As all of you (who regularly read this blog) know, we are a gaming family (in moderation). As such, we’re often sent a variety of games to review. Here are my top two recent picks.
-Bonsai Barber
First of all, this is a WiiWare game. That in itself excites my guys. (You simply download it from the Internet to your Wii – there’s no need to go to the store/wait for it to be delivered.) Anyway, this is a cute little game. I like the following:
-You can play it together as a family (up to four people can play at once).
-It’s simple. The game is about a barber who gives five haircuts a day to a village of bonsai trees. The hair of the trees is bonsai leaves, while the bodies are colorful fruits and vegetables that are full of personality. It teaches young players about shapes and vegetables as well as helps them to work on their hand-eye coordination – all in an easy, fun way.
-It rewards players for doing a good job. I think that is an especially important lesson for kids to learn. As the barber, the player’s job is to use their tools (scissors, clippers, etc.) to fulfill customer requests. They also get a chance to be creative and come up with new styles. If the player does something wrong like missing an appointment, the “clients” write about it on the Wii Message Board. On the other hand, if the players do a good, they get rewarded with things like gifts and postcards.
Excitebots: Trick Racing
This racing game was Michael’s favorite of the month. He’s really good at it. I’m not. He usually comes in first or second place while I’m happy if I complete the races in the allotted time! I like the following:
-The robotic insect and animal racers are cool looking. (It’s also teaches younger players about colors, because they get to customize them.)
-That it is progressive. First, you have to master each basic skill (i.e. racing, jumping, etc.) needed for the game. Once you do that, one racing game level is opened. New levels are constantly being opened as you master each race/gain stars.
-It’s simple and complex at the same time. The controls are easy to use, but the various challenges within each race keeps you on your toes. Stunts, style and speed are all factored into the game. (That’s why my son was so good at it and I was so…not.).
-There’s a lot going on. My son has the habit of playing, playing, and playing with a game and then getting bored because he’s mastered everything in it. That’s not so simple to do that with this game. There’s a lot of variation (i.e. aspects of soccer, bowling, darts, etc.) that keeps the game fresh and exciting time after time.
