Common Sense Media Review
By Erin Bell
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
TV-based romp has positive role models and teen drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut
What's It About?
As the newest student at the prestigious arts school Hollywood Arts, players must deal with the usual social pressures of high school (such as friends, rivals, and relationship drama). Players tap the screen to interact with characters from the show in order to help them out with their problems. Players also take part in rehearsals, performances, and other challenges through six mini-games that involve dancing, guitar playing, dramatic improvisation, drawing, staging, and serving food at the Grub Truck. By collecting stars, you can unlock new outfits to wear.
Is It Any Good?
Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut communicates positive messages and role models for tweens. Kids can choose to be male or female, and select from different skin colors and body types for a diverse range of character customization options. Each chapter of the game plays out like an episode of the TV show, with some sort of drama that eventually gets resolved with the player's help. Gameplay consists of a series of "go here, pick up that" quests that aren't at all challenging, thanks to giant green arrows that show the player exactly what to do next. The only real challenge comes in playing the mini-games, which can also be enjoyed separately in Arcade mode.
Fans of Victorious should get something out of Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut as long as they're OK with basically participating in a mildly interactive TV episode (with some fun mini-games thrown in), and don't expect a full-fledged adventure game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship. In what ways is it good to have a strong network of friends? What qualities do you look for in a friend, and in what ways can you be a good friend to others?
Families can also talk about bullies like Jade. Why do some people like to play mean pranks? What are some strategies for dealing with bullies in school? How about online cyberbullies?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo DS
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : D3Publisher of America
- Release date : November 15, 2011
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Arts , Friendship , School ( High School )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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