Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

$3040, Wii, Nintendo DS

Teaches: movement, music, gross motor movement

CTR Rating: 90%

CTR Review

Yet another spin on the DDR idea of matching moving targets to the rhythm of a song, this collection of 25 songs let's you become a member of the Chipmunk's band. You start easy, at a concert in Chicago, and gradually work your way up to a world tour, following a tried and true Rock Band and Guitar Hero format. The experience is an excellent gross motor coordination activity; for beat and rhythm competency, it can't be beat. Also nice is the variation in matching tasks. Sometimes you move a target to the moving beat icon and other times you shake or move to the beat. Note that the DS version offers a different variation on the beat matching, where you have to touch moving circles at just the right time. Features include a multiplayer mode that lets you compete with up to two other players, and a jukebox mode that lets you sing along to the music and lyrics. The Wii version requires a Nunchuk in order to work. If you like the Chipmunk sound, you'll love this game. Just keep in mind that there are now a lot of games like it.