Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a software game based on the latest line for the Bratz fashion doll. The Bratz live to shop, so parents should not be surprised that this game is filled with shallow materialism. However, underneath this fashion focus is a good collection of quality mini games and activities.
Parents can talk about the Bratz' focus on fashion. What do you think about the their obsession with clothes -- are they really all that important? Parents might also ask which of the mini games kids liked the most and why.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Anise Hollingshead
Cloe, Jade, Sasha, and Yasmin, aka the Bratz, are looking for creative inspiration. Upon discovering that there is a nationwide contest to choose the hottest young fashion designers, the Bratz enter and hope to win. They visit three cities across America, searching for the styles that will allow them to stand out.
Although this game presents a simple story, it is really just a collection of replayable mini-games. Each city the Bratz visit is a hub for various games. There are 16 games, but as many are very similar, it seems like fewer.
Drawing games require the player to trace the design with the stylus and arcade games use the stylus to guide characters in races. Logic and matching games give the brain a small workout. Some of these games are quite fun, like Treat Builder, where pet treats are packaged in order; Water Skiing, where the player uses the DS stylus to guide the Bratz girl up ramps to do ski tricks; Gemz, a sorting arcade game; and Top Trumps, a Battle/War card game.
Some of the mini games aren't quite as well designed. Western Dancing requires using the stylus to draw the shapes on the bottom screen (while strange un-Western music plays in the background), and Artic Race is a simplistic racing game. The rest fall somewhere in the middle.
In addition to the mini games found in the three cities, there are also activities found in the main menu located at the top screen of the DS. Here, the Bratz can shop with money they've earned playing the mini games, train their pets (in a Nintendogs-type activity), practice their runway fashion moves, and change their outfits. This shopping activity is fun because many items can be bought for the Bratz and their pets.
Bratz Forever Diamondz presents a nice collection of mini games that are targeted directly at girls. While the Bratz are the main characters, the game itself is pretty innocuous and would be the same game with any other girly characters. The cover pictures on the game case and manual are the most risqué features of the game, and the small-sized figures in the game appear fairly innocent in comparison.
Girl games get a bad rap most of the time, but this game is above average as to quality of design and longevity. For top-notch girl software, check out Nancy Drew: Danger By Design.
Platform Notes
Nintendo DS
Although this game presents a simple story, it is really just a collection of replayable mini-games. Each city the Bratz visit is a hub for various games. There are 16 games, but as many are very similar, it seems like fewer.
Drawing games require the player to trace the design with the stylus and arcade games use the stylus to guide characters in races. Logic and matching games give the brain a small workout. Some of these games are quite fun, like Treat Builder, where pet treats are packaged in order; Water Skiing, where the player uses the DS stylus to guide the Bratz girl up ramps to do ski tricks; Gemz, a sorting arcade game; and Top Trumps, a Battle/War card game.
Some of the mini games aren't quite as well designed. Western Dancing requires using the stylus to draw the shapes on the bottom screen (while strange un-Western music plays in the background), and Artic Race is a simplistic racing game. The rest fall somewhere in the middle.
In addition to the mini games found in the three cities, there are also activities found in the main menu located at the top screen of the DS. Here, the Bratz can shop with money they've earned playing the mini games, train their pets (in a Nintendogs-type activity), practice their runway fashion moves, and change their outfits. This shopping activity is fun because many items can be bought for the Bratz and their pets.
Bratz Forever Diamondz presents a nice collection of mini games that are targeted directly at girls. While the Bratz are the main characters, the game itself is pretty innocuous and would be the same game with any other girly characters. The cover pictures on the game case and manual are the most risqué features of the game, and the small-sized figures in the game appear fairly innocent in comparison.
Girl games get a bad rap most of the time, but this game is above average as to quality of design and longevity. For top-notch girl software, check out Nancy Drew: Danger By Design.
Rate It!
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Sexual Content |
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Language |
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Social BehaviorThese girls live to shop! |
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CommercialismLots of shopping, but for generic items. |
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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
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Educational ValueNothing educational, just fun. |
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