DivaGirls: Divas on Ice
© 2009 505 Games (US), Inc.
Do you have what it takes to be the "Princess on Ice?" In the DS version (to which the ratings apply) you choose a mode of play (e.g., exhibition or tournament) and then pick your favorite Diva girl from four multi-ethnic options—Kelly, Gabrielle, Alyssa and Madison. Next, you help them pick out an outfit, and then design a winning ice skating routine. The game features 14 arenas in night and day modes and three game save slots to bookmark your progress. Reading is required. In the DS version, you must carefully time a series of stylus activities to match moving on-screen targets. Correct taps or swirls result in more advanced routines, and higher scores. If you miss, you are greeted to an audience that moans in despair, and the rather harsh message "you failed." The Wii version, which we also tried, uses the Wii Balance Board to make the skating more realistic and is developed by Arc Games. We found the Wii version harder to figure out. The DS version is created for 505 Games by DEL (Digital Entertainment Laboratory). Prices are $40 for the Wii version and $30 for the Nintendo DS.
$4030, Wii, Nintendo DS*
Teaches: creativity, skating, rhythm, music, timing
CTR Rating: 84%