Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess

What’s the Story?

If you're looking for good preschool games for the Wii, Dora the Explorer: Dora Save the Snow Princess is a great choice. Based on the TV movie and DVD of the same name, this game has been specifically designed for preschoolers. Kids join Dora on an adventure to rescue the Snow Princess, a fairytale character who has been imprisoned in a tower by a wicked witch. The quest takes kids to five different locations (levels) where they will explore snowy expanses and underground tunnels, swing on snowflake chains, race down mountain slopes on snowboards, jump on giant mushrooms and snowflake catapults, and scramble across moving clouds and icebergs. Along the way, kids will meet old favorites like Swiper the Fox as well as make new friends like Pegasus, the flying horse, who takes Dora for a ride.

Kids play this game by holding the Wii remote on its side and directing Dora and her friend Boots by tilting the controller to the left or right. To make Dora jump or interact with objects, kids push the "2" button. The game also incorporates over 20 different Wii remote motions to make things happen in the game including flapping your arms to make the Pegasus horse fly and tilting the Wii remote back and forth quickly to make Dora climb a ladder. Kids can also help Dora build a snowman by pointing the Wii remote at the screen and then making circular motions.

Is It Any Good?

This game is so good because it creates an inviting world to explore. Preschoolers will hear the original voice talents from the Dora the Explorer TV show and all directions are spoken or shown on screen. They will interact with the familiar characters of Map and Backpack, who help them along the way. When gaming, they can't fail, a key factor in good preschool video games. For example, when jumping from one moving cloud to another, you have to push the "2" button, but timing that push is irrelevant. It is impossible for Dora to fall off and get hurt.

The adventure stays fresh by constantly introducing new characters and new ways to use the Wii remote. Frequently, visual demos pop up in the corner of the screen to show kids what to do with the Wii remote. For example, when Dora's path is blocked by a pile of snow, a video shows kids how to hold the controller as if it were a broom to make a sweeping motion. Also good is the game's helper mode, where a parent or older sibling can join in with a second controller at crucial times. In addition to the adventure, kids can play race games cooperatively with a friend.