Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove

Review

Common Sense Media says

No scares in cute rhythm game with cartoony monster story.
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
 
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove is a music rhythm game set in a cartoony monster world inhabited by cute mummies, friendly vampires, and funky werewolves. While there's no violence in the game, some of the monsters do speak about their normal monsterly behavior, such as drinking blood and eating people. It's all done for laughs, though -- there's nothing seriously scary happening here. As it does for all games on the 3DS, Nintendo recommends that kids under 8 do not play the game in 3D, as the 3D effects can potentially damage developing eyes. Parents can control the use of 3D effects under the Parental Controls and have the option to turn it off.

  • Positive messages3
    The monster characters that Gabrielle meets may seem scary when she first meets them, but they turn out to be kind and helpful.
  • Positive role models3
    Gothy, emo girl Gabrielle has a strong sense of self and believes wholeheartedly in her own abilities. The monsters she meets are generally cute and friendly once you get to know them.
  • Ease of play3
    As long as you can tap in time with the rhythm, you can play the game. The challenge factor does amp up considerably as you progress in the story, though.
  • Violence & scariness1
    There's no violence in the game, though it's worth noting that some of the dialogue mentions scary monster-type behavior, like drinking blood.
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What's it about?

The titular heroine of GABRIELLE'S GHOSTLY GROOVE sneezes and manages to blow her spirit out of her body. Now she's a ghost (sort of) trying to make it back to her body from the spirit world. To accomplish this goal, Gabrielle needs the help of the residents of a town called Monsterville, which include vampires, werewolves, witches, and the like. They help her out by teaching her some awesome dance steps. When Gabrielle performs these spooky dance moves, she can collect "screams" to earn enough power to get back inside her body.

Is it any good?

 

The cute, not-so-scary creatures of Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove give the game a lot of appeal. Monsterville is a fun and funny world to spend some time in. The characters may be a bit too talky, though -- there's a huge amount of dialogue to read through -- and a little jolt to the pacing would have helped a bit. The actual gameplay is pretty standard fare for a music-rhythm title: You watch the little skulls appear in time to the beat and you tap on cue. It's enjoyable, but nothing you haven't seen before.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the idea that you shouldn't judge people by their appearances. Gabrielle tends to assume that the monsters may be harmful when she first meets them, but they all end up helping her out in the end. How can this kind of lesson apply to your real life?

  • This kind of game can help you hone your sense of rhythm. Why is rhythm important?

This review was written by Christopher Healy

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This review was written by Christopher Healy
Topics:magic and fantasy
Platforms:Nintendo 3DS
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Music
Developer:Natsume
Release date:October 11, 2011
Price:$39.99
ESRB rating:E for N/A
This review was written by Christopher Healy

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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.
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