Scooby-Doo! First Frights (Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2)
common sense media says
Scary mystery has bopping, bashing -- but, zoinks, it's fun.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the fun, often clever mystery factor at the heart of Scooby Doo! First Frights is buried deep within a whole lot of fighting. In order to get to the clue-searching and puzzle-solving portions, children will have to bop, smash, and bash their way through hordes of meanies (and destroy a lot of property in the process). However, the true cooperative nature of the gameplay really does raise it to a different level than many other brawlers. Two players will never make it to the end without discussing their option and putting their heads together to figure out solutions to roadblocks and hide-and-seek sections. The chance to literally point the finger at the guilty suspect is one young mystery fans will really enjoy (even if the solutions are always pretty easy). It is important to keep in mind, though, that most Scooby-Doo fans are younger kids, and some of the villains in this game are just plain frightening.
Educational value:
There's a brain-challenging puzzle component to most levels. Plus, deductive reasoning is needed to examine the clues gathered throughout the course of an episode and figure out which suspect is the guilty party.
Positive role models:
Scooby and Shaggy talk incessantly of food and eating. This is, of course, true to their long-standing television characters.
Ease of play:
There's a steady increase in difficulty from the first level to the last. It doesn't rise too steeply, but the end of the game is far more challenging than the beginning. The two player cooperative mode makes playing with a friend easy to do.
Violence & scariness:
There's a lot of fighting in this game. The villains — ghosts, skeletons, werewolves and the like, all of which disappear in a puff of smoke when defeated — sometimes use scary weapons, like axes and hooks. Traps used can include swinging axes and other weapons. The teenage heroes punch and kick, and throw makeshift weapons like books and footballs. The injured disappear in a cloud of smoke. A few secret unlockable "costumes" can also provide the good guys with real weapons (a sword, hammer, ray gun, and popgun). Also be aware that many of the phantoms and monsters in the game are genuinely scary, particularly a headless menace.
Language:
Nothing, unless you count "Zoinks!"
Consumerism:
Ties into the long-running Scooby-Doo cartoon franchise, but doesn't push the show so much as it celebrates nostalgia for it.
More on Scooby-Doo! First Frights
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Most useful reviews by all members
melsbox25
parent of 8 year old
parent of 8 year old
Scooby Fan
My son is a huge Scooby Fan and was thrilled to receive this from Santa. This game can be a challenge for children who aren't "gamers". Prepare to help them do lots of jumping tasks, as even I as an adult had trouble crossing bridges, rocks, platforms. It's true in that there is a lot of fighting (something you don't really see on the television show), but it keeps the game moving.
Overall, this is by far the best game we've played. And the only game we own that we have completed from start to finish. Differences aside, I recommend this hands down!
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