Littlest Pet Shop Winter
© 2008 Electronic Arts Casual Entertainment
Like the other two titles in the series, this pet simulation has too much reading and a complex money system that is a mismatch with the audience of preschoolers who are likely to be attracted to the Littlest Pet Shop toys. This title is one of three in a series of similarly designed titles for the Nintendo DS. After you are introduced to three starter pets, you can explore in one of three worlds depending on the title -- in this case a winter scene -- where you earn Kibble Coins by either finding them, or by playing one of the 15 arcade-like games. The coins are used to purchase pet accessories. Content includes 32 animals and 100 accessories such as hats, glasses and collars. There are three similarly designed DS versions available: Winter, Jungle, and Garden -- each with different pets, but nearly identical games. Some of the games can be shared using the DS wireless game sharing, as long as the other player has a copy of the game. This is a good idea, but the skills required to play the game are poorly matched with the audience likely to be attracted to the toy. Borrow it or bag it.
$30, Nintendo DS
Teaches: reading, memory, money, matching, classification, timing, some logic
CTR Rating: 80%