Backyardigans, The
© 2009 2K Play
Featuring some innovative microphone input techniques, this collection of preschool games would make a nice addition to your early childhood library, despite being a little heavy with instructions. In the story, you help the Backyardigan gang (Pablo, Uniqua, Tyrone, Austin and Tasha) travel to outer space, collecting garbage, capturing evil villains as masked super heroes, and tapping on instruments to play music in a pirate parade. This is the first game we've seen that combines voice input with motion. It happens when you say "ARRGH" (like a pirate) into the microphone. Note that the games vary in design quality, and it isn't easy to escape from a game. So make sure children know how to get back to the main menu (by pressing the START button). There are three game save slots. Created by Black Lantern Studios for 2K Games.
$30, Nintendo DS
Teaches: math, logic, patterns, language
CTR Rating: 84%