Common Sense Media Review
By Jinny Gudmundsen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Barbie adventure swims in a sea of mediocrity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
What's It About?
In BARBIE MERMAID ADVENTURE CD-ROM, Barbie is hosting a magical celebration. Unfortunately, the glimmering rainbow shell that was to provide the lighting for the celebration has faded. Players help Barbie explore three underwater areas to find the three magical dolphins who can relight the rainbow shell.
Players will find routine mazes, a game of Pong, a match-the-pattern game, and an uninspired logic activity about rocking baby fish to sleep. They will collect gems and shells to decorate jewelry and a performance stage. They can arrange a song by placing cute instrument-wielding marine animals in an order that they find pleasing.
Is It Any Good?
Barbie Mermaid Adventure CD-ROM is loaded with purple and pink graphics and is sugary sweet, but it isn't very challenging for girls over 6. And while it's fun to see Barbie depicted as a mermaid, the games and activities presented in the software are ho-hum at best.
While the activities do increase in difficulty the more they are played, they are never very challenging and are most appropriate for girls ages 4 and 5. This belongs in the mundane bin of girls' software.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the activities and setting. Which did you enjoy more -- the activities or the novelty of seeing Barbie as a mermaid?
Game Details
- Platforms : Windows , Mac
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Vivendi Universal Games
- Release date : May 19, 2004
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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