Game Reviews

My daughter got a Leapster for Christmas along with the Dora cartridge....she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. We have never had any problems with it and just changed the batteries for the 1st time at 7 months. We got her this kindergarden cartridge for her 4th B-day in May. It is amazing what she has learned!!!!!! We also just purchased The Letter Factory cartridge for our last trip....it has taught her all her letter phonics...and in such a short time!!!!!! Thank you Leapster for such an awesome educational toy!!!!!

This one is AWESOME and teaches so much~ I can't believe how much my little boy has learned. This one is his favorite by far~most like a video gane but 100% educational. Thanks Leap Frog for such great products!

My son is newly 5 years old. I first purchased the Leap Pad quite some time ago and it seems, even to this day, he's too young for it or he just gets bored of it quickly. I purchased the Leapster for Christmas and he LOVES it. On his birthday, I gave him the kindergarten software. (He will be going into Kingergarten this coming September). Its his FAVORITE one to date. Its like owning a video game, only EDUCATIONAL. He plays with it CONSTANTLY while learning his letters, numbers and even how to spell small words. I can't rave about it enough.

The folks at UNO had a contest and asked fans of UNO (original), "How do YOU improve [UNO]?" Then they reviews the submissions and chose three favorites. The result is UNO: House Rules. Just in case you feel that YOUR idea is better than the ones that come with this pack, there is a blank instruction card where you can add your own rules.

Other than three new ways to play, UNO: House Rules offers up the same family fun that you'd expect from UNO Original. There is nothing that differentiates these cards from the Original pack - only the addition of the 3 new sets of instructions (note: for new players who are unfamiliar with the game, there are also instructions on how to play the Original).

This game is a perennial favorite in our house. The games are short in length, easy to play, don't depend on skill, and you can take this game anywhere. There are no small pieces for kids to choke on, and if you happen to lose a card or two, you can pretty much get away with it. For 2-10 players (but more if you have multiple decks - just make sure they have different backs!) of any age.

My 6 year old son has just discovered Uno! And he loves it! His request every night after dinner is "Can we play Uno?". Even my 4 year old son has caught onto the rules. You just need to know how to match colors and numbers. Adding up his cards and keeping score for the whole family, gives my son practice with his math skills. But it is so fun he doesn't even realize he is learning addition. I enjoy turning off the TV and gathering the family together for good old-fashioned fun. Uno has turned into one of my favorite gifts - it's terrific for any age!

Oh no!!! Draw Four Wild?!! And I lose my turn?!! Sometime life throws you a curve and you have to adjust. The same is true in Uno. Take those four cards and win the game with them. Uno is the classic card game that doesn't use regular cards. Sure, you could almost play Uno with a regular deck, but what would you do without the "Reverse," "Skip," "Draw Two," and the wild cards? Everyone loves Uno, and its educational! When they start playing, they'll be yelling "uno" when they have one card left, and in no time they'll be speaking Spanish fluently!

I've had this game for a few years now and totally enjoy playing it with my wife. When my relatives from abroad came to stay with us, they too fell in love with this game. I thought I'd buy them the 'jumbo' version of this game, but I wish I had bought the deluxe version instead. Here's why: There are 3 versions of this game (normal, deluxe and jumbo). They're all the same in terms of how the game is played. But the biggest difference is the size of the mat and how it's packed in the box. The size of the deluxe mat is quite ideal - maybe the jumbo size is nice for big groups. BUT, the deluxe is the ONLY version of this game where the mat can actually be ROLLED and packed into the box. For the other two versions, you have to FOLD the mat and put it in the box. And that makes a big difference since folding tends to crease the mat. My relatives (who are now abroad) tell me that they roll up their jumbo mat and store it outside the box - that's no good, but they still enjoy the game of course!
In terms of the game itself, it's quite simple. Just make one or two sequences (depending on the number of players) - corners are wild, two-eyed jacks are wild, one-eyed jacks can remove an opponent's coin. As for the number of players, any multiple of 2 or 3 can play the game - so you can have 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 12 players.
To summarize, the game is lots of fun and quite relaxing in that you don't have to think too much. And if you are going to buy a version of this game, I highly recommend the deluxe version because you can roll the mat into the box - something you can't do with the other versions.
P.S. I just realized that there's also a kid's version of this game. We actually bought that as well to keep the little folks occupied while the adults played the adult version! The kid's version is nice (the mat is actually a board - so folding is not a problem there). But the number of squares is few and if you have more than 2 kids (or adults!) playing, you could easily get into a stalemate. Just thought I'd mention that since I was comparing different versions of this game.

This is an awesome game. Very fun to play and easy to understand. Does take strategy along with good luck. Excellent for young and old.
Highly recommend this game!! Worth spending more for the Deluxe Edition.

