Games Reviews

I purchased all 3 wooden meal sets (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) from another company, and paid considerably more. The prices given here are an incredible deal for such cute, well made toys! The food fits in the tray, kind of like a puzzle, which is a really fun feature. And all the food included is SO CUTE! It's wooden which makes it cuter and more durable than a lot of those plastic food sets. I love the little cups of orange juice and milk...and the bowls of cereal (looks like Fruit Loops) and soup! The sets are so cute and have an old fashioned charm to them. I can't emphasize enough how much my kids (ages 2, 4, and 7) and I love playing with these!!! I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with these, especially at these prices! Thank you, Melissa and Doug, for such a cute, fun, well made product!!!

I only see 6 build activates not 100 tools, games and activities as it is being advertised. Their statement about number of tools, games, etc. is misleading. Many activities are very limited. This is very frustrating and I feel cheated.

"Streaming video capabilities" Ahh...This is a capability, not something you can use out of the box. You need to buy some software???

"Create your own shows with cartoon creator, video creator and scene creator software" Sounds promising. I have yet to see it.

OK, I spent 10 minutes playing with this item and I am disappointment. I paid only $10 for this and I think it is now worth it. I do not intend to buy additional cartages to get those 100 activities.

It got 3 stars for durability as I can't rate this attribute after playing with it for 10 minutes.

Hardware seems promising but the included software only allows for drawing software. The software you can buy only provides for some limited functionality with cartoon viewing. No really good educational software.

I'm 11 and i think this toy seems awesome! i'm tired of video games because they cost too much and i just can't keep up. i had the old black and white pixter five years ago and i loved it! a couple years later i had the color pixter but now its lost. =( so i think this would great to have and take on long car trips! it would also be good to play with when your just bored and need something to do. i can't wait to get it!

I expected better from Mattel. This toy does not function as promised. It was impossible to put together and has NEVER worked as the directions said it would. I would not reccommend this toy to anyone.

Ok...I found this track on eBay for a ridiculously low price, so I had to splurge since my 5 year-old son is a HUGE fan of the Acceleracers series. Here are my thoughts.

Yes, it is quite involved putting it together, but I found the only hard step was the actual portal. The diagram isnt the greatest for that step, but finally figured it out and got the cars to make it "explode" the right way. Most of the track is on the motorized base, so putting it away just means separating the two launchers and the portal track. Every piece is well marked ("A1", "A2", etc.) and it matches up with markings on the base of the same symbol.

Once you get it going...yes, it is loud. It has two separate motors and the cars REALLY move fast on the inner tracks. My son actually likes to try and launch them occasionally, but usually just plays with it with the motors off. He is ecstatic about this track and hasn't stopped playing with it.

The thing does make me shake my head at times and smile...who comes up with this stuff? But the set is now coming way down in price and if you have a little fan of the Acceleracers at home, this is worth picking up.

This is a very cool and fun playset. I must comment about some of the poor reviews based on my own experience. The funny thing about the reviewers who disagree is I feel they just don't get a key hot wheels "concept"- namely there is tremendous variability in cars- performance characterstics, body shape, center of gravity etc. Certain cars work great on the track, others aren't ideal. Its just like other great sets of the past like Thundershift 500. Like all great hotwheels playsets, they encourage experimentation while developing a child's understanding of physical concepts and cause and effect. There is a recommended list of cars for the set, and it is easy to see the pattern if you just look for it... whatever. Loud? Who cares, no louder than an ipod or an office copy machine.

The launcher issue is in fact an issue, IF you don't have the wherewithal to actually figure out how the launcher works. On a hard floor, the launcher will work perfectly every time, on carpet may work, and may work intermittantly, or may not work at all. You see, there is a plastic mechanical "catch" underneath each launcher that enages the "trigger". Just put a piece of cardboard on it or push the launcher down slightly into the carpet as you pull back the rubber banded launcher. The negative reviews on this point are valid, buy they are not show stoppers. I'm not sure why Mattel put this locking mechanism in place, safety? Who knows.

