**CLOSED** Lovely Lisa and Friends Review & Giveaway

Archive for the ‘Video Games’ Category

Gift Idea: Swords (for Wii)

Posted by Heather Manning On December - 6 - 2010

Swords

Swords pits you against the best of the best from past, present, and future in the ultimate sword-fighting contest. This is what you’ve trained for, this is your destiny. Make your way from the dojo to the Final Showdown, and prove that you are the greatest swordsman of all time!
Increase your skills and learn new combos in training challenges, like carving, sparring, blocking, and even battling a horde of zombies! Battle against 8 unique characters, each with a distinct look and home arena that represents their fighting styles – Sensei Musashi – Your sensei and adopted father. He will prepare you for the tournament. Rognir – This giant Viking chieftain swings a big sword and is looking to take your head off. Be alert and quick! Lancelot – Sir Lancelot is a brave knight of the round table. Using a broadsword and shield, his only weakness is his ritualized fighting style. Princess Aisha, the Generous – Aisha is a swift and dangerous foe. Catch her when she changes direction and exploit this short window of vulnerability. Captain Jack Rackham – A clever and nimble opponent who is also a first class scoundrel. Watch out for his cheating ways and his bag of blinding sand. Keiko Anamura – This flirtatious lady will lure you in with compassion before stabbing you in the back. Her temper is her greatest strength, and also her weakness Razor – The last of the Jumandi hunter droids, Razor comes from the distant future. Armed with laser swords and capable of incredible acrobatic moves, Razor almost seems undefeatable Mysterious final combatant – who will it be?

I have watched Jordan play this quite a few times and it looks like a lot of fun. I will let him tell you about it!

From Jordan (almost 12):

Swords is about a kid that was practically raised on the street. Then he has the opportunity for a famous sword master to take him in as his apprentice. Then you have to test with the sword master, if you pass your test, then you become his official apprentice. You level up on swords. The first sword you have is a wooden boken, which you can’t do much damage with except an ego. The next one you go up to is a katana that was made from the finest steel. Then I think you go up to the dragon breath. If you strike your enemy with that one it will burn them and over time will do damage.

Your sword master gives you tasks, to sword fight people. At the end of the game you have this sword that gives you live over time and you fight a guy named Sensei Owire. You don’t get to move, but you just get to slash your sword and defend. It’s awesome!!!

I have passed this game 4 or 5 times. I like it so much I keep going back to it and passing it again. It is a game that you say, wow that went really fast when you pass it.

I would recommend it to most people, I’m not sure everyone would like it, but I did, a lot.

There you have it from Jordan! He has gone back to this game quite a few times. I don’t usually see him do that once he passes a game.

Popularity: 3% [?]

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Holiday Gift Ideas, Video Games

Gift Idea: Petz Nursery 2

Posted by Heather Manning On December - 6 - 2010

Petz Nursery 2

First, I have to apologize for being late with this review, between a broken DS, a lost DSi, sick kids, and then getting sick myself, everything has worked against me.

That being said, here is the review of this game that even Jordan liked. I thought it would be something that just Katiana would enjoy. It turned out that wasn’t true.

Take care of up to 22 baby petz and help them grow. As newborns, your baby petz will need to be picked up and played with, and eventually taught to crawl. When night comes, help them fall asleep by rocking them or singing them a lullaby.

There will be 22 different baby petz to unlock. You’ll eventually unlock never-before-seen exotic petz. Animals such as baby pandas, tigers, polar bears, and leopard cubs, you will be able to pamper wolf cubs, piglets, and 4 different breeds of penguins!

These playful and clumsy babies love to play together. Play activities with two babies or just one; but make sure you give both babies attention or one will develop faster than the other.

Send your baby petz to the Petz virtual world, Petz World, and unlock exclusive exotic animals. On Petz World, your petz will be able to travel the world, set out on extraordinary adventures and meet tons of other petz!

As with all other reviews of things that my kids use, I will let them tell you about it. How else do you know what kids think unless you hear it from the kids?

