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Spore Hero Arena

(2009, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo DS)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Create a creature and battle others to save the galaxy.

In this game kids can:   battle others, be creative, become a hero, create an avatar, improve hand-eye coordination, play in a virtual world, play multiplayer games, whack cartoon characters

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Ease of play:

    The game's controls are straightforward, though combat with other characters can be tricky and sometimes a little frustrating.

  • Educational value:

    Kids will use some navigation and reading skills, and they will apply logic and their imaginations to evolving their creatures.

  • Online interaction:

    Online interaction involves battling friends or strangers via WiFi matching or direct connection to other DS handhelds. Players can also access the Sporepedia to see and trade creatures with others.

  • Messages:

    In the single player campaign, players travel to different planets defeating evil characters in order to save the galaxy. The message is solidly positive, with assisting others in need as the basis for your missions.

  • Role models:

    Though you'll use some force in battles, no opponents are killed or permanently harmed. And you'll meet and assist hundreds of other characters in distress along the way to saving the galaxy.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Players use creatures they've created to battle against others. Creatures can blast fire, ice, electricity, or use spinning blows to knock opponents out of arenas. There's no blood, weapons, or death depicted.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Inserts in the box advertise other Spore games.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Spore Hero Arena was written by Alex Porter

Parents need to know that Spore Hero Arena is target toward slightly younger audience than the popular PC/Mac game, Spore; and that it is a completely separate game from the Wii version called Spore Hero. This game is a solid choice for kids old enough to read, but too young for the open-world online universe the PC version offers. Kids will find the most engaging feature of the PC game, the Creature Creator, in this game in a more limited, but still satisfying form. Kids can play a single player, storyline that guides younger players through missions or battle with others using Nintendo Wi-Fi or the DS local connection.

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 how creatures are all unique and different. As with real animals and humans, Spore Hero Arena is full of different races and species. What similarities and differences between our world and Spore's do you notice?
  • Is playing a creature you've created and customized more fun than playing a pre-made character? Do you feel more attached to an avatar that you created?
Did this review help you decide?
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More on Spore Hero Arena

What’s the Story?

Players start SPORE HERO ARENA by using the Creature Creator to build a custom character that includes legs, mouth, eyes, horns, tails, and body shape. In the single player story, your creature crash land's on a strange planet. From there, you must travel to different planets collecting ship parts and piece of blue meteor, a special substance that will help save the galaxy. You'll also battle other, evil characters who have been effected by bits of red metor. Along the way, you must upgrade and "evolve" your creature to complete missions, win battles, and collect items. These upgrades include special fighting powers such as fire-spitting, whirlwind spinning attacks, and others. In the Multiplayer mode, you can either fight one friend using local wireless or up to 3 others who own the game using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also trade creatures. Close

Is It Any Good?

At the core of Spore Hero Arena is the Creature Creator, the tool that lets you upgrade and customize your character. This system works remarkably well for a handheld format and makes for nearly limitless creations. The battles, set in arenas similar to boxing rings, are less well designed and can be a little frustrating;  opponents overpower your creature easily, and the small-screen/mediocre graphics, make characters' moves difficult to follow at times. Fortunately, the Wi-Fi battling and trading characters plus unique character building make for a good (though not great) experience. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 10/6/2009, price $29.99, online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for Mild Fantasy Violence)

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