Bottomline, if you are impatient and have have not internalized or are not interested in teaching the concepts of variability and experimentation, then you might be frustrated with this toy. You can always buy a "screen" toy for your child like a gameboy. For all the rest of you, enjoy!

I expected better from Mattel. This toy does not function as promised. It was impossible to put together and has NEVER worked as the directions said it would. I would not reccommend this toy to anyone.

Ok...I found this track on eBay for a ridiculously low price, so I had to splurge since my 5 year-old son is a HUGE fan of the Acceleracers series. Here are my thoughts.

Yes, it is quite involved putting it together, but I found the only hard step was the actual portal. The diagram isnt the greatest for that step, but finally figured it out and got the cars to make it "explode" the right way. Most of the track is on the motorized base, so putting it away just means separating the two launchers and the portal track. Every piece is well marked ("A1", "A2", etc.) and it matches up with markings on the base of the same symbol.

Once you get it going...yes, it is loud. It has two separate motors and the cars REALLY move fast on the inner tracks. My son actually likes to try and launch them occasionally, but usually just plays with it with the motors off. He is ecstatic about this track and hasn't stopped playing with it.

The thing does make me shake my head at times and smile...who comes up with this stuff? But the set is now coming way down in price and if you have a little fan of the Acceleracers at home, this is worth picking up.

This is a very cool and fun playset. I must comment about some of the poor reviews based on my own experience. The funny thing about the reviewers who disagree is I feel they just don't get a key hot wheels "concept"- namely there is tremendous variability in cars- performance characterstics, body shape, center of gravity etc. Certain cars work great on the track, others aren't ideal. Its just like other great sets of the past like Thundershift 500. Like all great hotwheels playsets, they encourage experimentation while developing a child's understanding of physical concepts and cause and effect. There is a recommended list of cars for the set, and it is easy to see the pattern if you just look for it... whatever. Loud? Who cares, no louder than an ipod or an office copy machine.

The launcher issue is in fact an issue, IF you don't have the wherewithal to actually figure out how the launcher works. On a hard floor, the launcher will work perfectly every time, on carpet may work, and may work intermittantly, or may not work at all. You see, there is a plastic mechanical "catch" underneath each launcher that enages the "trigger". Just put a piece of cardboard on it or push the launcher down slightly into the carpet as you pull back the rubber banded launcher. The negative reviews on this point are valid, buy they are not show stoppers. I'm not sure why Mattel put this locking mechanism in place, safety? Who knows.

Bottomline, if you are impatient and have have not internalized or are not interested in teaching the concepts of variability and experimentation, then you might be frustrated with this toy. You can always buy a "screen" toy for your child like a gameboy. For all the rest of you, enjoy!

This mobile is huge when assembled onto the crib. However, my baby girl absolutely loves it. She'll stare at it for 40+ minutes at times, which kind of defeats the purpose because it does not put her to sleep. But it's 40 minutes of FREE time for me so I'm not complaining. The mobile shuts off automatically after 20 minutes and she'll scream for another round of 20 minutes. The mobile turns counter-clockwise and each animal (monkey, lion and bunny) rotates as it slides down the tube. My baby will follow each animal from left to right as it makes its way across her vision path. She'll then turn her head to the left, ready to follow the next animal that comes down. The mobile also includes three round "soccer" balls and other flat objects (square, circle and star) that rises and falls. I don't think my daughter cares too much for these. She's more into the animals, which are brightly colored. The classical music is pleasant to hear. There is also a volume control. My only complaint is that the volume resets to loud if you turn the mobile off and then on again. If the mobile shuts off on its own and you hit one of the music buttons to turn it back on, then the volume stays at the same level it was before.

PROS:
- Visually stimulating with rotating and rising/falling movement.
- 20 minutes of nonstop music (most mobiles are 15 minutes).
- Bright colors.
- Cute animals.
- Easy to assemble.
- Hooks tightly onto crib.

