Zoombinis consists of 12 different puzzles for the user to go thru, and one of the factors that have made it so successful is how it makes the user actually think. Instead of letting you just guess the answers, Zoombinis has you think about why a certain answer does or doesn't work, then lets you come up with some sort of practical method to solve such problems, which can later be applied to more advanced levels of education (I am currently taking geometry, and I still use many of the methods I learned here to help me solve problems).

In all, Zoombinis is one of the most valuable and fun game (educational or not) that I have ever used. It is a great product, and I would certainly recommend it.

Nice Game, but just a little hard
I got this game with a multipack and it rocks!!! But just kind of a little hard but I like it.

My kids loved it!
Not only fun but a great logic builder! The best peice of software I've bought for my kids!

What a great surprise!
We love this game! When I was searching for new games for my girls, 8 & 11, I came across this game, but made the mistake of not ordering it. One day, my daughter came home from her computer class and raved about this game - I ordered the Logical Journey and Mountain Rescue...I am so glad that I did. My 8 year old and I enjoy playing Logical Journey together - its a little more basic and easier for her to understand. My older daughter prefers the Mountain Rescue - the graphics are a little more advanced and she enjoys the games more. I would recommend these games to anyone looking for fun, safe, and mentally challenging entertainment! ... Read more

Reviews (436)

"Haunted Carousel" an entertaning ride.
In "The Haunted Carousel," teenage sleuth Nancy Drew is on her eighth case: investigating amusement park "hauntings" in Captains Cove, NJ. One of the park's famed carousel horses has been stolen, and the carousel has been mysteriously starting and stopping on its own. Also, the park's roller coaster stopped suddenly, causing a rider to injure his neck. With the park shut down, Nancy must interview the employees and explore the park to find clues.

"Haunted Carousel" has some nice improvements over past games: the addition of the "to do" list, journal, and cell phone (no more endless running back and forth to Nancy's hotel to call). If Nancy gets stuck, she can call her friends Bess and George and the Hardy Boys. The game has two levels, Junior and Senior Detective, and there are plenty of built-in tips and hints, including a park operating manual with an overview of most puzzle components. "Haunted Carousel" seemed to be one of the easier ND games.

"Haunted Carousel" really draws the player into the park's atmosphere, complete with hotel room service, arcade games, a ride on the carousel (and chance to grab the brass ring), and more. The storyline flowed smoothly, the puzzles were organic (programming an arcade game, switching roller coaster tracks, repairing the carousel's band organ, reading invisible ink), the voice work was above average and the characters had distinct personalities. Music was pronounced, including carnival music for the carousel and ominous creepy tunes for the haunted house.

Nancy must watch her step as always, since someone wants to stop her from finding out the truth behind the hauntings. Along the way she helps someone come to terms with the past, sniffs out an insurance fraud, and digs up long-lost truths and secrets about the park and its employees. This is a lovely adventure with a unique atmosphere that will delight young sleuths.

Not worth the price compared to others in series
First of all, I would like to point out that the editorial review above is not for Secrets Can Kill. It is for one of the other games in the series, and is therefore a better review than Secrets Can Kill deserves. It may be confusing to see the editorial review for the Tower mystery right under the title for Secrets Can Kill.
I love the Nancy Drew series, and I am a college-educated woman in my thirties. I have played four out of the first five games in the series (I have not played Stay Tuned for Danger). The other games have wonderful graphics and storylines. Talking to the other characters is enjoyable, and the puzzles are challenging enough for an adult when played on the senior detective level. I played Secrets Can Kill on the Master level (there are three levels for this game instead of two), and I found that my nine-year-old son was not challenged by the puzzles. Most of the puzzles are easily solved word puzzles that have clues as to the items to gather or hints about the character's secrets. However, most of the puzzles have nothing to do with the game play itself. There is one slide puzzle that allows you to find an inventory item; otherwise, the puzzles are just there for hints. As mentioned in other reviews, this game has cartoon-like characters rather than the 3D-type characters in the other games, and it really does make the game less interesting. The dialogue is uninteresting and the characters become hostile and barely speak to Nancy through most of the game. Overall, the game requires only a few answered puzzles to solve the mystery, and the ending is disappointing, to say the least. I gave this two stars instead of one, which was my first inclination, because I feel that it might be interesting for a child to play, especially if the child has not had very much experience with adventure games for the computer; however, a child would probably still at least want to play on the senior detective level. I recommend the other Nancy Drew games that I have played to players of any age for a nice, relaxing mystery, and I especially recommend the Haunted Mansion game. I cannot, however, recommend Secrets Can Kill.

