Lalaloopsy: Carnival of Friends
Common Sense says
- Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS
- $29.99
- 2012
Parents say
Kids say
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The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Lalaloopsy: Carnival of Friends is a platformer game featuring the dolls from the Lalaloopsy toy line. The game lets kids interact with their favorite dolls without pushing the commercialism angle too strongly. Since this game is appropriate for 5-year-olds and can be played on both the Nintendo DS and the 3DS, parents need to remember to turn off the 3D aspects of the 3DS for kids under age 7 from within the devices Parental Controls. Nintendo warns that the 3D aspect could damage developing eyesight of children under age 7.
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What's it about?
In LALALOOPSY: CARNIVAL OF FRIENDS kids control four of the Lalaloopsy dolls (a fifth is unlocked later) as they go around a carnival helping their friends collect needed items. Each of the dolls has a unique skill, and players must switch between them in order to reach all the items. One doll, for example, uses a pillow to bounce over small obstacles, while another can pop balloons with a pin to access new areas. In between levels, kids play tile puzzle mini-games where they must rotate tiles until the two pictures match up.
Is it any good?
While Lalaloopsy: Carnival of Friends promotes the franchise on which it's based, it brings more to the table than that -- it offers fantastic gameplay as well. Kids take the dolls through a bright and cheerful carnival setting, which includes tight ropes, twisty slides, Ferris wheels, and roller coaster rides. Each doll has a pet in tow that can be interacted with, resulting in some truly adorable animations. As kids play, they'll unlock dozens of snapshots and bios of additional dolls, which encourages them to replay stages more than once. The strong platformer gameplay and puzzle-solving of Carnival of Friends should appeal to young players regardless of whether they're fans of the dolls.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about whether the game would be as enjoyable if it didn't star the Lalaloopsy friends. Did you enjoy the game more because of the gameplay, or the dolls? Why do you think this game was created?
Families can talk about fun at the carnival. What are your favorite carnival rides, and why?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS
- Subjects: Social Studies: exploration
Hobbies: collecting - Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles
Self-Direction: work to achieve goals
Collaboration: cooperation - Price: $29.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: Activision
- Release date: October 30, 2012
- Genre: Girl
- Topics: Friendship
- ESRB rating: E for (No Descriptors)
- Last updated: November 11, 2020
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.