Tools for this page
Print

Space Camp

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version
    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Game that serves as an advertisement for real Space Camp.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 7–12

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    You learn small facts about the NASA program by checking out posters.
  • Messages:

    Generally, teamwork and playing by the rules is needed to progress in Space Camp.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    There's mild fantasy violence, but nothing of consequence. Your lunar lander can bump into a terrain and explode in flames. You shoot asteroids, too.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    There is an advertising brochure for Space Camp included in the game box.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Space Camp was written by Harold Goldberg

Parents need to know that although Space Camp is rated E, it will be too difficult for young children, especially when using the lunar lander and the basketball hoops games.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about what it would be like to go to space camp and then go to become an astronaut on  the moon. What would your favorite activity be -- flying the lunar module or collecting space rocks? If not those, what?

     

Did this review help you decide?

OK for Your Kids to Play?

Do you play it? Review It!

More on Space Camp

What’s the Story?

Got a kid who wants to go to space camp? Or maybe he or she wants to be an astronuat and travel in space and land on the moon. That's the premise of SPACE CAMP, which is based on the activities of the Space Camp vacation destination for kids, except this is more fantastical. You eventually get to fly to and land on the moon, just like the Apollo astronauts did in 1969.

The tutorial pack in a lot of gaming, some of which is very challenging. You press and hold the 'A' button to move your character around. Press the 'A' button again to interact with your commander, with posters on the walls, and with big machines that allow you to do many space tasks like flying and mining. You'll move the Wii remote to fly a lunar module and press 'A' gingerly to use fuel, but not too much of it. You'll also flick the remote to dig for energy-filled moon rocks.

Is It Any Good?

Though the graphics are jaggy and generally uninspired, Space Camp has some very good things going for it. Yes, your commander is really annoyingly egocentric. But as you complete the various tasks he suggests, which are generally fun, you'll acquire patches which allow you to progress in the game. You can place them on your space outfit, too. There's a lot of interaction, here, with other kids who pass by in the halls and with posters on the walls which tell you space facts (albeit with bad punctuation and sometimes, bad grammar – ugh).

Some of the mini-games are really hard, though. Piloting the lunar lander onto three platforms takes ultra careful maneuvering with the remote: it's almost as if you're piloting the real thing. However, since the screen is more 2D than 3D, you have no sense of depth perception. Sometimes, the game is just inaccurate. The basketball game might record a ball that hits the hoop, but doesn't go through the basket. Sometimes, your robot pal tells you that your mission is in the wrong area of the game. Finally, Space Camp is basically an way of advertising a place for which you pay big dollars to send your kids. They even include a poster/brochure in the game box (without prices, of course).

 

Publisher’s Details

Developer: Activision
Released on: 5/26/2009, Price: $29.99, not online enabled
ESRB Rating: E for Mild Fantasy Violence

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Do you play it? Review It!

What did you think about Space Camp?

or

to post a review

Most Recent Reviews

    More Great Stuff for Your Kids

    • Most Popular This Week

      foursquare

      foursquare

      Is this social network too risky for your child?

    • Advice for Parents

      Tips for a Healthy Media Diet

      Tips for a Healthy Media Diet

      New gadget gifts? Get help setting limits.

    • Must-See TV

      Parenthood

      Parenthood

      Quality drama charts the pros, cons of family togetherness.

    • Issue Spotlight

      The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

      The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

      Our video game experts weigh in.

    • Game of the Week

      Simplz: Zoo

      Simplz: Zoo

      Family-friendly puzzler mixes in a bit of zoo simulation.

    Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
    • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
    • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
    • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
    A screen name protects your privacy
    To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
    A screen name protects your privacy

    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    is
    until
    (optional)
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    Add another child

    We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
    Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    Add another child

    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
    A screen name protects your privacy
    Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
    I'm already a Common Sense member.
    Kids under 13 must use a screen name