 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Spectrobes
- Nintendo DS
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Role Playing
Common Sense Media says
Pokemon wannabe gets boring fast.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this role-playing game involves fighting in a bloodless manner, as well as excavating fossils. It introduces a new form of play on the DS because each game comes with collectible cards. Kids place a card on top of the DS screen to unlock new material by sticking the stylus through holes in the card.
What's it about?
In this role-playing game (RPG), players help Rallen and Jeena, two young Planetary Patrol officers, protect their world from attack by the evil Krawl. They do so by finding, training, and growing Spectrobes, otherworldly creatures who are good at battling the Krawl. A Spectrobe is also able to detect other dormant Spectrobes hidden under the ground in fossil form.
Using an awakened Spectrobe, you scan an area and, if there are items underground, help the Spectrobe excavate using the stylus and blowing into the microphone. To shake things up a bit, players occasionally visit the ship and unload the items. Periodically, you will need to battle the Krawl. Two Spectrobes fight in a team along with Rallen.
Is it any good?
There are seemingly neat features in SPECTROBES, such as the multiplayer mode for battles and the downloadable content available through Wi-fi, but to unlock these features, players must spend a large amount of time excavating in order to find the requisite cubes. The game does introduce a cool, new feature to the DS: adding content by using collectible cards. Kids place an enclosed card on top of the DS screen to unlock new material by sticking the stylus through holes in the card.
It becomes apparent early on that this seemingly exciting game is anything but. Too much time is spent finding items hidden in the ground in very repetitive gameplay. The worlds are plain with not much to see except grass and rocks; Rallen and Jeena don't have much expression and their conversation is limited. Spectrobes tries to be a different sort of RPG, but its repetitive gameplay and simple battle mode kills kids' interest.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how this game presents a story of good versus evil. Since evil is attacking, the game requires you to defend yourself. Does that make fighting seem more noble or justified? What do you like about this game? How could you make it better?
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AGE
honestly.....it's just boring, even for small children
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AGE
Okay RPG
Disney's latest RPG is no Kingdom Hearts. The gameplay is only okay, and the characters are boring. Take my advice and skip this game.
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AGE
Good game if you like RPGs
This game is about a galactic officier who discovers creatures called Spectrobes. He uses these Spectrobes to fight against planet-eating monsters called Krawl. This is obviously not the last Zelda game, but it is fun if you like RPGs, and you aren't too demanding about graphics.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Role Playing |
| Developer: | Disney Interactive |
| Release date: | March 12, 2007 |
| Price: | $29.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for Everyone |
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