Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Interactive retellings with games put kids in the action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Each episode of STAR WARS JOURNEYS: BEGINNINGS includes a story experience, profiles of characters and ships, and an activity. The story is read aloud (unless this is disabled in settings), and kids can interact with the graphics, scrolling to see a panorama of the scene. Profiles of characters and ships are unlocked as kids encounter them in the story, and they're then available for reference with baseball-card-style facts. Each story has its own games and challenges: pod racing in "The Phantom Menace" and battles in the other stories. Kids can play as different characters they've unlocked.
Is It Any Good?
Fans can get in on the action thanks to the impressive graphics and customization options; however, the reliance on in-app purchases and clumsy transitions complicate the quality. The characters are recreated in accurate cartoon style, but the violence and suspense of the story is still pretty intense and may be harder to handle for younger kids since they're actively involved in the interaction. The options for customization are nice, and the graphics and sound effects are impressive -- as they should be for the price. The games are fun but limited, with the variety coming not from different games but from playing as different characters. Transitioning among the stories, activities, and collected characters is a bit disjointed, and some kids might not know how to get back to where they want to be. For die-hard fans who are willing to shell out some cash, there's plenty to enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Anakin's transformation. How does he change from The Phantom Menace to Revenge of the Sith? Why?
Ask kids which they find more intense: the movie scenes or the story scenes in the app or the games?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Pricing structure : Free to try (First three chapters are included free; additional chapters require an in-app purchase.)
- Release date : June 10, 2015
- Genre : Entertainment
- Topics : Adventures
- Publisher : Disney
- Version : 1.8
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.0 or later
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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