Very interesting --- Another good mystery
I thought it was very good, only it was a little too complicated. I liked the usually good graphics (for Nancy Drew games) but I didn't particularly like the way you couldn't easily get around. Really well done ghost dogs, very scary. The mystery was a creepy one, and the villain was certainly unexpected. That's all I'll say. Anymore would spoil it.

My favorite ND game so far!
Treasure in the Royal Tower is one of the best computer games I ever played. This is a great starter Nancy Drew game for starting off because it's not too hard nor too easy. If you want a really easy game try the Haunted Carousel.
The story goes that you, as Nancy Drew, are snowed in at a ski resort in Wisconsin with an interesting history. In this game you learn about the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette.
"So, what's the mystery?" you ask. I'm getting to that.
There is a tower shipped over from France and was put back together on Wickford Castle, the ski resort you are staying at. The library at Wickford has been vandalized, and it takes a lot more than barging through the front door to investigate. Later, you hear about Marie Antoinette having a crown worth millions and somehow you figure that the library and treasure are connected. Your job is to find out the story behind the treasure and library.
This game took me about four days to beat. It's quite challenging in parts, like the ski lift, but you can get through it. It's also a little frightening, like the banging noises, but not too frightening that you never want to play it again, like the Final Scene. All in all, Treasure in the Royal Tower is a great game and everyone should buy it.

Not the Best
I've played all of the Nancy Drew Games (except the Final Scene) and this one was pretty good. It was well-written, but I didn't think it was as interesting as some of the other games. I would reccomend the Haunted Carousel or Treasure in the Royal Tower instead. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Entertaining for the young viever
Our granddaughter asked to watch this nearly everyday. It is a pleasant way for a young child to learn a classic story.

She likes it!
Purchased this for my 5-year old. First try, it was a little difficult, after that she could do it by herself. Has been playing and continues to enjoy the different wands and the different colors and designs that the wands make on each scene. Make sure you try different wands at each scene to decorate. We didn't realize that on the first go around. I recommend for 5-10 year olds! Definitely.

Great Game
I have a five year old that loves this game. She can play with it for hours. She really enjoys it. Many diffent games, that she can do, even though she can't read yet. A must buy for all 4-6 year old girls!!

BEWARE: Great Game...But Watch Out For Copy Protection
My kids love this game, but as it usually happens, the disks get scratched. After unsuccessfully making a backup copy, I sent an email to Videndi's tech support. In a nutshell, sorry you are out of luck....Here is the email and thier response:

Your original question:
----------------------------------------
Customer Submitted Question On: 11/10/2003 6:45AM
Why can I not get a backup copy of "Barbie of Swan Lake" and "Barbie Botique" working. I have three girls using these disks and they end up scratched very quickly. I have tried making a backup of both numerous times, but the program quits after the intro screen. Any ideas on this?

The response to your question:
----------------------------------------
Solution Added On 11/10/2003 8:12AM
Sorry sir this program contain copy protection there is no way to make a backup copy sorry

same reviews three products
Barbie swan lake, My scene and Fashion Boutique all have the exact same customer reviews. Are these actually reviews of each product? I don't think so...what's up? ... Read more

Features

• Teaches essentials skills like arithmetic and logic
• 11 engaging activities and 3 unique adventures
• 3 levels of play automatically adjust to child¿s progress
• Starring popular characters and voices from hit TV show
• Automatic help allows for independent play; for ages 3 and up

Features

• Multiplayer mode included – replay a course with other players
• Compete on 14 different and unique courses
• Ride through 6 different landscapes
• Integrated adventure mode allows you to play through the game while trying to solve a mystery
• Customize your horse with your favorite features

Reviews (6)

Four
I think this game is really great, the graphics are good, but the grooming! every time you go to a show, you get a new horse to look after them on top of your other horses. Also some horses are better than others, for example, the best ones are the palimino, the dark grey (these are the last two horses you get ) and Eclair. The challenges are really tricky and I still havent worked out the wheel one and ive had it for a year!

