Pooh's Party Game: In Search of the Treasure

$29.99, PlayStation

Teaches: logic, counting

CTR Review

This attempt to bring the PlayStation 1 console game to a younger gaming audience fails miserably. Despite nice graphics and a treasure hunt theme, the game is a real disappointment. First of all, the format is confusing. The action begins in a hard-to-understand board game. With each move, children are transported to a new mini game. These are often no easier to play than the main board game. This format of going back and forth between board and mini game isn't easy to follow, especially for young kids. Mini games include kart racing, pinball and and a pumpkin hunt. For the most part, children couldn't figure out how to play these games, and even if they could, the game play was often too challenging. Reading is required to fully understand how to play each game, also a weakness for this age group. On the positive side, kids can play as any of the six main Pooh characters, and there are three game modes: adventure, multiplayer and quick game. The bottom line? This game is too tough for preschoolers, for sure-- even five- to seven-year-old children will be frustrated.