Rating: Summary: Solve the Mystery, Stop the Thief, and Pick your Outfit! Review: Really really really, important stuff first - Make sure you have a 3d Video card, and uninstall the Barbie genie bottle if you have it.Now, the review. I have to admit, when the first wave of Barbie software moved into my household, I was a little worried. Doing nails and hair just aren't my thing, but I found that even a 34 year old guy can enjoy, "software for girls." So pleased was I with the Barbie Hairstyler game, that in fact it was me who purchased Secret Agent Barbie. I was not let down. The full 3-D graphics are stunning (3d video card required.) I don't just mean they look good, they have the look and feel of artistry; like a Hollywood cinematographer designed them. The soundtrack rocks. Not only is the music really really good, but it fits each scenario (hard rock for action mode, suspenseful music for stealth mode.) And not only does it fit, but it sounds great! The action mode music has a brutally distorted rythm guitar with a very smooth string or synthesiser melody. As stated, it rocks. The story is very good. I have to give the designers a lot of credit for acknowledging that girls do not want a shoot-em-up. There is absolutely no violence in this game, but there is loads of sneaking around, puzzles, chasing, and jumping. It's even exciting to watch. The game is very very playable, and after two times through the storyline I have found not one single bug (and I've looked for them.) Some games defined in virtual 3d spaces have the tendancy to have things get stuck inside of other things. Like a character acidentaly jumping over a wall into an undefined room that there is no escape from because there is no floor to land on, aka - stuck. None of that here - hats off to the designers. There are a few scenes where the camera, which usually follows a chase plane perpsective, suddenly shifts to a third person view that makes it hard to control Barbie, but this only happes two or three times. I can usually tell from the kitchen when this occurs as it is followed by, "DAD! I need help." There are some aspects of the game that are especially aimed at femininity (the player gets to pick Barbie's outfit many many times throughtout the game.) And there are some other subtle aspects that I find hillarious (All men - except Ken - have a beer gut, and Ken is at the bottom of the Barbie Secret Agent team's totem pole, if he is on the pole at all.) The box says appropriate for a six year old. Content-wise I'm sure this is true, but control wise? I don't think so. But, if you want to have some fun helping your kid protect the treasures of the world from evil, then pick it up. It's a great game.
Rating: Summary: Overall, one of the better Barbie games. Review: The graphics in this game are adorable. The Barbie Pet Rescue Center looks like a very homey animal hospital. It is very modern...she has a computer for storing the animals' records and getting new missions via email. The check up room is realistic looking. You can bathe dogs, pull burrs off rabbits, and give out water and vitamins and dog biscuits (even to animals who are not dogs.) The play room is just so cute. There are two sections under Stacey's watch. The three puppies (a beagle, a dalmatian, and a yellow lab) sit in baskets and play a treat-catching game. The hamsters are cute but the game is very hard. I'm no good at it (and I'm 14. Yes, and I'm playing this game!) The bunny game on the other hand is so easy I completed it in 6 seconds, exactly. Then there are the kittens. Their game is with a wind up mouse and the arrow keys on the keyboard. Their little maze of cat furniture is very realistic. The turtle race game is fun but takes a long time. And last but NOT least is Sage, a golden retriever who, despite her habit of chasing chickens, is adorable. Her little doghouse has a yard and pillows inside...it's so cute...if this was real I'd adopt her! Anyway, the object of the game is to go on rescue missions with Barbie. Although amusing at first, you usually complete all the various reacues quickly, and then it gets monotonous. Barbie moves very strangely, for as great as the animation of this game seems to be. The missions involve clicking on useful objects to guide a reluctant animal towards you, then bringing it back to the center. There are a few problems. One: All the animals are referred to as females. Highly unlikely. Two: Almost all of them belong to families who are missing them. The emails and phone calls say "I think they're in Hideaway Hollow" or wherever. So...if the owner knows where the pet is, why don't they go get it themselves instead of calling Barbie? Three: Why does every single animal need coaxing? Four: For every animal Barb says "Her vital signs are strong. What a healthy girl!" Why don't some of them need medical attention? It would be educational if they allowed kids to help Barbie with a virtual operation...but I'm digging too deeply into this. There are a few unrealistic things, and it can get boring after a while, but overall the Pet Rescue is really cute and fun.
