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Leapster 2nd Grade: Musical Menace
(2006, Educational Handheld - Educational, Rated NR, Play it on: Leapster)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Fun game challenges brains -- and reflexes.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 7 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Leapster 2nd Grade: Musical Menace was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Parents need to know that this game combines challenging platform puzzle play with academic review for second-graders and rising third-graders. The game also has a great tutorial section that explains the math and language arts concepts that are tested within the game. It can be quite challenging for kids new to gaming and may be a better fit for kids who enjoy playing video games.
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More on Leapster 2nd Grade: Musical Menace
What’s the Story?
LEAPSTER 2ND GRADE: MUSICAL MENACE looks and plays like a video game, but hidden underneath the challenging gaming is a body of second grade math and language arts curriculum that the player must master to win the game. Players join the Algorithmics, a teen rock band, and try to help save the world from the evil menace named Silencer, who's stealing the world's music.
To win the game, kids must explore four locations: Air, Rainforest, Water, and Desert. At each location, the game has four levels of play followed by a battle level with the Silencer. Both the educational content and the gameplay mechanics get harder as kids succeed at the earlier levels.
CloseIs It Any Good?
Gameplay and educational content are interwoven well. Kids climb ladders and vines, jump on moving platforms and trampolines, slide down ramps, and fight bad guys by playing loud music. But they'll need both skillful timing -- and math skills -- to advance. For example, to answer a question like 50+49, kids must jump onto the platform labeled 99 and not jump on the one labeled 55.
The game can be quite challenging for kids who are new to video gaming, even with the tutorial. Our testers found that while they frequently knew the correct answer to an academic question, they'd get it "wrong" because they couldn't make their character jump onto the correct platform. In the end, Leapster 2nd Grade: Musical Menace is a good fit for kids who already enjoy playing video games.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 08/01/2006, price $24.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: NR
ESRB rating: NR
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