Bloons TD 4

Common Sense Media says

Pop invading balloons with everything from tacks to bombs.

Age(i)

2
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17

Quality(i)

 

Learning(i)

(i)
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What parents need to know

Ease of play

The controls are easy to learn and to use. The game has three difficulty levels, which vary greatly in the amount of challenge they pose. "Easy" level should be fine for newcomers.

Violence & scariness

Cannons, mortars, bombs, and other weapons create fiery explosions -- however, the only things being shot with these weapons are balloons.

Sexy stuff
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable
Privacy & safety

Some privacy concerns. Players on iOS devices can opt in to Apple's Game Center to track scores and achievements, and for some games, challenge friends. Players can send and receive friend requests using an email address or Game Center nickname, revealing the first and last name associated with each party's Apple ID and, in the case of email requests, the sender's email address. Players can opt to have a private or public profile, which can include a photo. With a public profile, your real name is visible to all other players, and Game Center will recommend you to other players using your real name. With a private profile, only your friends can see your real name, and Game Center will not recommend you to other players.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Bloons TD 4 is a strategic "tower defense" game in which you control an army of monkeys that need to defeat an invasion of oncoming balloons. Each balloon you pop earns you money to buy more defenses, which range from glue guns and tacks to cannons and bomber planes. The art (and situation) is cartoony, but some of the weapons bring about fiery explosions. No monkeys are hurt, though -- only balloons are popped. Players can share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.

What kids can learn

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • decision-making
  • strategy

Engagement, Approach, Support

Engagement

This refreshing standout among tower defense apps has great graphics and some really imaginative "weapons". It can provide a genuine challenge, but you won't have too many frustrating defeats while you figure out the strategies involved.

Learning Approach

Players must closely consider the choice and placement of defenses. As balloons slip through, players need to reassess strategy and make alterations in how they defend the map. Financial management is also key since buying each unit costs money.

Support

The rules and controls are a cinch to pick up. Players can share high scores via the Game Center social network.

What kids can learn

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • decision-making
  • strategy

Kids can learn to think strategically as they decide which defense towers to place and where best to place them. They'll also have to manage finances, since buying each unit costs money. Is it better to buy lots of cheaper units or save for the more expensive ones? Should you upgrade a unit or cash it in and use the money for something else? Success in Bloons TD 4 requires a good deal of strategic thinking in the choice and placement of defenses.

This Learning Rating review was written by Chris Morris

Parents say

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Kids say

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AGE
5
QUALITY
 
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What's it about?

Players must repel incoming waves of enemy balloons by placing defensive units (largely monkeys with varying abilities) to shoot and and pop them as they progress. As the levels advance, the enemy becomes harder to defeat, and players will have to upgrade units (by tapping them and selecting from a menu at the bottom of the screen) and more strategically placing new units (which are shown in a menu on the right hand side of the screen, then slid into position).

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

BLOONS TD 4, on its easy level, works great as a simple introduction to tower defense games -- games where you must defend your tower from relentless attack. In this game you are moving monkeys around to pop balloons. The rules and controls are a cinch to pick up, and you won't have too many frustrating defeats while you figure out the strategies involved. When moving up to normal and hard difficulty levels, the game offers a genuine challenge, even to TD-game veterans. It's got great, cute graphics and some really imaginative "weapons" to choose from. All in all, it's a refreshing standout among the ever-growing pool of tower defense apps.

Families can talk about...

  • Discuss the importance of thinking ahead in aspects real life of life.

  • Play board games like Stratego or chess to teach the importance of strategy.

App details

Devices:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook HD
Price:$2.99
Release date:January 12, 2011
Category:Strategy Games
Size:22.20 MB
Publisher:Digital Goldfish Ltd
Version:3.6
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.1.3 or later; Android 1.5 and up

This review of Bloons TD 4 was written by

Christopher Healy

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.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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Kid, 12 years old June 17, 2011
AGE
5
QUALITY
 

Best game in the internet!

i love this game! better than the previous versions! i think it is cool because you can buy towers, upgrade them, and pop balloons! everybody has to agree with this opinion!!! plus, now you can but airplanes, boats, and lightsabres!!! and a wizard!!!
What other families should know
Educational value
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Kid, 9 years old August 28, 2011
AGE
4
QUALITY
 

Best game ever(But some issues with very young kids)

This game is awesome. It's educational too. I put 4 and up because 2 and 3 year olds will constantly be dying and getting angry and frustrated and maybe do things like smash the computer or repeat some "colorful" language they're parents say when they die. If they do manage to make it past the first 20 levels then they will start hopping up and down and eventually start bouncing off the walls and tearing the house apart. Besides that it's an awesome game.
What other families should know
Educational value
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Kid, 8 years old July 30, 2011
AGE
5
QUALITY
 

baloons td 4

I lllllllloooooovvvvveee balloons td 4 and guess what: I won it! I also made monky assault troop I EVEN made new towers! and I love the dartling guns!
What other families should know
Educational value
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
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