Pok�mon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

$30, Nintendo DS

Teaches: logic, spatial relations, money, reading

CTR Rating: 90%

CTR Review

Yet another great Pok�mon title joins the franchise. As with other DS titles, Shadows of Almina presents a variety of problem solving opportunities, along with reading. There's also some fine motor skills involved, as children try to capture as many Pok�mon characters by quickly drawing circles around them.In the game, you take on the role of a student ranger (either male or female options are available) working to help people, Pok�mon, and nature --striving to become a Top Ranger. You fight wildfires, rescue people, and deliver packages. In addition, you capture wild Pok�mon with the Capture Styler, and create a team to clear obstacles and puzzles you encounter along the way. As you complete certain Quests, the Ranger Union awards you with power-ups that allow you to advance to become a Top Ranger.The game features Pok�mon from both Pok�mon Diamond and Pok�mon Pearl. You can also compete in Nintendo Wi-Fi connection missions to transfer characters from Pok�mon Ranger: Shadows of Almia to Pok�mon Diamond and Pok�mon Pearl.This is a complicated game that can pull players in for large chunks of time. But it introduces them to multiplayer gaming concepts, mixed with problem solving, reading, interpreting graphs, and other skills that they'll someday be staring at on an SAT. Only one game can be saved per cartridge.