From Katiana (who is 6 if you are looking at age ranges):

You get to choose your own pets. I chose a penguin first. You get to name it and I named mine cutie pie. When you have 2 pets, there’s something where you get to wash them both at the same time, and it’s hard, because Jordan and I have tried it before. (Jordan interjects and says it’s easy as I tell him to let Katiana tell about it first.) Sometimes you might get to put clothes on it. Every time you get a bottle, then it’s time for them to go to bed, but sometimes if you have two pets they sleep in the same bed, but sometimes they don’t.

I like this game because there is so much fun stuff to do, like playing with your animals and that’s fun to me.

From mom: Katiana likes any game that has to do with animals.

From Jordan (age almost 12):

First of all, I think you should know about the different forms. First they start out as a puppy, they can’t even crawl. Right after you feed it for the first time you bathe it, it opens up it’s eyes and it is able to crawl. And you can play games with it, like there is a crawling game and a game where you blow the balloons up in the air. (Those are for the baby form.)

Then when you level them up to where they can walk, the ones that can crawl and the ones that can walk or separated in 2 different rooms. They are bathed and fed differently. They also get new games. I think there are 2 more level ups. Then they are ready for adoption.

I loved this game. It’s a very cute game and it kind of helps you take responsibility, like you become responsible for that pet.

I would recommend this game to kids that are dying to have a dog or any kind of pet. It kind of helps them take care of it and shows them what they have to do.

There you have it, from the mouths of babes. Another favorite game in our house!

Thank you to Clever Girls Collective for sending us this game to review.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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Holiday Gift Ideas, Video Games

Gift Idea: Sid Meier’s Pirates!

Posted by Heather Manning On December - 6 - 2010

Sid Meier’s Pirates!

We got a chance to try Sid Meier’s Pirates! for the Wii. Jordan has been the one playing it, so I’m going to let him review it for you. I haven’t had a chance, but from watching him play, it looks like a lot of fun! Here’s the description of the game:

The swashbuckling adventure of Sid Meier’s Pirates! finally comes to players on the Wii. Sid Meier’s Pirates! is an action-adventure game that places players in the role of an up-and-coming privateer looking to get rich and make a name for himself in the pirate infested waters of the historical Spanish Maine. Features include a variety of pirate-themed actions including ship customization, mini-games ranging from Sword Fighting and Ship Combat to Dancing and Lock-picking, treasure hunting, ongoing relations with the ladies of the surrounding towns and conflicts with representations of some of the most famous real pirates of the era.

Story

All hands on deck! Exclusively for Wii, Sid Meier’s Pirates! is an exciting high-seas adventure that allows junior buccaneers to helm one of 27 fully customizable ships as they descend upon unsuspecting ports of call to amass a motley crew of seafaring bandits. As a fearless pirate captain players will collect hidden treasure maps, undertake daring missions and courageous rescues and swiftly hand out pirate-style justice to local bragarts at every port. The wild call of the ocean will lure them back to sea where they’ll encounter enemy pirates and engage in mind-blowing open sea battles unlike any other game before on Wii.

Gameplay

Overflowing with intense prate action, Sid Meier’s Pirates! for Wii features a treasure chest of gameplay riches, including the traditional mini-games from the classic original game such as Sword Fighting, Ship Combat and Dancing, but also includes two brand-new Wii exclusive mini-games: Bombardment and Lock Picking. In addition, the Wii version offers exclusive character and ship customization options unavailable in previous versions of the game.

Key Game Features

Play classic Pirates! mini-game, plus two all-new Wii mini-games. These include: Dancing, Sword Fighting, Ship Combat, Bombardment (new), Lock Picking (new).

Customize your ship and your pirate like never before. Options include: changing your hair or beard style, collecting clothes and accessories to enhance you appearance, tailoring your ship with a host of unique parts and features.

Take the helm of 27 ships and customize them with assorted ammo, cannons and other upgrades.

Amass a fortune as you dig up buried treasure, plunder enemy ports after bombarding them into submission, and sail the Caribbean selling the goods you’ve bought and plundered

Win the hearts of the governors’ daughters to earn gifts and valuable information.

