Common Sense Media Review
By Christopher Healy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mini-games with cast of TV show are fun, but disjointed.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Sonny with a Chance
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
The SONNY WITH A CHANCE DS game is based on the same-named Disney Channel sitcom about a teen-run sketch comedy show called \"So Random.\" In the game, members of the \"So Random\" cast turn their studio into a giant game board and play against one another to see who can collect the most fan letters. Whenever a player lands on a specified board space, he or she initiates a mini-game for all four players to take part in. Mini-games involve activities like food fights, musical chairs, and dancing. Some are showbiz-based, like the one in which players literally hog the spotlight, trying to keep within the circle of a moving spotlight and pushing other players out of the light. Along the way, players will earn money to buy new costumes and to unlock more mini-games that they can then play outside of the boardgame mode.
Is It Any Good?
Sonny with a Chance, like many video game sitcom adaptations, doesn't attempt to follow plots or storylines from the show upon which it is based -- a sensible decision, as most sitcom situations aren't exactly playable scenarios. But the mini-games here do a good job of sticking with the tone and feel of the show. They certainly stay true to the "So Random" theme. And many of the mini-games are good, chaotic fun -- especially the ones that require you to push and nudge other players out of your way. The game's big flaw is in the layout of the game boards. There are too many empty spaces, and not enough that lead you into mini-games. And a mini-game can become quite monotonous and dull when it just involves one person after another moving along spaces on a board. Simply playing the mini-games on their own is much more enjoyable, but unfortunately, you can't "purchase" any of them from the in-game store until after you've completed them in a boardgame session.
Online interaction: Kids can win new avatar outfits for their online D-Gamer accounts. More impressively (though not technically online), four friends can play a mulitiplayer game with only one game card through the DS's wireless connection.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether fame is a worthy goal in and of itself. The characters in the game all want to be the most popular and most famous member of their show's cast. Do children think this is realistic? Or as the Sonny TV show is a comedy, do they understand the concept of the game to be satirical?
Why does Disney frequently create games based on their TV shows?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Disney Interactive
- Release date : March 16, 2010
- Genre : Mini-games
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 28, 2022
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