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Guinness World Records: The Videogame (Wii, Nintendo DS)

common sense media says

Entertaining minigame collection has some crude humor.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an interactive spinoff of the Guinness World Records books and television series, and that it might spark an interest in the Guinness World Records brand. It's filled with dozens of world record challenges most of which can be safely categorized as either juvenile (like throwing plungers at a woman on a spinning wheel and holding belches for as long as possible) or just plain gross (such as eating cockroaches, making skunks fart, or tossing cow dung). However, while the play may be crude, it's also pretty tame; the gags are obviously designed to entertain a tween-ish audience.Online connection is available for uploading your scores for bragging rights in your state, country, or around the world.

Educational value: Oodles of interesting information morsels are scattered throughout the game, ranging from the world's deepest submarine dive to the world's highest BMX bicycle jump.
Positive messages: A crude kind of humor permeates most of the mini-games. One challenge involves skunk flatulence and another sees players trying to hold a belch as long as possible. Players also attempt plenty of don't-try-this-at-home records, such as one in which characters heave a washing machine and another in which they balance a car on their heads.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Mild cartoon antics. Avatars bash watermelons with their heads, throw plungers at a woman spinning on a wheel (she groans when hit), and chew up cockroaches, squishing out their slimy yellow guts.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: This game is essentially Guinness World Records-brand merchandise.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Guinness World Records: The Videogame

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the notion of world records, and what sort of achievements should qualify for the distinction. Is the fact that someone is proficient at breaking watermelons with his or her forehead reason enough to create an official record that others will aspire to beat? Do you think that some Guinness world records are simply too dangerous? Conversely, are there any safe records -- such as memorizing random items or achieving a high score in a well known video game -- that you think you might one day want to challenge? Are there things you can do now to help train yourself?

What's the story?

What's the story?
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS: THE VIDEO GAME has players challenging achievements from the Guinness Book of World Records. It focuses on some of the stranger records documented by Guinness, including washing machine tossing, car balancing, and phonebook tearing. There are also some downright goofy and/or gross challenges, such as one that involves eating cockroaches and another that has player avatars smashing watermelons with their foreheads. These events are accessed by moving your character around a small globe and visiting the regions in which the records are held. The ultimate goal of the game is to beat the target marks for each event and unlock a wide variety of virtual goodies, including new outfits for your character, dozens of certificates, and interesting Guinness factoids.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Despite its unlikely origin (how many video games are you aware of that are based on books of trivia?), Guinness World Records: The Videogame is actually a smartly designed and surprisingly entertaining play. The world record challenges are well-designed, fun, and unexpectedly physical. Don't be surprised if, after an hour of moving your arm back and forth rapidly to pop balloons, pushing the remote up and down to make a pogo stick bounce, and repeatedly flicking your wrist to toss plungers, you find yourself puffing -- and having a great time.

Unfortunately, the fun may last only a weekend or so. Avid players could burn through all of the game's activities and unlock most of its rewards in just a few days. Still, there's reason to keep at it thanks to online functionality that lets players upload their best performances and see how well they stack up against those of other people in their state, country, or around the world. These online standings suit the game's record-beating theme perfectly and motivate players to put in an extra hour or two of practice on their favourite events to see if they can land a place on their regional, national, or worldwide leaderboards.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
Available online
Genre: Party
Released on: November 11, 2008
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Crude Humor

This review was written by Chad Sapieha
 
 

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fflala98
parent
 
The Best!!!!!!!
I love it. You get to do crazy things like growing finger nails by following paths. In conclusion, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

tedobrien98
kid, 13 years old
 
It's alright.
It's not the best but not by far the worst.

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