Handheld Games Reviews

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!

My son is 5 and also loves his L-Max. With as much time as he spends with it, I like that he can actually learn something instead of just feed the mindless gaming habit.

As for the battery pack, according to another review I've read, you can purchase just the battery pack directly from LeapFrog. I looked on their website and didn't find it, but I'm sure if you call their customer service, they would be happy to help.

My only problem with the L-Max is that the games are so limited. My son is 5 and there are only about 4 games for his age group and even fewer as the kids get older. And for as much as you pay for the L-Max, I'd like it to last longer than 3rd or 4th grade.

Since the L-Max came with nothing and it eats batteries very quickly this was a saving grace for us. It was hard to believe that the L-max didn't even come with an a/c adaptor which we thought was a rip off. If you have an L-Max or are considering buying one the Recharging Kit is a MUST!

My oldest son was given an L-Max for Christmas and loves it. He drained the batteries in two days. (We're getting a recharger now.) His two younger brothers sit on either side of him and watch him as he plays, and once in a while he lets our four year old use it too. The games seem easy to play and actually teach kids something instead of just being a "mindless" game. We started out with two games and are now ordering more. We have not tried any of the L-Max games yet, but hope to soon. The game is also great for long trips!

We purchsed the L-Max for our son for Christmas 2005. He is in kindergarten and has enjoyed Numbers on the Loose and Letters on the Run. He just received the Sponge Bob game for his 6th birthday and really likes that. It is repetitive, but for his age, that is a good thing since they are learning about sequencing in school and I think it has helped with that. The only problem we have is that the "B" button has become jammed. Whether he has watched his older brother playing his gamecube and tries to push the buttons too fast or what, we are not sure. So far most of the games don't necessarily need the B button and we're not sure if it's worth another $100 to get him another one. It does give him a different way to review letters and numbers then just plain old practice which after a full day of kindergarten, they are not to thrilled on doing.

WE love this product for our 4 and 6 year old. We had the original leapster, but this makes it even better when they see it on the TV screen. Leapster now offers more games...they are great!

We purchased the LMax for our 4 year old for Christmas. It was an instant hit! Plus, it helped him to feel like a big boy like his older brother who enjoys other video games. Yes, the older model is cheaper, but my son loves to be able to plug it into the TV to "show off" what he knows and can accomplish. I particularly like Letters on the Loose and Numbers on the Run. I highly recommend this product. We also purchased the battery charger so we don't have to worry about dead batteries and ruining the environment.

Easy, straightforward interface (for instance, a button for each number) and navigation through cells. Easy to tell which numbers start with the puzzle and which ones you entered. Provides time-penalized hints in any cell. Pauseable and saves your game between (auto-off) power sessions. Most importantly, this device lets you make "pencil marks"! I have checked out at least a dozen products and I have yet to come across an electronic Sudoku that electronically lets me enter dots or Xs to indicate which numbers might (not) be in a cell. It makes me wonder if the people ordered to design and implement these games actually play Sudoku themselves. The closest I've seen let you enter multiple numbers in a cell and it blinks through them, which I find cumbersome and patience-trying. Sadly, this thing doesn't do electronic marks either, but their lower-cost solution involves a dry-erase pen that lets you make the marks right on the screen, on top of little numbers printed in each cell's background. Losing marks in travel is prevented by the recessed contours of the screen. Why not 5 stars? Just the fact that the marks aren't electronic, there's no backlight, and the shadows cast by the dry-erase marks can be a little disorienting. Otherwise, a well-done, fun, and addictive product!

My [...] has had a leapster(older version and lmax) for 2 years - We travel a lot with my older children and we use the leapster often. It is an incredible machine. My son at a very young age learned to recognize his alphabet - upper and lower letters, numbers, sounds, color combinations, blends and so much more. He loves to play and doesn't even realize he is learning so much. By the time he went to pre-school this past year he was a leap ahead of most kids his age. Now entering Kindergarten - he uses the games that put words together and had a sight vocab of over 30 words - maybe more. I am not boasting about my son but what Leapster has taught him. Of course school was a big infuence as well. Imagine spending hours doing something you love and it's not a video game.

Now, my [...] has the older version and is on his way.

Thanks leap frog for designing something small enough to take along easily and designed to look like my kids big kid games.
I am a big fan.
Sincerely, Michelle McGuigan

4 yr old loves it. Not as bad on batteries as previous reviews led me to believe. Have had it for 3 weeks now and we are still on original batteries.

As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to let my daughter have fun, but also be learning.
This does it! We have the older Leapster. It works with L-Max games. It is durable,teavels well, and the games actually teach something in a fun way.
They need to come up with more games though!!!
This is my first review, but love this so much, that I had to write about it! :)
By the way, it didnt work when I first opened it. Called the customer service, and THEY ANSWERED! LOL The lady brainstromed with me and we finally realized it was alittle piece of tape stuck to the prongs. But the key point is that they answered...real people. And they spent as much time as needed to work through the problem. Kudos, Leapster!!

The case is very sturdy and well made. For smaller children it
is hard to play the game in the case and when taken out, the additional game cartridges come out easily.

If you have this style leapster I highly recommend this case. It protects the leapster and carries quite a few game cartridges. Great for storage!

The leaspeter case is great, it fits the Leapter and the L-MAX pretty well.... and I love that it has a place to put extra games...plus it is the perfect size and weight for my 4 year old... she loves her new game and set up...

Thanks....

I have an iQuest. It has helped me in the fields of math, science, and social studies. It is also fun to play with.
I love my iQuest. I think every child should have one.
(I am 11)

If your child likes computer games.. this is a way to help him/her. Check to see if the text your child uses is on the program, they have quite a few.

this is agreat device for who get grades that you dont want. I think that this is good for a kid who oNly has $25 and needs another $25.

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.