Price Tag: $39.99
Platform: Wii
Official URL: gamefactorygames.com
Rating:

With all of the junk games that are out there for the Nintendo Wii, Build-a-Bear’s A Friend Fur All Seasons game is a breath of fresh air in a polluted atmosphere. With its easy to navigate menus and user-friendly controls, your child is in for hours of clean and fun entertainment. Rated E for Everyone, this game is an excellent gift for kids as young as 4 years old on up to late elementary school. I even caught myself wanting to build a character and play the game (and probably will if I ever get a turn).

PACKAGING

This Wii game comes in a standard DVD type case made of sturdy white plastic. The design on the jacket is sealed into the box so your child cannot remove it and lose it. The game comes with an instruction booklet that clearly outlines how to play and the options available. The instruction booklet contains a $5 off coupon for any purchase of $25 or more at Build-a-Bear Workshop.

OPTIONS

Before starting the game, you are required to select from three available languages: English, Spanish and French. Once you have made that choice, you are taken to a menu where you can start a new adventure or select continue (only if there is already a character created and saved). The next menu asks you to select Adventure Mode, Playground Mode or Options. The Options menu allows you to adjust the volume of the music and sound effects separately.

ADVENTURE MODE

When beginning in Adventure Mode for the first time, you must create a profile (enter your name) and select/create a furry friend. There are 8 different animals to choose from. After selecting an animal, you select a heart and fill that heart with a sound. There are several different animal sounds available . Simply click on one to hear a preview. The first three sounds all sound like a monkey to me but then again, what sounds do a rabbit and a turtle make? I’ll cut them some slack on that one.

After creating your furry friend, you dress it and name it, then start your adventure. The object is to travel to different islands and master the mini-games you find there. You win (and sometimes find) medals that can be used to purchase new clothes for your character at the Build-a-Bear shops found on each island. You also sometimes win clothing or accessories. At the end of the game, there is a big party with the narrators, Bearamy and Pawlette Coufur that you’re supposed to dress your best for. As you move from island to island, you must find puzzle pieces that unlock the next island in the game, eventually landing on Palace Island for the big party.

PLAYGROUND MODE

The concept behind Playground Mode is the ability to play the mini-games that are available in Adventure Mode without going on an adventure. You have to unlock them by playing them in Adventure Mode, then you can play with up to 4 players against each other in Playground Mode. This makes it a fun game for a small group of kids to play together. Playground Mode contains 20 mini-games with one ultimate challenge that is unlocked when you win all the challenges in this mode.

GRAPHICS

The graphics in this game are very clear, colorful and concise. We have a high-definition TV and the animation is crisp and beautiful. Everything is very three dimensional which makes it easier for kids to get into the game and control their character by performing the actions recommended.

SOUND QUALITY

The music is not irritating, which is more than I can say for most children’s games. The narrator is easy to understand and follows along with the text on the screen precisely. The only minor issue I have noticed is that when the music and sound effects are playing at the same time, the voice of the narrator is somewhat muffled. This doesn’t happened very often so it isn’t a major concern.

CONTROLS

The control pad on the Wii remote is used to move the characters around their environment. The A button is pushed when prompted to start a challenge or talk to a character. The really fun part of this game is that some of the challenges require you to maneuver the remote in different ways. For example, to dig up buried treasure, you have to make a digging motion with the remote. Then, to open the unearthed treasure chest, turn the remote like a key and the lid pops open. This is very good for helping kids develop hand-eye coordination and a ton of fun as well.

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

The instruction booklet included in this game definitely contains all the information you need to play. It has colorfully illustrated pages that replicate the game screens exactly and give excellent instruction and explanation. The only odd thing is that the very first page gives instructions on how to attach the Wii Nunchuk to the remote but at least in the Adventure Mode of the game, you don’t use the Nunchuk at all. We have not yet unlocked all of the Playground challenges so it is possible that it is needed there.

FUN FACTOR

This game is lots of fun for kids and adults alike. Apart from the fun of creating your own custom character, the games and challenges are entertaining and challenging. From sweeping the leaves off a playground to win a medal to racing a carousel horse around the track, each game provides something new to learn or some new skill to master. In addition, you can change the outfits of your character throughout the game and explore the different islands at will. I am impressed at the in-depth quality of a game that is geared toward younger kids like this one is. It has the adventure and puzzle solving feel of something as complicated as the higher level strategy games, but a simplicity and fun factor that is attractive to young children.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This game tops my list of quality Wii games for kids. It’s fun, entertaining and challenging. My 4-year-old can play it with just a little grown-up assistance and enjoys every minute of it. As a side note, I frequent a game ranking site and found this title there. Though it has only been out a short time, it is already getting very good reviews. It is worth buying if you have young children or just an affection for Build-a-Bear.