This is a great game that doesn't take too long to learn. It's similar to bingo only with cards and lots more stratery and not just a game of chance. Many combinations of people can play, 2,3,4,6 work best, we played with 9 once. The deluxe board is nicer than the card board folding model. Go for it and laugh and have fun!!!

Awesome game but dont know to get it or the 2001 ,2000 version

not many changes done so.....

This game is very, very up-to-date. They have the Rams and the Titans as the best teams. The graphics aren't the best but the game play is very good. You are in control of the game 100% no questions asked. You call the plays and there is 3 pages of plays to choose from. This game also has the season and tournament options. The game also has mini-party games. There are many to choose from. They're awesome if you're alone or if you're at a sleepover with a 100 friends. Definetly worth buying. I paid lots for mine!

It is great. I like this better than the regular football games.

This is the best game!! My husband and I have as much fun as the children when we play. My son, who is an early reader, could play this at an earlier age than that recommended on the box. When only three of us want to play, we use a stuffed animal for the fourth player; the children think it's a riot to see the answers the animal "gives." (We select a card from the animal's five choices without looking at it, and the children think it's so funny when, for example, the animal chooses "cotton candy" as something that is scary. This game is one of those games that is both educational and REALLY fun to play. I HIGHLY recommend that you buy this game. We have all three versions! (There are two children's versions - one for younger and one for older children, and an adult's version.)

I am a counselor in an elementary school and for some reason, although it's quite simple compared to boring board games, the children love playing this game. They learn words while using their creativity and then have to articulate their arguments for why their word is best! It can be played in large groups, teams or one on one. Being the judge can give children a chance to be a leader and one showing wisdom, so it builds self-esteem, too. Highly recommend this!

I would highly recommend this game! Both my 4 year old (she needs a little help since she can't read yet) and my 8 year old love it. It encourages reading, vocabulary development and critical thinking, and it is VERY fun. Can't wait to try the versions for older kids!

Duelmasters is a ripoff because it is not orignal I mean seriously it takes shields from pokemon a.k.a [prizes] Attack values and combat system from Yu-gi-oh! And mana fro Magic: The gathering it just rips off every card game out there. I don't now what you see in this if you really want to play a good Trading card game try Magic The gathering or Marvel Vs.

Duel Masters is a great game. It combines good elements of all the other card games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon, but has all sorts of innovative new rules. The shield idea is especially good because you don't have to keep track of life points. The games are fairly quick, so you can play it when you only have a little bit of time. The best thing about this game, however, it that there are no superpowerful instant-win cards. Any decent deck has a chance of beating any other deck. Buy this if you enjoy TCG games.

i just got a booster pack to check it out but this game easily kicks Yugioh's but. This technical game is the perfect cross between magic and yugioh i must say this is the best card game

I bought this game for my 5 yr old. She loves it and is challenged by the game. Even some of her older cousins enjoyed playing with it over the holidays.

We bought this toy for our 3.5 year old son, because he really loved it when he saw it in the store. He's been at it all the time after he got it and needed only minimal instructions to start playing. We really appreciated the fact that the difficulty levels were so appropriately designed. My son simply moved from one level to another with great enthusiasm and would never quit playing the game on his own.

We bought this for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas and everyone enjoyed it! I was amazed how well she did moving through the easy to more advanced levels. Her enthusiasm was contagious and everyone began trying to do the puzzles. My daughter felt a strong sense of accomplishment when she actually did better than many of the adults! It is a durable, compact, challenging puzzle that is so enjoyable that you will get hooked! In fact, I am looking for additional cards to continue the fun!
This is definitely a 5 star game that has educational value and is also appealing to kids.

This game is stealing all my sleep! As a fan of Civ and Civ2, I should have expected this... Alpha Centauri's improvements have added many new dimensions to the game. One of my favorites is the modular style of unit design. In the past games, new technologiess simply allowed you to build a new type of unit. Now they give you the ability to create a new type of chassis, weaponry, abilities, etc. that you can use to design your own units. Your engineers give suggestions, but you can customize to your heart's content.

In addition, the interface with other factions feels much more real. Part of the screen scrolls through pictures from the other leader's life, making you feel like this is a real person with a history.

But probably the most outstanding feature is the overall thought that went into creating the technology tree. Most of these are futuristic (or state-of-the-art) technologies so there is impressive blend of logic and imagination here. (e.g: Non-linear Mathematics, Machine-Mind Interface, and Homo Superior just to name a few.) Anyone familiar with mathematics, physics, or philosophy will find their interests stimulated greatly by this game.

I've been playing Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri since the week it was released. When the expansion pack, Alien Crossfire, was released, I bought that right away as well. That was some time ago. I'm still playing it. Regularly. About the only other game I have ever owned with this kind of addictive play is SimCity 2000 (SimCity 3000 is graphically lovely but not nearly as absorbing). With all of the factions, random maps, difficulty levels, customizable units, etc, gameplay is surprisingly different every time. Mixing and matching the factions is fascinating. Perhaps the best feature of the game is that it forces you to think strategically as well as tactically - you literally have to think 20 to 50 turns ahead of the game all the time. Really a wonderful piece of work; I cannot recommend it more highly. And now I think I'll sign off and boot it up...

