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LeapFrog Leapster L-Max
by sparkymarky1973
Recently when we were considering buying a Nintendo D.S for my daughter, my wife happened across this alternative hand-held console instead, which helps to promote learning through play, and was quickly convinced that this was the better option of the two. At Five, my daughter is probably a little young for a D.S at any rate and the idea ... that this might advance her learning whilst allowing her to have fun at the same time sounded like a winning combination!
The console itself is much more hardy and robust than the D.S, with cushioned edges to help protect it should it get dropped by clumsy hands, and comes with several games and activities already loaded in. Separate games available in cartridge form can also be bought ~ many of which feature popular Disney characters such as Rapunzel, Meridan from Brave and the penguins from Madagascar ~ and these are very reasonably priced as well and not too expensive to purchase. Another thing that is good about this console is that although it is the Leapster L-Max, older Leapster games from the Explorer version also work on it as well, extending the range of games available.
The games are very good and clever in design. The Penguins from Madagascar game that my daughter enjoys playing most is essentially a platform game in the style of Mario or Sonic; the idea being to collect items such as popcorn etc.... But, at the end of each level, and at certain sections of the game, there are puzzles to complete which require knowledge of addition, subtraction and numbers etc. In one of these puzzles, for example, your child needs to put the right number of sweets in a bowl to reach a specified total. These sweets are contained in bags depicting how many are inside so your child has to work out which bags to add to the bowl to reach the right number and thus be able to proceed in the game.
Another game she has is called Mr.Pencil and requires your child to draw items and trace shapes to help complete a story and also provides a whole art studio for them to create their own works of art. A handy stylus attached to the console is especially useful for this game and especially designed for smaller fingers to grasp and use easily.
Other features of this console include being able to connect it to your T.V, allowing you to better watch what your child is doing and if you want to check their progress, there is a feature on here to allow you to monitor your child's progress and see just what they have achieved. The best about all this by far though is that whilst your child is learning, they don't even realise it - they just think they are playing games!
Sometimes when I try to encourage my daughter to sit down and learn letters, she can get frustrated but there are several games on here that allow her to spell words out, thus increasing her reading ability without her even realising.
You can buy this from as little as £18 on Amazon and used and from £30 new on Ebay. Games can cost as little as £12-15 depending where you buy. So you can see, it is cheaper than a D.S too as well as being better for your childs learning and lots of fun! The console does take four AA batteries but you can also buy an AC charger that will charge the console if you don't want to fork out on lots of batteries!
For me, I really think this console is a winner and can fully recommend it!
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Hasbro Bop It Smash
by MikeBorry
~*~*~ Hasbro Bop It! Smash ~*~*~
~ What is it? ~
This is a take on the original Bob It! Toy that has been around for years. This one is different in that you are simply required only to smash it!
This basically looks like a dumbbell and has a button on each outside end, in the middle are a succession of ... lights and the aim is to smash the ends when the light is in the middle, the lights are different colours with the first three lighting up orange, the first one in the centre circle lights up green, the large middle light is blue, then it goes back to green and then the orange again.
The aim of the game is to smash the ends when the blue light is one for the maximum 5 points, miss this and you have the chance to hit the green for 1 point but the orange will cause you to loose a life. You get three lives, but you can get the lives back when lost by hitting the blue light.
~ Frustratingly Addictive ~
Oh my, this is frustrating but it is also addictive which makes it all the more frustrating. You really need to hit the middle light each time in order to gain the highest score but of course this isn't always possible and can get really irritating. There has been times where I have been going really well with this only to hit a green light and get the 1 point, I then feel the need to start over ... Grrr!
~ Why did I buy it? ~
My son really wanted this for Christmas last year and it was something that I completely overlooked, thankfully my mum didn't so she bought this for him! Lucky boy!
~ Price & Availability ~
This is quite widely available. I have had a quick look online and can see that it can be bought at -
Toys R Us
Amazon
Argos
Tesco
Asda
Just to name a few, it is roughly priced at approx £20 or under.
~ Packaging & Quality ~
This Bop It! Smash came packaged in a mainly open black cardboard container. I can't comment on how easy it was to take out of the packaging, however my 11 year old managed to get it out in under five minutes, and that included taking the box out to the kitchen too!
The quality of the item is really good, despite it being a plastic item, the plastic used it nice and strong, the lights are all white on the item when not in use and the colours show through the plastic brilliantly. The colours of out Bop It! Smash are white, blue and black, but it is also available in black and blue.
My little one has gotten his hands on this a few times and despite him dropping it or throwing it in excitement it hasn't suffered adversely to it, there are no marks on it at all.
Being plastic it is also easy enough to wipe clean.
