Crosswords DS
© 2008 Nintendo of America
When should Grandma get a Nintendo DS? When it means she can play an endless supply of crossword puzzles, that's when. Crosswords DS ($20, www.nintendoDS.com) puts 900 crossword puzzles, anagrams and word search puzzles at the tip of your stylus. You start by turning the DS on its side, in book-fashion, and select whether you're left- or right-handed. If you're a lefty, you flip the Nintendo DS upside down. Next, you create a profile where you can save puzzles in progress. Because you can make up to four profiles, this game can be shared by children or adults alike, and used as a means to playfully introduce spelling and vocabulary skills. The fine motor feature -- scribbling your initials in a box -- is also nice, especially if you plan on passing this game around the mini-van on a long trip. The handwriting recognition feature gives the puzzles an organic feel that appeals to the traditionalist. To enter a letter, you write it in a screen-sized box. Once the DS recognizes the letter, the box is filled in on the puzzle, located on the other screen. Erase your mistakes by tapping on the screen or writing your new answer over the old one, plus there's a hint system. Harder puzzles must be unlocked; a process we did not try. The game was developed by Nuevo Retro Games for Nintendo.
$20, Nintendo DS
Teaches: vocabulary, reading, spelling, handwriting (fine motor skills), language
CTR Rating: 90%