uDraw Pictionary

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Well-designed family game requires special Wii tablet.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that uDraw Pictionary is a well-designed virtual version of the popular board game, which is played using a Wii peripheral called the uDraw Tablet. It is well-suited to family play, since there are separate clues for adults and kids (although grown-ups having trouble or kids who are feeling confident can always choose the opposite clue pack). You will have to trust your kids not to cheat, though, since having players close their eyes while the answers are revealed onscreen is essential. Also understand that drawing with the uDraw tablet is different from drawing on paper and is, in itself, a skill that must be learned.

  • This game sends the message that being creative, thinking imaginatively, and having fun with family or a group of friends is a great way to spend your time.
  • The disembodied host voice is a generally positive presence. He'll even say encouraging comments to the teams that are behind, like, "You can still catch up!"
  • Using the uDraw table to create your visual clues is fun and easy (at least from a logistical standpoint -- whether you can actually draw well is, of course, subjective). Each player, on his or her turn, can choose from either "Adult" or "Junior" clues, and if you think a the clue you've been given is too hard, you can just pick another one. Playing the "Mania" mode adds a whole slew of new rules that make the game much harder, but you'd only choose that mode if you want the added challenge -- you never have to play it.
  • Not applicable.

What's it about?

Just like the board game it's based on, this version of UDRAW PICTIONARY asks one member of a team to look at a hidden clue and then try to get his or her teammates to guess that clue by drawing a picture of it. Here, you'll be illustrating your clues with the help of the new uDraw tablet peripheral, sketching with a stylus on a touchscreen. Unlike offline Pictionary, you'll have access to multiple media (paint, chalk, crayons, etc.), colors, and shape stickers. You can play the game in its traditional format, or play the "Pictionary Mania" mode, in which each space of the board dictates a crazy new rule to follow, such as using your off hand, drawing your clue with only one line, or trying to draw while the screen spins in circles!


Is it any good?

 

uDraw Pictionary feels like the game the uDraw tablet was made for. Although sketching on the tablet while looking at the screen is still an awkward feeling at first, you will get used to it as you play -- and it's a whole lot easier than trying to draw by moving thumbsticks on controllers. And while the ability to use different colored paints and textures certainly isn't necessary for a game of Pictionary, it sure does add a lot of fun to the experience. The "Mania" mode is a blast, too. The crazy added rules make things really difficult, but in a very entertaining way. uDraw Pictionary, frankly, is more about laughing at way-wrong guesses as it is about sketching a perfect illustration of the clues. It's also very nice to see how much thought went into making the game work for cross-generational play. There aren't that many games that kids and adults can be able to play easily with one another, but this is one of them.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about playing family video games together. How can video games bring family members of different generations together? Is it more fun for kids and grown-ups to play against each other, or as teammates?

  • Do you prefer playing actual board games or this virtual ones?


This review was written by Christopher Healy
Kid, 13 years old
January 22, 2011
 
uh
yeah

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This review was written by Christopher Healy
Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Party
Developer:THQ
Release date:November 15, 2010
Price:$29.99
ESRB rating:E for (No Descriptors)

This review was written by Christopher Healy

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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