Blaze and the Monster Machines
© 2014 Nickelodeon
A good idea meets clunky design, with this build-your-own-racetrack racing game featuring talking Nick Monster trucks. There are two modes, Race and Build, and four game save slots making it possible to save tracks. In Race mode, you help monster truck Blaze and his driver AJ compete against two other monster trucks to overcome obstacles. This is good in theory, but the steering feels clumsy. In Build mode, you construct a race track and help Blaze advance with speed boosts or slow his opponents down with objects like sticky bubble gum. This again is good in theory, but it's only possible to make very short tracks. Content includes 15 track items (items like magnets and acceleration boost pads), two driving controls (tilt and swipe), and 15 levels that end with a medal. There are three locations, The Badlands, The Snowy Slopes, and The Monster Dome, plus environmental obstacles like an ice patch in The Snowy Slopes and Crusher-based contraptions like a pineapple blaster. There are power ups like tire chains to avoid slippery spots, soapy tires to fly through sticky patches, and hubcaps to fill the “Let’s Blaze” acceleration meter. Created for Nick by Chewy Software.
$6.99, iPad, iPhone
Teaches: problem solving, science, creativity, fine motor skills
CTR Rating: 60%