Game Details
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  • $24.99
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Up (Leapster) (Leapster 2, Leapster)

common sense media says

Educational, but biting dogs may bother youngest players.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Leapster version of Up presents mini-games that are loosely based on scenes from the movie, but doesn't attempt to tie those scenes together to retell the story of the film. While the game is suitable for children as young as 5, there are a few bits that's could be scary to some children, including dark, lightning-spewing thunderclouds and growling, teeth-baring dogs.

Educational value: Two math-based games teach number recognition and order, as well as basic addition and subtraction. A third game focuses on logical grouping and categorization.
Positive messages: The many positive messages of the film are watered down here by the fact that the scenes in the game are only loosely connected to the full Up story. Still, morals about friendship and cooperation do come through in the game.
Positive role models: Carl, Russel, and Dug the dog all want to help one another during the
game. They provide each other with encouraging comments and other
positive reinforcement.
Ease of play: The challenge level is very well set for the target age demographic.
Violence & scariness: In one minigame, Russel must evade vicious dogs. If he's touched by a dog, he yells "Ouch!" and his health bar decreases. In another minigame, thunderclouds threaten the flying house; bumping into them only means you lose a bit of helium, though.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: The game bears a connection to the Disney/Pixar film, Up. No selling of the movie or peripheral products is done during the game, though.

More on Up (Leapster)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the multigenerational friendship between Carl and Russel. Do you think older people and young children can really be friends like that? What could each learn from the other? Are there any older people in your life that you would like to get to know better?
  • Did you want to play this game because you had seen the movie? Why do you think video game companies create so many games based on movies?

What's the story?

What's the story?
UP for the Leapster gives players three mini-games based on scenes from the Disney/Pixar film of the same name. In the first, you'll steer old Carl's balloon-borne flying house, avoiding lightning bolts and flocks of geese while tagging clouds with the correct answers to math problems. In the second, you'll help young Russell run through the jungle collecting numbers while dodging vicious dogs. The third mini-game, in which you play as the dog, Dug, takes place aboard the enemy blimp, and requires you to identify the oddball from a group of pictures in order to discover the correct way to go. Winning mini-games earns you stamps for your "adventure book."

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The Up game for Leapster offers three fun, nicely planned out mini-games. The gameplay is far more interesting than simply answering math problems, thanks to some nice added elements. In the dog-dodging game, for instance, Russel can throw a ball to distract the dogs or hop on the back of Kevin (the giant bird) for a speed boost. The goal of filling your adventure book ties the mini-games together, but it would have been nice to get some larger sense of story from the game.

Online interaction: Leapster 2 users can win rewards, like certificates or coloring pages, which can be downloaded from the LeapFrog.com website when the Leapster 2 unit is connected to a PC via USB cable. With an online account at LeapFrog.com, parents can also track their children's progress through this same connection.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Leapster 2, Leapster
Available online
Genre: Educational
Developer: LeapFrog
Released on: September 1, 2009
Price: 24.99
ESRB Rating: NR

This review was written by Christopher Healy
 
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is 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