Parents' Guide to Batman Begins --The Battle for Gotham City

Game FLY Pentop Computer 2006
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Common Sense Media Review

Jinny Gudmundsen By Jinny Gudmundsen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 8+

Add-on for the FLY lets kids play as Batman.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

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What's It About?

BATMAN BEGINS -- THE BATTLE FOR GOTHAM CITY is a software cartridge for the FLY Pentop Computer, a computer housed inside a pen. By drawing with the FLY on special dot-matrix paper, the hefty pen can become a calculator, a scheduler, a game player, and a music creator. In this two-person game, one kid plays as Batman and the other as Batman's archenemy, Ra's al Ghul. The objective: Find the three components of a microwave emitter, which are hidden at different locations in Gotham City.

Players take turns moving around Gotham City by using the FLY to touch the more than 150 street and monorail locations (all on special FLY paper). At special sites, players may hear a clue or the FLY may announce their location. If players find each other, they can fight using special fight cards. The FLY "reads" the card to determine the victor, and the winner can take a device part from the opponent.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Batman Begins blends board games and customizable card game-playing together, adding a unique technological twist. Because gameplay is stored within the FLY's memory, there are no game pieces to move, and players can be secretive about their actions. The FLY adds interesting sound effects throughout.

Batman Begins requires some patience to learn. It's a good fit for kids who love strategy games and customizable card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Magic, The Gathering. A full game can take over an hour to play, so it's helpful that the software provides a save option. There are also two shorter game options.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether it's more fun to play as Batman or his archenemy, Ra's al Ghul. Is there a thrill in being the bad guy? Also, families might want to discuss how the FLY enhances the gameplay with its sound effects. What do you imagine happening when you hear certain sounds?

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