Fun Fun Fun
This is a really cool game even for me and I'm 16! Yea Its sad I know but I wanted a good horse game, I beat the Barbie Riding Game in less than an hour. So I was happy when I still haven't been Saddle Up and ive had it for almost a month!

The grooming can be really annoying after a while but its alot like real life. Picking there feet takes like 15 mintues the first time. The challanges are HARD! I still haven't figured out the wheel challange and its making me very mad!! But I still love it!

Great Game for Horse Fans Like Me!!!
I love this game. It is fun as well as challenging. The part I don't like about it ,though is the grooming.

It takes like an hour just to pick a hoof, and you keep getting more horses to groom throughout the game! You have to ride and care for each and every horse, even if they don't belong to you! In some competitions, you have to ride you're "friends'" horses instead of your own. (Your horses are a lot better at pacing themselves in the challenges.) I also don't like how you can only save the game in your room. But worst of all, is how much grooming is involved EVERY DAY!!! Hose down the horse, brush him, pick his HOOF (not hooves, thank goodness), shoe him, AND clean his stall and take him to the pasture! All of that is involved before you can go riding!

BUT, I loved the graphics. The only problem is if you wander off course, your horse falls into a white area. It is a great game, though. And the courses and competitions are a ton of fun! The challenges are REALLY CHALLENGING. It takes a while to figure them out, but its fun while doing it. This is an awesome game for horse fans like me. This game shows what its like to own a horse. I think it should be ages 11 and up!

Neigh!!!
This game is a really great game, and I play it as often as I can. It can be a bit confusing when first starting out, but I soon got the hang of it. It's really fun, and there are lots of things to do in this game. It's a great game if you don't want to be riding all the time. I'm horse-crazy and I'm very focused on the quality of the graphics, and although they aren't the greatest, they're definitley better than alot of horse games. And the best part is, there's no dressage!

WOW
i am 15 years old and i am crazy for horses! This game is GREAT and it really teachs you about horses and you get to do compitions and the software works perfectly fine for me.The jumping courses are fun, and controlling the horse is easy.But you need practice and soon you get it.I recommened this game to anyhorse lover and its great fun. the game is well designed and really really fun :) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Tonka Dig'n Rigs Playset is one of those very rare products thatreally does educate and entertain on a parallel level. As much toy as it is apiece of software, the digger controls (steering wheel, ignition key, horn, andthree control levers) will amuse little hands for hours, while the CD-ROM worksby presenting children with a number of "jobs" or activities, and getting themto complete tasks and interact with the onscreen action. This not onlyencourages youngsters to react to instructions, but also enhances hand-to-eyecoordination and fosters an understanding of cause and effect.

It is also a superb way of introducing youngsters to the PC and keyboard. Chunky, imaginative, and, more importantly, possessing ultimate play appeal forchildren (what child ever tires of pushing buttons, turning wheels, and pullingand pushing levers?), it is a fantastic way of refining gross motor skills tothe finer level required for mice and keys.

But probably the best thing about this set, from a parental point of view, isits ease of installation and portability. Just place it over the keyboard and itslots into place. A belt then straps around the keyboard to hold it in placewhen your toddler inevitably gets excited. And, when it becomes the favorite toyof the moment, it is easy to pop in a bag and take to Grandma's (whether she hasa PC or not!). It is a superb toy and developmental aid that kids will love andparents will feel good about. --Lucie Naylor ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Great Game for Kids
My son is almost 3 1/2 and he loves this toy. We had to return the first one because when you turned the wheel to the right the button that touches the keyboard didn't come down far enough but it was exchanged without a problem. Overall it's pretty sturdy, has some great games and is very easy to use. It teaches directional words like up/down, left/right, etc. and colors and really is a lot of fun. The only problem is trying to limit his time using it because he likes it so much. My 20 month old like it too even though he doesn't understand it he can "drive" the truck when it's on an open road. I'm sure this will get easier for him in no time as well.