Challenge and pursue the most the most infamous pirates in history, including Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Henry Morgan. Beat them and take their place as the greatest pirate of all-time.

Parry and slash your dueling opponents into submission with lightning quick moves onboard ships, in seedy taverns and even in the Governor’s mansion.

From Jordan (who is almost 12 if you’re wondering what age of kid is reviewing this):

The game is about you, you’re a pirate. You get to customize your own pirate. Then he becomes the captain of the ship. If you go to battle at sea and you take damage, you go back to a city and you click on consult the shipwright. You can customize your ship, fix your ship, and upgrade your ship (the sails and the hull).

The main part of the game is you go out to sea and battle other ships. If you crash into another ship it goes to a sword battle. You get to pick your sword out of 3 swords. One of the swords is a rapier, which is the fast sword, then there is one for defense and one for strength.

You’re given a list of objectives and you have to complete them before your ship is destroyed out at sea. As I said, when you go to a city, there is something called a tavern. When you go there there might be some guys who want to join your crew. Then there is always a stranger in the back that usually wants to sell you something or give you info. He might, if you give him gold pieces, give you a map for treasure and it’s in a city. When you go to the menu where it says consult the shipwright, tavern, talk to the governor, then all the way down it should say look for buried treasure.

When you go to battle at sea, if you take down a ship (crash and have the sword fight and win), you have the choice to either keep the ship or make it your marksman ship or you could sink it. I usually sink the small ones because they are worth nothing, but the big ones I try not to damage at all so I can make it my marksman ship.

I love this game. It is awesome. It is a game that I truly, the gaming expert, would recommend.

(and those are his exact words!)

There you have it, from the mouth of my son. I told you he loved this game!

He recommends it to everyone as a Christmas present for those with a Wii.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Holiday Gift Ideas, Video Games

Tetris Party Deluxe

Posted by Heather Manning On July - 3 - 2010

Tetris Party Deluxe

Tetris Party Deluxe has plenty of all-new modes and enhancements to take the classic puzzle fun to a whole new level. With six new game modes, you can enjoy your favorite puzzles with a twist. Set off a line-clearing chain reaction with bombs, complete 20 perfect clears and race against time in Bombliss, Sprint, VS Sprint, Master, Co-op vs. Co-op and All-Clear Sprint. Multiplayer modes offer all-new items to slow down your opponent with Smoke, Time Stop and more. Field Climber, Shadow, Stage Racer and Duel Spaces are enhanced with extra modes, experiences and rules. With more than 20 exciting modes, online battles and multiplayer fun for groups of friends and family, Tetris Party Deluxe is a must-have for Tetris and puzzle fans.

The kids and I got a chance to check out Tetris Party Deluxe for the Wii and for the DS. I have loved Tetris for as long as I can remember and I wondered how the kids would do with it when it wasn’t a Super Mario video game. The kids have been playing the DS version a lot and really really like it. They’ve been playing against each other with DS Download. Jordan actually has quite the unfair advantage being 11 and all. I hear a lot of Jordan, that’s not fair! when they play together, but Katiana insists on playing with him.

When she gets to play it by herself, these are her thoughts in her own words (she’s 6) –

It’s sort of hard but sort of not. Sometimes I like to play it. When I first I first played it, it was really hard, but then I started getting to know how to do it and I like it. Then I loved it.

Now, let’s do Jordan, in his own words. (He’s 11.)

There’s this one mode where you have to get this one stick figure, like a tour guide, and you need to get him to the top by moving the Tetris blocks, and you can’t squish him or it’s over. That’s one that I like a lot. But, I also like the original.

And there’s the one where there’s 2 walls and they close in at certain parts and they stop and then you have this one block and you have to get it through the rest of the Tetris blocks with out having it go all the way up to the top. I love that one.

Wait, mom. I have one more to tell about. There’s this one thing where you have Tetris blocks, only one or two blocks of one the Tetris blocks is a bomb and you have to have one explosive block in the line to let it blow up. Otherwise you have to start all over again.

It’s a really good game and I liked it and I bet if there are any other Tetris games for the DS that this one is the best by far.

