Disney TV Games - NR

5 fun arcade games that can be played on your TV.

Publisher: Jakks Pacific Inc Category/Genre: Smart Toy - Arcade Games Platform: Plug and Play TV games Price: $20 Graphics: Mediocre Playability: Very easy to play Reading Level: 1st grade--for instructions Release Date: 03/17/2005 ESRB Rating: NR

Common Sense Note

Plug and play games like Disney TV Games bridge the gap between PC games that aren't portable and complicated video games that are expensive and too difficult for young children. While the games are not very sophisticated in terms of graphics or controls, they are fun to play, offer some educational content, and are self-contained. Parents will need to remember to check if the power is turned off on the unit.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen

A hot new trend in tech toys is "plug and play" games. These toys plug into your television's audio/visual output jacks to allow kids to play with the toy using the television screen.

With Disney TV Games, kids can play five simple video games without having to buy an expensive console system.

The Disney TV Games comes in a 4-inch rounded battery-operated unit that houses a joy stick and two buttons. When plugged into the TV, this unit offers five games featuring Disney's characters. There are two side-scrolling games in which kids find photos with Stitch and jewels with Aladdin. In another, up to two kids can play 18 holes of golf with Donald Duck. The two other games reward logical thinking as kids rotate blocks to create a path for Pumbaa, and match fruit with Simba in a Tetris-type game.

The games come with plenty of levels and the joy stick is easy for young children to use. Unfortunately, the unit does not have an automatic shut-off; so to avoid draining the four AA batteries, parents will want to check to see if their children remembered to turn off the power.

Plug and play games like Disney TV Games bridge the gap between PC games that aren't portable and complicated video games that are expensive and too difficult for young children. While the games are not very sophisticated in terms of graphics or controls, they are fun to play, offer some educational content, and are self-contained. They are easy to pick up and take with you on trips or connect to car televisions. Because they are so simple to play, even technology-intimidated parents can join in on the fun.

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