Common Sense Media Review
By Christopher Healy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Arcade-style chasing and hiding set in a spooky classroom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Casper's Scare School: Classroom Capers
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
CASPER'S SCARE SCHOOL: CLASSROOM CAPERS follows the friendly ghost through a year (which occurs in 8 weeks) of lessons on how to be frightening. The \"lessons,\" as we see them, are history, science, and phys ed. During each, Casper has to run through a maze of desks, trading items between various students, until he has the one he needs (it could be a beaker in science class, or a jump rope in P.E.) and returns to his desk. He needs to make sure that he only moves when the teacher isn't looking, because his grade will be lowered if he's caught away from his desk. As the game progresses, more obstacles are added, included gargoyles and vampires that chase Casper around the maze, Pac-Man style.
Is It Any Good?
In one respect, Casper's Scare School: Classroom Capers is a strange use of a licensed character, in that the gameplay has little to do with the characters or setting -- Casper is weaving between desks, picking up pencils and books, but he could just as easily have been darting between trees, picking up pears and apples. Still the spooky, monster-filled setting is a fun one, and the race-and-chase style of gameplay is enjoyable, especially when more obstacles are added and the challenge factor is amped up. There's a very old-school arcade feel to this style of play -- and that's not a bad thing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Casper is a good or bad role model. He's kind and friendly (which is why he's sent to Scare School), but he wants to do well in his classes and learn to be more terrifying. Which is more important: His desire to be a good student, or his desire to be a scary ghost?
In the game, you need to hide from teachers and not let them see you sneaking around the classroom. Remind younger kids that this is fun in a video game, but would not be appropriate in real life.
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Red Wagon Games
- Release date : November 2, 2010
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 9, 2022
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