Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall (Windows)

CARTOON NETWORK: FUSION FALL is an MMORPG targeted towards children of 8 through 14 but it is most appropriate for children 10 to 14. While in the Cartoon Network world, you have been accidentally sent into the future by Dexter, the boy genius from the Dexter's Labratory TV show. This world is being invaded by creatures from the Planet Fusion, a wandering planet that has subjugated other planets for thousands of years. You play as a young warrior trying to save the world. As you explore environments based on many of the Cartoon Network's TV shows, you can talk to the Powerpuff Girls, do errands and missions for Samurai Jack, and explore the tree house of the Kids Next Door. But don't get fooled by the evil Fusion copies of the Cartoon Network heroes, which you can destroy with blasts from your laser pistol or cyber sword. Also, you'll need be wary also of patches of green slime that have been poisoned by Fuse, as they can hurt!

FusionFall can be played with mouse (aim and shoot) and keyboard (movement) or with a USB game controller. Designed to be played in 30 minute sessions, you make your character more powerful by completing missions. If you play longer than 30 minutes, you will find that you are getting less experience and less loot from the monsters you kill while on a mission. Players can deck out their characters with cool new weapons such as lightsabers and different laser rifles, and equipment that can protect them against the toxic Fuse that is corrupting the world. Another thing that players will earn are Nanos. These are tiny copies of Cartoon Network characters that can be called upon to assist you in fights.

With laser guns and lightsabers to use to destroy slime monsters, jump pads to leap on for travel, and your favorite Cartoon Network characters there to interact with, young gamers will find this a fun to play MMO. The missions can be somewhat disgusting in subject matter (boogers and port-a-pottys) but just edgy enough to appeal to the target audiance of tweens. Parents will appreciate the parental controls, the highly moderated forums, and the game design which creates less rewards the longer a child remains online playing the game.

Like all MMOs, Fusion Fall encourages you to make friends by trading things and banding together to complete tough missions. Parental controls allow chat to be controlled by drop-down menu chat, however, open chat is available through the paid subscription. FusionFall is browser-based and accessed through the game's official website, www.fusionfall.com. As it is streamed over the Internet, there isn't any voice-over, so quite a bit of reading is required. Favorite cartoon characters may look different than what you are used to, as they have all been changed slightly for a more uniform graphical look in keeping with the theme of FusionFall.