A real pleaser for your little trucker
My almost 5 year old has loved this since he was 3. The controls are easy to use, and as long as you tighten the strap attached to the controller base securely to the keyboard,it remains in place with no problems. My son just loves tonka Joe and he still sings to the theme song every time it comes on. He especially likes being able to choose which truck he's going to drive each time, whether it's the excavator, dump truck or one of the others. We did have a little problem with the disc being scratched after the first year of play, but you can just go to the infrogrames website download their address, send in a check for a nominal amount for a replacement disc and within 2 weeks he was back to truckin'. Or you could just make a copy of the original disc as a back up before you begin play, which is what we did after receiving the replacement disc. I can't wait from my next little one to have lots of fun with this game as well!

One of the best PC games for little kids!
We bought this game for my son when he was 3 1/2 years old. He'll be 6 next month, and he still loves to play it. You must have a desktop PC with keyboard...can't play it on a laptop. Once you clip the dashboard onto the keyboard, Tonka Joe is ready to go! My son could play this for hours if we didn't limit his computer time so that he'll do other things rather than just sit in front of the computer. I can't say enough good things about this PC game. Little boys (and girls!) will absolutely love it! Very, very durable!!

Dig a hole and bury it
Not 5 minutes after setting this up for my son, the control lever inside the steering compartment broke. On receiving a replacement, it broke as well. I have a very heart-broken 4 year old.

The best toy ever!
My son who is 2.5 loves this game, and it is excellent in developing hand and eye coordination. He also has learn skills that involve left and right movement! Far better than watching TeleTubbies. ... Read more

Features

• First adventure-style Thomas and Friends computer game follows video & book format
• Chapter-based play lets kids play at their own pace
• Explore 11 locations around the Island of Sodor
• New storyline starring beloved Thomas and Friends characters
• Gameplay encourages critical thinking and fosters listening and memory skills

Reviews (8)

Don't use this if you have a Windows 98 computer!
This software crashes upon startup on my Windows 98 computer. Though not a computer expert, I think it has something to do with requiring video drivers that aren't compatible with Windows 98; that is, drivers only available for newer versions of Windows.

After spending four hours trying to get the compatible drivers onto my computer, my display was so destroyed that I had to restore back to a previous version of the operating system to make it work again.

The other Atari Thomas games have worked great on our Win98 computer, and today, most people have XP machines. But if you're in the Windows 98 minority, stay away from this game!

Saves the Day? Save your money, instead
As a recent release from Atari/Infogrammes, it seems like this series is steaming towards a the scrapheap. Other releases -- The Great Festival Adventure, Building the New Line, or the keyboard add-on Railway Adventures are all better than this, and progressively have gotten worse. While some attempt at making this series more "educational" is somewhat laudable, the actual options for game play and interactivity have gotten simpler and less interesting for my 3.5 year old son.

Thomas Wastes The Day
Hang your head in shame Atari, this game is terrible. Did they do any testing at all with the intended age group? My five year old is not interested in this game at all -- there's nothing compelling about it. My three year old liked the "chocolate factory" section for about 10 minutes, then never looked for this game again. If you're looking for Thomas, go for the "Festival Adventure" CD, that's definitely the best of the lot, with great graphics. Don't waste your time or money with this one.

The worst game we ever bought
I can't believe how disappointing this is. It is not intuative at all. There aren't enough instructions as you move through the story method. It seems like you're just sent on a wild goose chase. The games are too simple and not at all educational. The activities are for 2 yr olds. What's with the chocolate factory? They could at least ask the child to pick a certain colored sugar.
You'll kick yourself for buying this.

Not terrible, anyway...
I thought perhaps some of the other reviews were a little harsh. I bought this for my son who is 2 1/2 and it is a little over his head. Mostly I have to help him navigate his way through, though he has improved his mouse skills with the Harold the Helicopter game. I agree it is probably more for 4 year olds. Certainly this is not as educational as reader rabbit, but the graphics are terrific and it makes my son smile. Any avid Thomas fan will enjoy, though it may not be a necessity for others. ... Read more

Features

• 4 beautiful ponies provide hours of fun activities
• Help the ponies get ready for the Friendship Ball
• Choose hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing; invent a new dance
• Printable coloring pages, cake recipes, and dance moves
• For kids ages 3 to 6

Amazon.com Product Description

Arthur's Computer Adventure helps children (ages 3 to 7) to develop reading, math, vocabulary, and other important skills. Through following Arthur through his interactive world, get hooked on his favorite computer game. Arthur's Computer Adventure lets you play to learn important facts and skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lasting entertainment
My two boys (currently 6 and 4) have enjoyed this game for 2 years now....and still do! It's the only good "deep dark sea" adventure I've found that captivates them. Plus, the other little games are good and educational too.

