A Fairy Tale

Review

Common Sense Media says

New-age fantasy story with puzzles; best for younger gamers.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that A Fairy Tale is a downloadable DSiware puzzle game in which players tap on blocks of the same color to remove them from a game board. The goal is to remove as many blocks as possible. Between levels, players can read through a comic book about a group of young fairies tasked with getting rid of an evil and powerful monster. The story is easy to read and comprehend, and teaches players the power of teamwork and self-confidence. The puzzles are very basic in nature and will not provide much of a challenge to older players, but should be fun for a younger audience.

  • Positive messages3
    The story is molded after classic fairytales, where having a supportive group of friends and a strong moral compass can outweigh an evil force no matter the odds. The focus is on camaraderie, believing in yourself, and knowing that goodness will prevail.
  • Positive role models4
    Players can easily look to the main characters, a team of small fairies, as positive role models. In spite of the seemingly insurmountable pressure to restore peace to the forest, they learn to stand against the odds and realize that even though the challenge they face is intimidating, they can work together to pull it off.
  • Ease of play5
    The main form of gameplay involves basic color-matching skills. Players tap on matching-colored blocks in a series of puzzle boards. This game is even more accessible than other similar titles because players don't have to line or rearrange the blocks in any way. They simply need to successively tap on blocks of the same color, regardless of where they are on the board. For veteran game players, the concept may be too simple to provide a challenge, but for younger players it is an easy way to introduce rudimentary observation and reflex skills.
  • Violence & scariness1
    Presented as a story in comic book form, the game has some standard comic expressions (e.g., "Whack") that appear in oversized speech bubbles. There's also occasional menacing dialogue, such as a character who says a monster has started doing "bad things."
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
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What's it about?

A FAIRY TALE presents the classic feel-good story expected from a game with such a name, but with a new story adapted for modern audiences. The story is about a fairy's quest to restore peace to a forest that has become paralyzed by an evil creature. The message is similar to the classic tale of David and Goliath, in which small fairies grow to believe in themselves and realize when they put their minds to it, they can overcome a big evil. Along the way, players are faced with menacing storylines and scary moments about a haunted forest, but in the end, the focus is on teamwork and the power of good.

Is it any good?

 

The gameplay in A Fairy Tale is very easy and accessible. It's good fare for young gamers, but isn't meant to appeal to older players with experience playing games. In this game, the puzzles and actual gameplay take a back seat to the story. It's presented more as a digital storybook, with the puzzle gameplay thrown in as a secondary component. For those who are interested in fairytales, the game holds its weight. It delivers a strong, positive message for young children new to gaming.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the violence in the game, albeit very fantastical in nature. Why do you think the monster is terrorizing the forest?

  • Why is it better to work with others to solve a problem?

  • When have you felt you couldn't overcome a challenge?

This review was written by Mark Raby

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This review was written by Mark Raby
Platforms:Nintendo DSi
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Puzzle
Developer:Lemon Games
Release date:April 5, 2011
Price:$5.00
ESRB rating:E for Comic Mischief
This review was written by Mark Raby

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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