Barbie: Jet, Set & Style!

Common Sense Media says

Easy, bright, and perky game with obvious focus on beauty.

Age(i)

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Quality(i)

 
(i)
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Barbie: Jet, Set & Style! gallery

What parents need to know

Positive messages

The messages here can be somewhat mixed. There's definitely a focus on the superficial -- fashion and makeup are given ultimate importance. But Barbie also attempts to boost the self-esteem of the girls she styles in the game. She's very upbeat and complimentary, but even her positive messages can have not-so-positive connotations, such as when a made-over client can't believe how pretty she looks and Barbie tells her that she was always pretty -- she just needed a fresh look. On another positive note, though, the cast of girls in the game is very racially diverse. The flip-side of that is that they all have the same basic body type (Barbie's).

Positive role models

Barbie is friendly, perky, and upbeat. She tries to tell the other girls in the game to be happy with themselves, though being happy with oneself usually requires new hair, clothes, and makeup. Barbie is quick with compliments and gracious when complimented herself, but she will also on occasion playfully tell a client that she is jealous of them.

Ease of play

The game is made very easy to play, so that even very young children can understand and handle the controls. There are constant visual reminders of what to do next.

Violence & scariness
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

The iconic Barbie character and logo are all over this game.

Privacy & safety
Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Barbie: Jet, Set & Style is a fashion and makeup styling game starring Barbie, Mattel's iconic doll. The game's focus is on one's outward look, but Barbie attempts to remind girls that they should like themselves for who they are. For some kids, that message might get lost in all the glitz and glamor.

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Kids say

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AGE
12
QUALITY
 
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What's it about?

BARBIE: JET, SET & STYLE appoints you as head stylist for the fashion icon. You'll travel the world with Barbie, rescuing people from \"fashion emergencies.\" When someone in Paris needs a trendier hairstyle, you're there. When a girl in Moscow needs a better red carpet outfit, you're there. Nail polish, makeup, clothes: you do it all. And you do it in midair aboard Barbie's flying salon.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

The best part about Barbie: Jet, Set & Style is its ease of use. The instructions are always clear and concise and kids are reminded what to do each time an activity comes up. The way the game is set up -- with fashion emergencies popping up around the world and you needed to traverse the globe and solve specific challenges -- really works, too. The tasks can get rather repetitive, though, especially the haircutting (during which you are often forced to curl a woman's hair even if the style you chose doesn't include curls). At times, it feels like too much of the game is about performing rote maneuvers, like brushing or curling. More chances for true creativity, as when you select an outfit or makeup colors, could have gone a long way.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about standards of beauty in our culture. Is there any one definition of beauty? Is it possible that what's beautiful to one person may not be so pretty to another? Can people look different and still be beautiful? How have definitions of beauty changed over the course of history?

  • Do you think Barbie creates an unrealistic body image for girls?

Game details

Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
Price:$24.99
Available online?Not available online
Developer:THQ
Release date:September 19, 2011
Genre:Girl
ESRB rating:E for NA (Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii)

This review of Barbie: Jet, Set & Style! 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.

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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.

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What parents and kids say

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Teen, 13 years old Written byGold_medal_champion October 28, 2011
AGE
18
QUALITY
 

lol

that is a very scarry game!!!
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Easy to play/use
Safety and privacy concerns
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Teen, 13 years old Written byDangerRanger101 January 19, 2012
AGE
3
QUALITY
 

Great messages, great role model, great game!

This is actually a very positive game. I mean, the girls who need the "fresh new look" actually do need it. It is actually required for them to look acceptable for their careers. But Barbie always reminds them that they were always beautiful. I think you may have looked at this game with too much detail, but then again I do think more positively. Anyway, the game is awesome because the controlls work well and the content of the game is down right fun! I don't really see much of an issue with this game.
What other families should know
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much consumerism
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Kid, 11 years old January 8, 2012
AGE
17
QUALITY
 

barbie jet and style

i think this game is very good for the kids of 11 down. my kids play this game and its a very buetiful game
What other families should know
Too much swearing
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