My daughter LOVES this game!
My 9 year-old son and my 3 year-old daughter both love this game. They play it together taking turns with different parts of it. My daughter still needs help in the store making change to buy the different clothes and some times will get frustrated when adding ingredients to make the recipes, but luckily her big brother helps her with this part. It isn't difficult, but you need to be able to count things out. The recipes ask for 3 eggs, etc so all you need to do is find the group of eggs (and there is exactly the amount the recipe asks for) and drag them into the mixing bowl. This game has several different things to do in it, both fun and educational. It is also set up like a story book so you go through different pages and click on certain objects and they do funny things. The kids LOVE that!

Quality Learning and Laughing With Grandchild
My Grandchild has this marvelous game. While visiting we spent several hours playing and interacting. I was impressed with the amount of information and most of all, the fun she enjoyed while using this computer game. The characters are cute and have enough naughtiness to entertain a child. There is positive reinforcement as each level is reached. Oh, how I wish that I had been able to have the wonderful tools to use when my own children were growing up. I must add.....How important it is to have the parent's interest and interaction, as well as the toys. So very important..! gramma Char

Top-quality game
We've looked at most of the popular software for our four-year old daughter. For the most part, the selection and quality has been disappointing. "Arthur's Computer Adventure" was a welcome departure from the poorly produced Macromedia Director numbers that other companies are selling out there. The entire product was enjoyable from start to finish. The best feature is the play while you read portion of the software that allows the kids to follow-along while the book is read, then interact with the many amusing clickable areas of the pages. Captivating, well-designed, and at the top of my recommended list. ... Read more

Features

• Yu-Gi-Oh! adventure on PC with head-to-head LAN dueling
• Stand-alone or used in conjunction with previous versions
• Duel against Joey to collect 450+ additional cards
• Tutorial mode teaches advanced strategy and techniques
• Trading card art faithfully reproduced; 3 exclusive cards included

Reviews (7)

You can play this game online.
The previous reviwer (cavie95) said you cant play this game online as its only LAN based. Whilte it's true that you cannot play online with the game straight out of the box, you can use a 3rd party tool called 'Battle'LAN' you can play this game online sucessully. This tool is designed just for this purpose, to bring LAN games to the net... this method has been used for a long time - which is why people are saying just saying its online. You can find Battle.LAN here : http://www.infoceptor.com/files/war3/battlelan.zip

To make it work you simply...

- Give each other you're IP addresses.
- Enter each others IP address into battlelan, click the 'ADD' button and then 'START'
- Launch into joey the passion, one selects to act as host & other joins..
- Have fun!

Onto the actual game, one boosts the total number of cards to 771 (it add's 350) - Providing you own the first two games (Yugi The Destiny and Kaib the revenge). This has a LOT more options than prevous PoC titles, forbidden card lists, power over the cards joey has access too (his own or all of them) and Joeys skill level increases the more you duel him - you can also redo the WON CARDS screen to get a new card, so you never have to duel for hours to get those elusive cards again. The AI is some of the best yet, he uses Quick-Play magic cards, acts a lot more 'human' than previous titles (and even GBA titles).

Highley Recommended to any Yu-Gi-Oh fan that wants to take the fight online.

This is the best POC game out, and probably the best dueling experience available on all the platforms. GBA titles move over - Yugioh is coming to the net!

Online play? Not really...
Don't be fooled with what you've read guys, this game only supports LAN play - direct connection of two pc's. This is NOT 'online' play. This is network play only. Make sure you understand the difference before you purchase this game, hoping you can play friends from around the world. You can't!

Otherwise, great game. Joey is definitely harder to beat than Yugi or Kaiba, even if you have all the previous cards in hand.

Cool Game
Well it is a nice game if you really like yugioh.Able to play in the internet was a great idea as everyone would like to play with their friends.I would recommend this game with the other yugioh games

A Good YGO game
Joey the Passion is the 3rd installment in the Power of Chaos games. It has over 700 cards, including the cards in the previous games. Although you can only play against one person (Joey Wheeler), it is a very good game. One thing I don't get is this: why is Joey made the last person to go against? You'd think it would be Yugi as the last person, but oh well. In this game, you can play online against others. Also, if you play the actual TCG, the promos will be a bonus goodie, or at least the magic-arm shield trap card.