For making such a freakingly addictive game. I had to delete it from my computer I was playing it too much! As far as gameplay, there are so many different avenues to take--diplomatic, war mongering, economic, a little of everything--that it's replayability is beyond rapproach. You can create new factions, import those created by gamers on the internet, and this only adds to the games consistency.

What sets this game apart from its Civilization-like competitors, is the morbid science fiction backdrop that is as attractive as some of the better science fiction novels (although it definitely has a space opera bent to it). This is a nuanced futuristic society that subtely brings in many of the upcoming issues of tommorrow - genetic modification, cybernetic humans, quantum gravity. The characters reflect the tension and problems of tommorrow's science, and the various philosophical reactions humanity can have to it.

An awesome game, well worth the money. I wish Firaxis would develop this line further...

I've got 10 thumbs and have trouble putting together 3 piece puzzles. That said, I had a bit of a problem getting the Nintendo hooked up since we have cable, a VCR and theatre surround sound coming out of our TV. I had to buy a special something to hook it up to where the cable hooks up. Other negatives are that you will probably want more than the Nintendo 64. Memory cards; controller cards; controllers; rumble paks; ect., ect.

Now the positive. Once it's set up with all the dodads you want, it's a really fun game. My daughter and have spent hours playing Zelda, Nascar, Fight Kings, Pokeman Snap, Donkey Kong & Mario Carts. And we've only had it a week. I've found it a terrific way to play with my teenager and her friends and let them know the old man is pretty cool sometimes. Don't tell her that I get up in the middle of the night to practice!

This is the best Donkey Kong game yet and at the best price. You get a great deal. It is like getting the game for free and it is an awesome game. With the Donkey Kong 64 bundle, you get. . .

- The jungle green Nintendo 64

- The jungle green controller

- The expansion pack

- All of the stuff needed to hook it up to your tv

- And the awesome Donkey Kong 64 game

I bought this system after a friend at work talked endlessly about how good DK64 is. Well, this combo set is the perfect way to get DK64 going really fast. It comes with the extra memory and the game so you can literally get the set and get going in no time. I had no trouble setting it up. The console's green color rocks! And the game is really fun. I have had the set for almost a year now, I play about 3 or 4 hours a week and the game continues to hold my attention. One of these days I will finish the game and have to worry about buying a second game, but I have not had that problem yet.

i've heard about this game and i just hab to say i think it is going to be awesome. just look at the great graphics and hab u seen the screenshots? they looks totally awesome. and also four players can play at the same time in an adventure. i can play wit any of my one, two, or three friends!! i'm going to get this game in my birthday and woohoo im going to be so happy.

OK, this really isn't a review; it's a run-down of things that I've found out from various sources (Gamespot, Namco, etc.). First of all, you HAVE to see the graphics. Cel-shading is used for this game, but it's the best I've ever seen for the Gamecube (Budokai 2 for PS2 has AWESOME graphics, though). Go to Gamespot for movies and such and check out how beautiful it looks; I decided to preorder the game just by going through screenshots. You should also know that the game has anime cutscenes, which look really clean.

Anyway. This game promises a lot; it promises to be upwards of 80 hours in length (just for comparison, the Wind Waker was advertised as 40 hours) thanks to its two discs. It's an RPG, but only a few will recognize the name (the Tales series was never really big here in the US). Changing the standard, turn-based RPGs, the Tales series has stood out because of its real-time battle system. It adds a lot more depth to the battle system than normally possible (sorry, Final Fantasies), and with the presence of a huge number of spells and complex combos that are available, you will actually enjoy the battles even after a month of playing. Also, the enemies are actually visible (think Earthbound), and if you get near them, you go to the battle screen and fight. The last little thing about battles is cooking; it seems that this is a complex "little" idea that lets your party members make some kind of food with a variety of ingredients. It also serves as one of the MANY side quests in the game, for there are 24 recipes in all for different types of food (you can even add your own ingredients to the recipe!).

The game's voice acting is also pretty top-notch. While the lip synching isn't that great (mouth moves in some random way) and the motions look the same when a person's talking (some characters just stick their hands out in the same way every time they're talking), but the fact that the ENTIRE script is read out to you by top-notch actors is pretty amazing.

Another, pretty unique feature of the game is that your characters are customizable to the extreme; if you use a certain type of magic (healing, etc.) a number of times, you advance in that category alone. This lets your characters develop into specialized fighting machines.

Normally, I would talk about the story now, but since the game hasn't come out yet, (...) Thanks for reading, and you better get this awesome RPG if you know what's good for you.

This game is the finest RPG ive ever seen for gamecube. the battle system rocks, and the storyline kiks. if you dont have this game, buy it now!