High School Musical 2: Work This Out!

$30, Nintendo DS

Teaches: music, rhythm

CTR Rating: 90%

CTR Review

Turn your Nintendo DS into a High School Musical Jukebox, with this collection of ten catchy songs mixed in with an exploration game and set of arcade-like minigames. You can play as any of the six High School Musical characters (Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad and Taylor). Your goal is to work, dance and play your way to winning the Star Dazzle Talent Show, held each year at the Lava Springs country club. As you move around the maze-like resort, you meet other characters, carry out daily assignments, find and collect hidden items, and rehearse dance routines. When in the Juke-box mode, you can play the songs that you unlock. Parts of the game are two-player, using the DS wireless download play. Daniel (8) loved the game, citing the ability to find jobs and switch characters as strong points. He also liked the music, calling it "fun to listen to." Says Daniel, "The mini-games are a lot of fun, but the best feature is that the gave saves automatically after each mission, which comes in handy when your mom tells you you have to stop playing and eat dinner." The game was developed by Artificial Mind and Movement, for Disney.