LeapFrogPixar Pals Learning Game (for LeapPad Platinum, LeapPad Ultra, LeapPad1, LeapPad2, LeapPad3, Leapster Explorer, LeapsterGS Explorer)

My niece and nephew are both under 5. On occasion, I am tasked with watching them. “On occasion” has become more frequent than I would otherwise want, but…family… Anyway, I live in an upstairs apartment, and also have a neighbor next door. Kids stomp. They scream to talk. Sometimes, for no known reason, they break into song and/or dance. Because their parents are worthless, they also idolize John Cena, and do their best to mimic WWE style wrestling if not constantly under a watchful eye. Discipline is not an option (see ‘parents’ and ‘worthless’ cited above. Also, ‘time out’ is not discipline, see below), and therefore, distraction is key for these visits. After my DVR managed to fill itself with Dora, Wonder Pets, and all that ilk, I decided it was time to look for other options. Given their obsession with walking off with my phone, and touching everything that has buttons, LeapPad seemed reasonable.LeapPad 2 and a half dozen games became Xmas presents. The LeapPad is nearly indestructible. When the kiddos “set it down” on my solid oak coffee table, the LeapPad is unscathed, which cannot be said about the wood (distressed wood is in, right?). The thread that keeps the stylus attached must be some carbon fiber, spider web hybrid- it can withstand swinging, chewing, etc. My only complaint about the Pad is that it goes through batteries faster than a puppy can decimate your girlfriend’s shoe closet.As for the games themselves, I have no complaints. The kids appear to enjoy them, and it keeps my DVR from teaching me little kid Spanish, my dog from being harassed, my neighbors from burning wicker me in effigy, and crayon off my walls. The fact that they may actually be learning something from the games is a happy secondary effect to their distraction. When they get sick of these, I’ll buy more, because I’ve learned that you can’t put a price on silence, or the ability to simply step out of a room to use the bathroom.On a side note, parents- discipline your kids, or give permission for someone else to do it. America is the culmination of thousands of years of human education and experience, and at this rate, it’ll be flushed in 2 generations because no one knows how to say “no” anymore, and there aren’t consequences for bad behavior. Time out is not discipline. Ostracizing children to a designated area and limiting their movement does not deter them from prison, it prepares them for it.

Game worked perfectly. DESCRIPTION: Main goal is to play games in order to collect puzzle pieces to complete puzzles. All three themes has a main page where you collect 50 "stars" in order to get puzzle pieces; there are also 2 game doors to collect additional pieces. In order to play each game, keys to the doors must be obtained first. TOY STORY: Provide facts about toys and engineering. Blue door = color matching. Match the correct block on the baggage car for Woody and Buzz to attach to their train cars. Tap hidden aliens for extra points. Red door = engineering. Use springs, teeter totters, and pulleys to get aliens to Buzz. FINDING NEMO: Provides facts about the ocean and ocean sea creatures. Blue door = matching. Circle sea creatures into bubbles and join bubbles. Move mines out of the way so they don't pop the bubble. I thought it was a little creepy Nemo would say "I'll tell Mr.Ray I learned about parents and babies" after the game gave a fun fact. Red door: matching. Guide Dory to collect sea creatures to take home to their correct habitat. Don't run into sea weed or sea creatures or else you will lose some. Bar at bottom of screen tell how much farther to go. WALL-E: Provides facts about the solar system. Blue door = sorting. Help Wall-E sort garbage, recycling, compost, and re-usable items. Sun light recharges Wall-E's battery. Don't run over cockroach friend or wrong items or will lose points. Red door = Search 'n Find and ordering. Help Eve search for items located under large dirt circles; then help Wall-E dig up item. Items are then used to build planetary solar system mobile model.

I don't know why everyone is saying the mazes in this game are hard to understand/do! My son is 3 1/2 and not only does he love the game but he had no problem figuring out how to unlock the keys to open the doors to the games. When he first played it I had to show him the concept of the game (on Nemo, the first of three he decided to play) and once I showed it to him he had no problem (and was able to to the others without help). Also, the instructions narrated before and during each game are very clear and explanatory. It shows where the keys are and tells you step by step how to use the functions of the game. I know some have said it was hard and confusing to figure out the mazes and their kids did not know what to do or the point of the game, but I did not find that to be true at all and neither did/does my son. All in all I can say he loves the game and has a lot of fun with it!

This game is too challenging!!I bought this game as a challenge game for my 3yr old, something to work up to and give her a bit of a challenge, with familiar characters to make her want to rise to that level. Well, I tried it, it was hard for me. I figured it was just me(tech challenged mom), I had my 11yr old try, he said it was difficult(but he still managed to pass all the levels). I successfully introduced this type of "level up" ga,es with my older children when they were this age and my 3yr old has a few other games that are rated the same(4-7),she uses those without issue(for her or me ;-))This is the first leapfrog product I have EVER been disappointed in or disagreed with the mfgs recommendations, and we have been buying leapfrog products since my now 14yr old was a toddler with the original leappad, then leapsters and l-max systems...and now with leappads and learning toys for my toddler/baby girls since birth.We love leapfrog, but this is one game that I cant recommend and wouldnt buy again.

The younger age groups may struggle with this a bit. The games use both the stylus and the D-pad, making it confusing sometimes for my 4 year old to understand what he should be doing. The sub games in 'Toy story' he loves because they are 100% stylus or 100% d-pad. I, however, find it very annoying that it seems to constantly being telling them to download extra games, connecting to the computer, and buying more stuff. I really don't think adverts should be included, or at the very least the option to disable them should be available. Direct marketing aimed at minors is immoral and is probably the reason I wont be purchasing any further leap pad products.

Perfect item

Bought this my godson, as he is forever on his leap pad. He loves the game and will sit for hours completing the different games on it. Ordered it and it arrived the very next day, packaged well. Would recommend to others.

We bought this for son's 4th birthday and he absolutely loves it. Lots of mini games, which is good and fits with with his (short) attention span!

Brilliant game's. My daughter had hours of fun playing with this. Easy to play.