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EA Playground

(2007, Video Games - Party Games, Rated E)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Have a Wii party playing 7 recess-type games.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Teaches you the rules of some traditional playground games.
  • Messages:

    These mini-games encourage you to have fun playing games with others.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    In dodgeball, you will throw a ball at other kids. In another game, you will shoot suction-cup arrows at others to tag them out of the game.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of EA Playground was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

Parents need to know that this is a good party game for active kids of different ages to play together. While you can hit another child with a ball while playing dodgeball, or shoot a suction-cup arrow at another in a target-shooting game, no one is hurt. And younger children will like the single-player mode because in addition to playing the seven games, you also get to explore an expanding playground to collect marbles and stickers, take on dares, and play fun mini-games. Plus, it eases young kids into the games by having them beat the easy kids before letting them challenge the tougher kids.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about whether recess is really like this. Which games did you like best? How does this party game on the Wii compare to others you have played?
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More on EA Playground

What’s the Story?

For some families, the Nintendo Wii is replacing classic board games as a way to bond during family-together times. Recognizing this market, Electronic Arts turned to the schoolyard as inspiration for its new party game, EA PLAYGROUND, which brings seven recess-type activities to your Wii.Kids play by entering a school yard and selecting a cute-looking cartoon kid to represent them. The activities range from traditional games like dodgeball, wall ball, and tetherball, to more innovative games like "Kicks," which combines volleyball and soccer. To round out the mix, kids will also fly paper airplanes through an obstacle course, race slot cars, and shoot suction darts in a paintball-type target-shooting game Close

Is It Any Good?

What makes this compilation better than some of the other Wii party games is that up to four players can play together in a tournament format. Kids can select the number of rounds (up to 20), and then pick the order of the games, and the software keeps score. If two players are playing in the tournament, all the games can be played; but if four are playing, some of the games aren't programmed for that many players. And if a group of friends wishes to simply jump into the games and they don't want to play a whole tournament, there's a Free Play mode.Using the Wii remote to play these games works well because the controls are intuitive. To knock someone out in dodgeball, you make a throwing motion. To steer a slot car, you twist the Wii remote. But the real winner is the Kicks game, an novel four-person activity played on a volleyball court but with a tennis-height net. You kick the ball as in soccer, but set up the ball to your partner as in volleyball. However, when you spike it over the net, your goal is not to smash it to the ground, but rather to kick it into a goal.

This compilation of party games will appeal most to active kids who love the competition of games played in a playground setting. And it's the most fun when explored with up to three friends. Because of the variety of games it offers, EA Playground is one of those rare games where kids of different ages can enjoy it together. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 10/22/2007, price $40, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    a very cool game

    I my friend got me it for my b-day it is the most funest game ever!

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 1.0

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