Straight from the mouths of babes.

Now my thoughts on the Wii version. An absolute blast! I love Tetris! I always have. I love to play it by myself, usually I play the classic version of Tetris, but when Pato is home the battle is on! We play the handicapped version. In that version the winner of each match gets more and move lines of blocks added to their screen. Our matches usually last 10-12 minutes, but our record is 16 minutes for just one game. It’s crazy! and so much fun! I have dubbed myself Tetris queen. Pato thinks that’s funny because he usually pulls some trick out of his sleeve and beats me when I get just a tad behind. Don’t tell him I admitted that!

I love that there is a practice area where you can play with big huge blocks. It’s slower. It’s easier for Kat and Alyce to play that version.

I say Tetris Party Deluxe is so much fun for the whole family. Even Christiano at 16 months likes to hold the wiimote and watch the screen as he pushes buttons and piles the blocks up. It’s a blast!

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Video Games

Sushi Go Round

Posted by Heather Manning On May - 3 - 2010

We got to review Sushi Go Round, the new game from SouthPeak Games, for the Wii and the DS.

Fun frantic and fast paced gameplay
Simple but addictive game mechanics & Intuitive controls
Keeping track of recipes, executing dishes rapidly, processing payment and keeping your customers happy creates a sense of achievement and pride
Innovative DSi feature support ¿ take photos of your friends and import them into the game so your friends become your customers
Bright and strong art style makes the game a joy to play

I have played this one Sushi game on Facebook off and on for awhile. It’s fun, it’s frustrating, it was fast, it was – you get the point.

SouthPeak Games came out with this one and I was all over it! Now, I can make Sushi on my Wii. Before the game even got here, I had passed the mini-game they have online for you to play. When the games got here, I ripped the Wii one open and put it in. It starts out easy, deceptively easy. You give your customer their menu, they order, you check the cookbook, then you make it, and it goes down the conveyor belt to them. If you get a little behind you can make them happy again by giving them some Sake. Then word gets out that there’s this hot new sushi bar and everyone on the planet wants sushi. The seats are filled, one right after another, and then you start running out of rice and you have to call a delivery guy, and if you fall behind, your customers start getting mad– seriously, don’t tick off your customers. Get them their sushi. They all start shaking their heads at you and waving their arms, they get a little stressed out if you fall behind. But, you keep plugging away and you open new restaurants. Do you know why your doing all this? To impress a girl who obviously really likes sushi. I can’t forget to mention the fact that I have made plenty of poo while making sushi. Literally. If you screw up an order, you make a plate a hot steaming plate of poo. Nobody wants to eat poo.

Jordan plays the other one in his DSi and he’s been competing with me. He’s trying to pass it on his DSi before I can pass it on the Wii. Neither of us have done it yet. And that’s fine with me! I hate getting a game and passing it within a couple of days. It’s no fun after that. This one just keeps challenging you.

If you get the version for the DS and you have a DSI, you can take pictures and turn them into your customers. Yep, I’m one of Jordan’s customers. I wonder if when I start waving my arms around and giving him dirty looks on the DSI if it reminds him of me in real life?

The Wii verion has Time-Attack, Puzzle, Endless Day, and Forbidden Modes which are really cool. I screw up the Forbidden Mode all the time. Seriously, my short term memory is shot. What wasn’t I supposed to make? Even Alyce can tell me what I am supposed to be avoiding. Plus, you can play multi-player if you have 2 Wii-motes.

So you know age ranges, Jordan is 11 and he has no problem playing the game (love a game with no shooting, no fighting, just good old sushi making for my kid!). Katiana turned 6 last month and it’s a little too difficult for her yet. She tries, but gets frustrated when the customers start to fume.

If you go to play the mini-game, I’ll tell you that the graphics on the Wii and DS games are way better. They are really cute.

All in all, I think this is a really fun game. I love the fact that it’s a nonviolent good for everyone game. Plus, when we go to the Chinese buffet and Pato gets sushi, I can now tell him what he needs to put in it to make it.