Overall, I would give it a 4/5 for internet playability, 700+ cards, okay promos. The only bad thing is that you only go against Joey, which isn't very bad, since he changes his deck when you do.

great game
now that you can play this game head to head it will be great.
i have the one before this one and was fun but playing the computer gets old. now they need to make it where you take turns playing all the guys in the show instead of just one over and over. but now that you can play it on lan thats a vary big plus... :-)

by the way... this one is vary funny to play.
youll see! ... Read more

Features

• Solve real-world math challenges to make uniquely entertaining stores successful again
• 15 math activities and 10 math missions; 3 complete grades of math
• Arcade with 7 games to play; earn money to open your own arcade
• 3 levels of play automatically adjust according to your child¿s progress
• Automated personal education tutor; progress report

Reviews (2)

Great software
I bought this for my 8-year-old to spend more time practicing math. My son likes math and he likes playing this software. He asks to play it rather than needing to be prodded, as he was with the Math & Science Excelerator I bought for the same purpose. Even the neighborhood kids come to play it with him. I would also recommend it for kids having trouble with math as it puts the concepts into visual perspective, rather than just repeating equations.

Fantastic math software
Our family loves this program! It has a lot of content, bright graphics, and even a simulation game when kids do enough activities, which means they can open up their own arcade, buy games for the arcade, and manage it. This software has tons of activities that are all quite good. In terms of education, there are so many math concepts that the program explores. Very kid friendly software. A+ all the way. ... Read more

Features

• Unique cartoon-style learning adventuresfor kids ages 5 and up
• 27 fun and interesting locations to explore
• Story elements change each time kids play the game
• Adventure encourages critical thinking and creative problem-solving
• For 1 player

Reviews (25)

Game Play Good. Technically Poor.
Pajama Sam is back! I bought this after reading most of the reviews below. I have to say is that they are mostly all true. Technically this game is in beta but the game play is still good if you can close your eyes to the technical snafus. The voice sync is awful, the game runs slowly (this is inexcusable with at animated cartoon type game) and it takes a minimum of 160MB on the hard drive. If Humongous could make their early DOS games run well why can't Atari do the same with game on toady's faster computers? Sounds like they wanted to get this thing out for the Christmas season. The voice does sound different. Weather it's the same kid but older or a different kid is difficult to tell but they game does lose something because of it.

On the plus side the game is still fun to play. Pajama Sam is still the cleaver, mischievous kid as he's always been. Although I wish Atari didn't have a hand in this (their quality standards seem to be a lot lower that Humongous' standards) I'm glad we have another Pajama Sam game. Hopefully a patch will be issued for this game and that will bring this game back up to Humongous' standards for the technical issues.

kids in tears
I bought the new Pyjama Sam game without hesitation because the other Humungous games are GREAT. But this stinker was slow and froze our computer within five minutes. The game is unplayable. My son is crying and I am so angry that I spent $20.00 on this. It was his brithday present!!! And I can't return it since the box is opened. Don't buy this!!!

Technically poor
I, too, wish I had read the Amazon reviews before I purchased this for my son. The game is so-o-o-o slow, when Sam moves from scene to scene. The dialog is out of sync with the pictures. And the biggest drawback is that there is really only one game. The Shoe, Shirt and Socks are always in the same place and need the same things in order for Sam to retrieve them. The other games had variations to challenge our 4 year olds. I wish that I had never bought it.

Pajama Sam: LIfe Is Rough When You Lose Your Stuff
Every year my children and I await for the new Freddi Fish or Pajama Sam game to be released. Usually, it's a few years wait. I have to say that I am utterly disappointed in the latest release of Pajama Sam. Humongous has such a great following with their line of children's software. How did this product ever get passed the testing group? Perhaps a big company like Atari doesn't have one??? Hard to believe. (...) I hate to see this series end. I wished I had read the reviews before I bought this. It's so bad, Atari should have a recall.

It's Rough Cause I Lost My Stuff...er Money!
I'm disappointed with this fourth Pajama Sam. My six year old son and I loved the first three titles of Pajama Sam. So when he wanted the "It's Rough When You Lose Your Stuff" one, I said, "sure". There were no arguements from me, the previously satisfied customer.