Rating: Summary: Not very true to life for knowledgeable horse riders Review: The negatives of this game are in its limitations, it's incorectness of riding and horses, and in the fact that you can't do much with the horse (besides watch Barbie ride from behind) other than choose a color and run a brush over it in one area. For little girls who love horses and may have had a lesson or two, it's dissapointing. You aren't able to do things like put the horses tack on, to see the horse from any other angle that from behind it while Barbie is riding, and there are countless errors such as Barbie mounts from the wrong side of the horse only. My 16 month old daughter thinks its really cool, but once we have run through the ride, it's very boring. Also, there are more games and decorating options than there are horse focused options.
Rating: Summary: Mystery Ride Review: This game is not worth the money. It plays the exact same trail ride, over and over. Sure, the suspect may change, but the game is always the same. After the child plays the game a few days, they are bored with the same senario, over and over. May be fine for the younger child that is o.k. with repetition. My 6 year old is tired of it, after just 3 days! I think you are just buying a name. Game could be much better.
Rating: Summary: MUST-HAVE Review: This game is the best! i bought it for my 13 year old daughter on her birthday and when she first got it she thought she was to old for , but i convenced her to play it once and she fell in love with it. Everday after she finises her homework she plays this game. She has the my scene dolls and loves them also !!! This game is highly recommended!!! I hope this was helpful to you all!
Rating: Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS GAME Review: This game was very lacking. I was expecting much more out of it. After playing the SAME game and running on the SAME trails over and over again it gets a little boring. My 5 year old cousin liked it but she really had a hard time playing it. Yet my 8 year old cousin thought it was cool until about an hour after playing it. The person who desighed this game must of had a limeted amount of money or somthing because I was expecting ALOT more. It teaches MANY fales facts about horses. It alowes kids to change Barbie's cloths to a western out fit while having her ride in an english saddle and western bit? It should REALLY teach stuff about horses instead of teaching them about finding Lucky. I mean Barbie does not even get on the right side of the horse? She does NOT go into her 2 point and just can't ride. I would NOT get this game for any age group. I was VERY disapointed with it.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful! Review: This is a terrific activity for girls 4 and up. It allows the girls to be creative as they design "new looks" for Barbie and her friends. From choosing hairstyles, to coloring it (even highlights) to makeup application, nails, clothes. The girls do it all and are very proud of their efforts. And the best part for parents is that they're doing it on the computer instead of making a mess with makeup etc. in the bathroom. The girls will sit and play this alone or together for hours. A must-have for girls who love dress up, make up and the likes.
Rating: Summary: Barbie and Horses: What girl wouldn't love this! Review: This is the first computer game that my 4 year old daughter ever played and she can't get enough of it. There is a place to change how Barbie is dressed and even a place to "design" your own horse. My daughter had a little trouble figuring out how to use the arrow keys to navigate but after a couple of days of watching me she can do it on her own. She still needs some help when Barbie has to use the slingshot because it requires pressing and releasing the mouse button at a certain point. I don't really mind helping her because there are some things in this game that even an adult will find entertaining. I highly recommend this game for girls from 4 to 8 years old. The younger kids will need a little help and the older kids won't stay interested as long but it is a great game.
Rating: Summary: 13 Year Old Daughter LOVES IT!!!!!! Review: This was a Christmas gift. The Sparkling ice show is wonderful!!! My daughter plays with it all the time! There are different levels of the game. Once you master them, you can create beautiful skating shows and save them. Works the childs coordination and motor skills. Beautiful costumes, music and 3 pretty skaters all for your child to pick and chose for themselves. It's a wonderful product!!! Highly recommend!! Gail M. Milwaukee, WI...Peace!!!
Rating: Summary: My Scene computer game Review: Wonderful game, very creative! My 5 1/2 year old enjoys it a great deal!
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