~ Usability ~
Despite it only doing this, and having no other implements to flick, ding, squish etc. this is actually something that gets used everyday. It does belong to my eldest son but his 9 year old brother also likes to have a go and so do us adults, my little one just like to make a grab for it and run, he likes to see the flashing lights and he is happy with just that!
~ Easy or Hard ~
Both really, it is easy to get the hang of what you are supposed to do with it, you simply have to follow the colours and smash the ends to hit the centre, it follows patterns and some are easy enough to do, however if it was to go on like that then it would be no fun, so the patterns and speed get harder and faster, you just have to try and keep up with it to get the highest score. Not so easy!
~ Solo fun or multi-player ~
This has three intense games. You can play solo, pass-it, or multi-player. Unfortunately I have only ever played on solo but my children do sometimes play the others.
With solo play I just try to beat my score each time.
~ Overall ~
This has been a well used toy in our house, my eldest son really likes it and keeps a note of his scores in a notepad. Despite being thrown about my my youngest son it still works perfectly well and still looks like new.
When my brother pops up to visit he will sit here the whole time with this in his hands which makes me think that it is the Bop It! Smash he is coming to see and not us! My son and his uncle do get quite competitive and always try to outdo each other and can sometimes result in a little distraction tactic foul play.
If you enjoy frustrating games then this would be perfect for you!
* For ages 8 years and over
* Requires 3 x AAA Batteries.
Thanks for reading :o) x
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Character Options Zhu Zhu Kung Zhu Battle Cold Space
by spiritwood
Since the frighteningly named "Preziosi Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Jilly" gatecrashed my home and took up residence about the person of my rather excitable young daughter, I have unfortunately added several more to the collection. Glutton for punishment some might say but my daughter is thrilled. Now instead of having one of the damn ... things to contend with I now suffer FIVE of them. The latest one to grace my house is "Kung Zhu Battle Hamster Cold Space".
These darn toys are very annoying when solo with their chirps, squeaks and random scuttling but with five I am afraid that we have a small riot on our hands. These things have some form of intelligence it seems and actually COMMUNICATE with each other, cheeping in some secret ninja hamster code and plotting nefariously about the house. They lurk surreptitiously only to shoot across the floor and attempt to kill you by breaking your neck as you fall over them. All of this of course is accompanied by the terrified scratching of cats trying to find a safe spot away from the furry toys of doom, and the maniacal giggling of a small child as she watches you suppress a very rude word for the 15th time that morning.
Welcome to the world of the Zhu Zhu hamster.
Zhu Zhu hamsters are an interactive toy which randomly scoot about in a manic fashion via little motorised wheels on their base. They are also equipped with a range of equally irritating noises which range from the high squeak to what sounds like a very badly recorded short sample of Aqua singing that God awful song "Barbie girl".
They come packaged in a flimsy card casing with instructions and the batteries are included. Each of these hamsters have a name and colour which range from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Daughter (nearly 4) chose this one for its "hair" which I admit does like somewhat like a mohican ( think Sique Sique Sputnik in hamster form).
The toys work best on a flat and smooth surface (we have a tiled ground floor which encourages them to be annoying to their full capacity). The instructions warn that fluff or hair in the wheels will hinder movement so carpets and rugs are probably not the best place to play with these. They also find it hard to cope with changes in floor level and twitch rather pathetically when they reach this. On a nice flat surface however, these things are quite nippy and scuttle efficiently across the floor.
We have wised up a bit since "Preziosi Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Jilly" met my German Shepherds mouth (and survived) and keep these out of the way now. However the dog vs hamster incident does show that these toys are sturdy and relatively hard wearing.
All of the ones that we have are much of a muchness in terms of construction and have a soft fur which covers a plastic skeleton. There is a motor to drive the little wheels that make it scoot about and several buttons that can be pressed to enable it make a range of noises and sounds. The movement button is the lower one on the back, there is one above this and the nose is also a button for interactive fun.
The size of this toy is slightly larger than a real life hamster and perfect for small children from 3 plus as it is easy for them to hold and handle. The eyes and ears etc are sturdy and well attached.
"Kung Zhu Battle Hamster Cold Space" is obviously quite hardcore with his funky punky hair and grey fur but I have yet to see him do anything other than get under my feet or chatter enthusiastically to his fellow Zhu's. Child loves him of course and wants more...
Zhu Zhu hamsters vary in colour and type and there are a myriad of plastic accessories to waste your money on such as interactive fun houses and hamster balls. Luckily my daughter does not know about those and if I have my way nor will she. EVER.
GOOD POINTS:
Interactive and amusing
Unpredictable movement and random sounds
Sturdy and reasonably well built
Come in a variety of colours with silly names
The toys interact with each other when there is more than one
Accessories to buy which enhance play
BAD POINTS:
Rather ridiculous, annoying, noisy and skittish
Need to replace batteries.
Lots of plastic tat available to buy
Price varies, we paid £6.99 including postage.
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