 | 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. |
Zubo
- Nintendo DS
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Strategy
Common Sense Media says
Pokemon-like battle game is funnier, with less violence.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know
that this is a combat game with very little violence. Instead of battling with
swords and other weapons to inflict harm, characters battle with humorous gags
to chase away or knock out their enemies. The ESRB rating of E10+
for crude humor shows up in a few gags that involve
farts. And the mild cartoon violence shows up in gags that involve hitting
another with a tennis ball or punching someone in a cartoon manner that causes
them to see stars. No one is permanently hurt or dies, they're just defeated.
Most of the gags are humorous like holding flowers under a character's nose to
make him sneeze his way out of the arena. Plus, the battles themselves aren't
about pushing buttons on a controller to do violence; they are about using
quick reflexes to play a musical rhythm game. The game applies the popular turned-based battle mechanic, but turns it into a less violent game because the method of battle is humorous --
using gags instead of gore.
What's it about?
ZUBO, a new game
from Electonic Arts, takes the collect-creatures-and-have-them-fight-for-you
game mechanic that made Pokemon games so popular, and adds humor and music rhythm minigames to the mix to create a truly special Nintendo DS game for kids. Kids enter
as a hero or heroine destined to save the world of Zubalon from ruin by the
evil Big Head and his army of mischief-causing Zombos. As you explore this
world, you will meet over 50 Zubos who want to join your cause. To rid the
world of Zombos, you have to find them and then defeat them in a "battle"
that involves using gags.
The game play
involves solving puzzles, going on quests, and helping the Zubos that you
encounter as you wander through the 10 lands of Zubalon. And every few minutes,
you will be challenged to a battle by a roaming Zombo. To battle, you choose 3
Zubos to represent you in a turned-based battle. Zubos and Zombos both fall
into three categories: Fighters, Defenders, and Performers. The battle mechanic
has a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" aspect to it in that Fighters are
stronger than Performers, Performers are stronger against Defenders, and
Defenders are stronger against Fighters. When battling, participants have funny
moves that they use to chase away or knock down their opponent including
playing a guitar so loud that they deafen their opponent or tickling him with
a feather so that he laughs so hard he falls down. Also unique to this combat
system is the introduction of rhythm games during the combat. As your Zubo goes
through his funny animated motions, a red outline appears around its body.
Periodically, a larger orange glowing outline will appear and contracts until
it meets the red outline. Your goal is the tap the screen when the two lines
meet to increase your battle score.
Is it any good?
This is a fabulous
game because it has charming characters (each Zubo has his or her own
personality); a cute story line; and a unique battle system that combines
logic, humor, and rhythm gaming. The concept of using gags instead of gore is brilliant;
especially for families looking to minimize violence in their children's gaming.
Kids will look forward to the "battles" because the over 100 gag
animations are hilarious to watch.
If two friends own
the game, they can "battle" each other using the Zubos that they have
befriended. Think of this game as a sort of Pokemon meets Elite Beat Agents
meets Toontown. What makes Zubo so good it that it takes familiar game
mechanics found in role-playing, battle, and rhythm games, mixes them all up and
combines them in a new way to create something exceptional.
What families can talk about
Families can talk
about whether collecting Zubos is as fun as collecting the popular Pokemon? Did
you like that you didn't have to capture the Zubo, but rather gain their trust?
Which of the gag battle moves was your favorite? If you could design a gag
battle move, what would it be?
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| Platforms: | Nintendo DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | March 10, 2009 |
| Price: | $29.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E10+ for Crude Humor and Mild Cartoon Violence |
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