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Parents' Guide to

Disney's A Christmas Carol

By Harold Goldberg, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

This classic holiday story is less scary than the movie.

Game Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi 2009
Disney's A Christmas Carol Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Disney's A Christmas Carol Game: Screenshot #1
  • Disney's A Christmas Carol Game: Screenshot #2
  • Disney's A Christmas Carol Game: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL is based upon the new 3-D movie starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge. Just as in the harrowing but touching Charles Dickens classic, the self-serving miser Ebeneezer Scrooge is shown the error of his ways as he travels on a frightening journey through his life: past, present, and future with three ghosts.

Is It Any Good?

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

This surprisingly delightful game is part narrated story, part point-and-click adventure, and part mini-games. Full of ghosts to catch and puzzles to solve, you explore each location until you solve its mystery. If you can’t figure it out, blow into the DS microphone to make glittering stars appear over parts of a static scene where you should tap on the touchscreen. When you solve a puzzle like waking Scrooge up so he can listen to Jacob Marley’s ghost, you'll receive prizes like a Christmas card. Link to DGamer, the company’s social networking Web site, and you can customize your avatar with these prizes. Rounding out the package is a calendar with a puzzle for each day of Advent and full version of the Dickens classic story for you to read. Sure, the game is a little short and the online experience is uninspired. But the design itself makes up for it in generally seamless execution, tons of sou, and an ever-engaging game experience. There’s no bah-humbug here.

Online interaction: The game is connected via Wi-Fi to DGamer, Disney's social networking site. Here, you can trade items you've collected or dress up your avatar. The parent must physically approve becoming a part of DGamer. Add your email address via the DS and then click on a link you receive to register.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many mini-games you have to play in order to complete this adventure. Do you like playing the violin in the rhythm game best? Or do you like the card matching games better?

  • Do you think the ghosts are scary in the game? Or are they cool?

  • Will you be reading the book in addition to playing the game? Do you like the fact that the book is available with the game? Why or why not?

Game Details

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