CONS:
- No remote control.
- Volume resets to loud each time you turn the mobile off and on.
- You need to "pump" the volume control in order to lower the sound. You can't hold the button down. Would have been nice if there was a dial.
- Night light is too dim. With no other lights turned on in the room, baby can hardly see the animals when the night light is on.
- No feature for music only - the 3 modes (movement, lights & movement, light) include music.

Overall, I highly recommend this mobile. This is a must have. It keeps my baby happy and gives me some free time. Additional information on the mobile can be obtained from the tinylove website.

This toy is awsome! I love it. Please buy it.

OMG, this Yasmin rules!! She is soooo beautiful. Also, the reason why she is so dark is because she is tanner now, Cloe got a tan too. I love her outfit. my order is
1.Cloe
2.Yasmin
3.Leah
I hope to get her, this collection is perfect for this summer vacation. Bratz, Danny Phantom, and My Scene ROCK!!!

Even though I think this Yasmin rox , she looks like a Sasha-Her skin is way too dark to be a Yasmin.I love her dress it is soooooooo cute I also love her shoes

Ally

I bought this for my 5yo daughter. It's actually one of the better Dora games I've seen. Runs very similarly to the television show. Offers a little bit more Spanish than the show does. It's probably a tad on the 'easy' side for its age group though as my daughter didn't find it particularly difficult, but that didn't phase her interest any. It's now become one of her favorites V Smile games!

I just purchased this game for my 3-1/2 year daughter. She is a Dora fan, so she wanted to play it immediately. She sat there and played the entire game in one sitting. Basically, Dora and Boots are on an adventure to help find pieces for Tico's aircraft. Swiper makes his regular appearances as well. I had to help her understand how to do something in a couple of places, but otherwise it was right at her level. She knows her numbers and colors and she was very excited that she was able to progress. The best part about the game, in my opinion, is that your little one will be able to make jumps without any problem. The Pooh game is her other favorite (and another great game), but she needs help in making some of the jumps. In the Dora game, Dora won't fall if you keep walking when you are supposed to jump - she just leans over on his tippie toes like she is going to fall. My daughter was especially proud of the fact that she was able to jump on the swinging vines. I highly recommend this game!!

Just purchased this for my 7 year old son that has cerebral palsey- He only has use of his right hand- this cartridge is perfect- game does not allow mistakes and can play this cartridge with only one hand and not both. Since my son has use of only one hand he has trouble playing the other vsmile games- he's hooked. Is very engaging also where some of the other games fall short.

I bought this for my 5yo daughter. It's actually one of the better Dora games I've seen. Runs very similarly to the television show. Offers a little bit more Spanish than the show does. It's probably a tad on the 'easy' side for its age group though as my daughter didn't find it particularly difficult, but that didn't phase her interest any. It's now become one of her favorites V Smile games!

I just purchased this game for my 3-1/2 year daughter. She is a Dora fan, so she wanted to play it immediately. She sat there and played the entire game in one sitting. Basically, Dora and Boots are on an adventure to help find pieces for Tico's aircraft. Swiper makes his regular appearances as well. I had to help her understand how to do something in a couple of places, but otherwise it was right at her level. She knows her numbers and colors and she was very excited that she was able to progress. The best part about the game, in my opinion, is that your little one will be able to make jumps without any problem. The Pooh game is her other favorite (and another great game), but she needs help in making some of the jumps. In the Dora game, Dora won't fall if you keep walking when you are supposed to jump - she just leans over on his tippie toes like she is going to fall. My daughter was especially proud of the fact that she was able to jump on the swinging vines. I highly recommend this game!!

Just purchased this for my 7 year old son that has cerebral palsey- He only has use of his right hand- this cartridge is perfect- game does not allow mistakes and can play this cartridge with only one hand and not both. Since my son has use of only one hand he has trouble playing the other vsmile games- he's hooked. Is very engaging also where some of the other games fall short.

I had one of these as a kid. I liked it then. I like it now.

If you can remember handheld games before PSP or the gameboy this is a perfect for you. Also if your business traveler, rather than play with your blackberry try this game.

The football game is retro and very cool especially if you had one the first time around. I bought this for my uncle who is 36 and he thought it was an awesome gift. He had one when he was younger too.