He wanted me to hurry up with my shopping, so he could get home and start playing the CD. I helped him install the game, and we sat back to enjoy our favorite animated character.

The first thing I noticed was that Sam's voice sounded different. Also, his mouth did not match with the dialogue. It looked like a Japanese karate movie that had been redubbed with English words. How could the producers have missed that?

Secondly, the ESC keep did not work to help you zoom through the scenes on your way around the map to find the missing objects. (It does on the first three versions. Call me spoiled? But why do away with a great feature? Sam does a lot of running around). So, we waited as he walked from this path to that path...waited...waited and waited....

Thirdly, the game lags! I thought my new computer (purchased this year, mind you) was messing up. How could it lag? This is not a multiplayer game on the internet for crying out loud. It's as if the professional people turned this product over for elementary school children to produce. It's that far down quality wise from the first three.

I'm disappointed and disgusted. I wish I had read the earlier Amazon reviews, but I TRUSTED the quality of Humongous Entertainment and didn't dream of reading the feedback. I learned my lesson. No more buying of any software without listening to those who've already been suckered or thrilled.

Listen--if you want to buy quality fun games for your kids, go with Pajama Sam 1-3. Leave number 4 in the store. Believe me, it's Rough When You Lose Your Money.

Thanks.

PS. I did like one thing, the sock song. That's it...:( ... Read more

Features

• Intense superhero action/adventure gameplay
• Help save the world; game based on the movie's storyline
• Powers include super strength, speed, elasticity, and invisibility
• Live the film's action, adventure, and humor over 18 levels
• for one player

Amazon.com Review

Nancy Drew has always been a great heroine, but she seemed kind of, well... stuffy. No more: Nancy gets down to the dirty work of crime solving in the excellent and engaging Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger. As you might imagine, we see a lot of software, but Danger captivated us, holding us long enough to postpone other reviews while we searched for more clues!

In the game, Nancy's job is to investigate death threats coming to Rick Arlen, a hunky TV soap star. The plot is straightforward enough, and here's what the software really does well: ambiance. The first-person perspective puts you in the center of the crime scenes, and the inventive game design lets you pick up objects for investigation and keep notes on things you've found.

Occasionally, you come across another person, and it can often be surprising. In the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books, you're given various questions to ask, and what you choose alters the outcome of what you learn. The people seem a little stiff in conversation (and, to be honest, in the graphics), but in a strange way, it helps increase the creepiness factor--an uptight verbal response makes sense, considering they're being interviewed about a serious crime.

There's a real rush that comes from finding key elements and extracting just the right piece of information from an unwitting witness. Nancy Drew, first created as a female version of the Hardy Boys in 1929, has weathered fashion and tastes well through the work of HerInteractive. For girls too old for "kids' stuff" but who still want a game that's all theirs, Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger can help fulfill a teen or preteen's need for adventure. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (473)

The Hardest One Yet!
This mystery is the hardest Nancy Drew game I've encountered so far! It's only the 2nd one of all 5! The graphics are much better than the 1st but still doesn't compare against the others. The mystery had had me stumped! I had to go to the official site for help from people, who already finished it, a billion times! Still, a hard challenge is good right?
The story-Nancy Drew is called up again for yet another dangerous mystery by a famous soap opera star, Mattie Benson. Nancy gets to go around New York City! She stays in Mattie's apartment for the use of the phone, mail, and other clues. As she travels around from Mattie's apartment to the studio and other places, she bumps into new people such as Mattie, the friendly but very worried soap opera star, Rick, the extremely big headed soap opera heart throb, Lillian, the super mean director, Millie, the old nutty prop room lady, and Dwayne, the acting agent. As Nancy slowly tries to crack the case, she bumps into more trouble than she thought...

Nancy Drew- STFD, by HerInteractive
This game is one of my favorites. I've played this one at least 5 times and I still love it. This game was the third one I bought of the series. I now own all five of the games. This game had much better graphics than "Secrets Can Kill", in which the characters were more cartoon-like, and stopped mid-sentence and froze. This one had a much better plot and I enjoyed playing it much more than the first one. In this game, you would get to travel to three different locations in the city and explore, sneak and snoop, which made it all the more fun. I'm extremely happy that I purchased this game, and i hope that whoever decides to purchase Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned For Danger, has as much fun as I had!

