 | 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. |
Zhu Zhu Pets
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Windows
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Fav toy hamsters zip through mazes and act as virtual pets.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Zhu Zhu Pets is the first video game based on the popular battery-powered hamsters toys of the same name. The game stays true to the play patterns of the actual toy by providing nurturing as well as adventuring gameplay. The latter that takes place inside of fast moving mazes. Think of this game as Nintendogs meets Super Monkey Ball.
What's it about?
ZHU ZHU PETS is a game that combines the taking care of virtual hamsters with racing them through fast-paced, ever-changing mazes. In the nurturing aspect of the game, you use your DS stylus to pick up hamsters (there are nine to unlock) and carry them to their food, water, bed, toilet, or exercise area. You can also feed them treats or pet them. In the adventuring aspect of the game, you place a hamsters in one of 30 mazes (which you unlock over time). You direct them through the mazes, but there are many places where things are beyond your control, including speed ramps, slide chutes, jumping ramps, tunnels, and bumpers (similar to those found in pinball games). Each maze has a goal which may be as simple as finding your way to the end or collecting objects or baby hamsters within.
Is it any good?
Zhu Zhu Pets does a great job of extending the play patterns of this popular collectible toy to the Nintendo DS. All of the popular hamsters are there Patches, Chuck, Pipsqueak, and others), and just like in real life, they are busy speeding around. What is cool about this game is that the hamsters get to tool around inside virtual mazes full of bells and whistles. For example, it is a riot to watch your hamster enter a clear chute and suddenly take off at lightning speed.
Also good is the way that the mazes get progressively harder. You can only see a small portion of the maze at a time, so directing your hamster into a tunnel may result in your going to a totally different part of the maze. You will need to use logic and memory skills to navigate to the end. This is a game young children can enjoy because all of the instructions and goals are spoken out loud, and there is no violence or offensive content. If your children loves Zhu Zhu pets, they will get a big kick out of this game.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether playing this game made you want to buy a Zhu Zhu hamster. Do you think that is why Cepia joined with Activision to create this game?
Which is more fun to play with? The Zhu Zhu Pets video game or the actual Zhu Zhu pet hamster toys?
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| Platforms: | Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | Activision |
| Release date: | March 23, 2010 |
| Price: | $29.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for (No Descriptors) |
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