Thank you to SouthPeak Games for providing us with a copy of Sushi Go Round for the Wii and the DS!

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Video Games

CLOSED Lovely Lisa and Friends Review & Giveaway

Posted by Heather Manning On March - 1 - 2010

Congrats to Arla! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Kat and I received Lovely Lisa and Friends to review and she has had a blast playing it!

Let me give you the overview of the game:

Lovely Lisa and Friends is outfitted with socially responsible gameplay that guides girls on the path to their personal best while having fun. Players can explore their individual creativity and personal style by utilizing the Nintendo DSi camera functionality to take photos of real world images, and apply them to a variety of outfits to dress Lisa. Gamers can then use their new wardrobe to play dress-up with Lovely Lisa’s two best friends, Alice and Maria. The fun continues in mini-games that include helping mom with shopping and cooking, and putting furniture together with dad.

Gamers will also try their hand at a number of professions including a police officer, nurse, and more. As an added feature, if players earn enough Lisa points to buy clothes and accessories, they can partake in the Heart Hills Idol Pageant, an idol game where they can dance their socks off and unveil their fabulous fashion creations.

Let me give you Kat’s thoughts (my almost 6 year old daughter) on Lovely Lisa and Friends before I go into mine.

Well, I like it a lot. The reason why I like it is there are so many things to do. Sometimes I don’t do it the right way, like when you get x’s that means you didn’t do it right, and if you get 3 x’s that means you lost the whole mini game. I used to get one x every time, but now I don’t get any x’s. The reason why I like it, is it’s the funnest game I ever had. My favorite thing about the game is when I help the family with something, helping Lisa do her chores. My favorite chores are the ones where you are helping mom, like using the phone, doing the laundry. Also the reason why I like it is, I sort of let my little sister play it too, and she sometimes gets x’s, but we take turns. Everyday when my DS is charged I want to play it.

Now back to mom.

Katiana has really had a lot of fun playing Lovely Lisa and Friends. It’s definitely in her age range. Some of the mini games are simple enough that Alyce (3 years old) has been able to play with Kat. I’m not saying she is good at it, but she is able to understand what she needs to try to do.

I even played and explored it one night (for review purposes, of course. ). I noticed that under the parent settings that you could increase the difficulty of the game so that the game grows with Kat as she is able to do more.

I giggled as I was watching Lisa dance. That girl has got some moves. You are controlling her by pressing the flashing lights, similar to the Idol Contest screen shot above where you are controlling what Lisa is doing there.

The only thing I have had to help Kat with on it is when she goes shopping for mom. After you get the items that you need to buy, you have to come up with the money to pay for it with a certain number of coins. Let’s say, 335 with 9 coins. I have to help Katiana figure out exactly what combination of 9 coins would equal that number. She’s in kindergarten. They are working on numbers up to 50 right now.

I would recommend this game for any little girl. It’s fun, it’s not violent, and it features something Katiana loves – SHOPPING. She can’t save up her Lisa points for anything. As soon as she gets some, she’s off buying stuff in the store.

Kat has a Nintendo DS, so we haven’t tried the part where you can take pictures for the fabric of Lisa’s clothes. I just thought about the fact that I could have used Jordan’s DSi to test out that, if I could ever pry it out of his fingers.

Lovely Lisa and Friends gets a big

from me for being a fun game that both of my girls have enjoyed! And for being a game that I haven’t had to hear this the whole time they play, “MOM! Will you help me. I can’t do this part. It’s toooooo hard.” To which I say stop trying to play your brother’s games.

I have in my hot little hands another copy of Lovely Lisa and Friends for one of my blog readers. Tomy so generously mailed me one to give away also!

How do you win?

MAIN ENTRY:

Check out Tomy’s other games and tell me another one you’d like to have.

MAKE SURE YOU DO THE MAIN ENTRY BEFORE ANY OF THE EXTRA ENTRIES! THANKS!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

Become a fan of Tomy on Facebook
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Giveaway ends on 3/22/10 at 11:59 PM CST. Only US entries. Winners will be chosen by random number generator. Winners will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours or an alternate winner will be chosen.