Stay Tuned For Danger
This game was so much fun! In Nancy's second mystery, she is in New York visiting a family friend who is also a star on the famous TV show Light of Our Love. Her co-star is receiving threatening letters and you, as Nancy Drew, must figure out who the culprit is. I thought this game was so neat. I love the original music that this game has, as well as each other game in the series. It's catchy, neat, and sometimes creepy! I hope you like this game as much as I did.

:::STAY TUNED FOR FUN:::::
i just love this game!!! its graphics are good, the plot is good, everythings good! the story goes:

nancy drew is visiting a friend of her aunts, mattie jensen, in new york, and in the beggining it seems calm and peaceful, yet a bit creepy at times, but exiting as you meet the stars and see how a tv studio looks! but soon, fun turns to terrible danger! a lot of exiting stuff happens, and if you thought this game would be easy, well, you've got that wrong! all and all, a great game for anyone over eight(though i got one when i was like six or seven)! A+++++++

full of danger
This game is not the best in the series (my favorites are Danger on desepiton island and message in a haunted mansion) but it comes close. Its hard but fun and you cant stop in the middle. One of my favorite parts was the bomb part. I also like how there are so many people to talk to and so many places to explore. The prop room has lots of neat stuff. Buy this game!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Suprisingly Fun
I found this game at Target and the graphics looked good and the overall plot amusing so i bought it. The mini games are well worth the money-some actually took me a fair amount of time to complete. This is an ideal game for girls from ages 6-11. Bt i'm an older teen and i still enjoyed it! The only complaint i have with this game is that it took me very little time to complete the game( but you can always go back and change some of the aspects of your wedding or start over).

Planning a wedding was never so much fun!
This is a fun and engaging program with an amazing amount of activities and mini-games that are all wedding related.Most of the stuff you have to do for a real wedding is here, but of course, a lot more fun.I'll try to explain.

You begin by choosing a bride, brides maids, and a venue for the wedding, then you play this hilarious elimination game to choose a groom, and then choose his grooms men.If you want to skip this part you can have your mother choose all this for you. You then find yourself in the mall, where you can design your dress, choose your shoes, your jewelry, design your ring, design the brides maid dresses, choose formalwear for the men, get your hair done, choose your make-up, choose your music, design your cake and your bouquet, and even make a poem to read at the ceremony.You win more choices for these activities by playing six mini-games in the mall. Most of these are quite fun, my favorite being the dice game, which is a shower game where you exchange gifts.Each game has three levels, giving you more design choices each time you win. Once all these things are done, you can decorate the scene of the wedding and get married.On every screen throughout the entire game is a camera for taking photos for the wedding album which you also get to design and decorate.

The interface is fairly straight-forward and easy to use, no instructions needed. Although the graphics are 2D, they are nicely done with lots pretty colors.The repetive narration can get annoying but it is minimal and the music is awesome.There are tons of things to do and the replay value is high.Another nice feature is that you can completely install this to your hard drive and run it without the cd.

Overall, this is a fun and creative activity program that would be a big hit with girls ages 6-12.But hey, I'm a grown-up and I love it.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

6 year old is fascinated by this program!
Our six-year-old and his four-year-old brother have spent hours with this program. They love creating their own contraptions. We often hear them laughing with glee about the funny chain of events that they have created. The program looked complicated at first, but it has a very good set of tutorial challenges which teach you about how the various components work (gears, lazers, mandrils on conveyor belts, vials of nitroglycerine, etc.). Our six-year-old is now able to solve most of these challenges without any adult help. Not every child will enjoy this program, but if you have a youngster who is intrigued by technology and how things work, give this program a try. You may be surprised about how much they can learn from it at a young age.

A Delightful Brain Teaser
With me being a fan of Sierra and the original DOS version of The Incredible Machine, I had to get this one. I was not disappointed. With many new gadgets, better graphics, and fun animations, I was as pleased with this version as I was with the original. There are tons of puzzles to keep your brain working well into the night - and beyond! Puzzle fans will really like this game.

The Best game ever
The game is one of the best game that has been ever made. The goal of the game is to build machines. A'm sure ypu will love this game ... Read more