Manufacturer: Leap Frog
Price: $69.99 for the system & $24.88 for the game (Also available in bundle sets)
Buy this Toy at: Amazon for $89.98 (full bundle w/ Wall-E Game)
LI Kids actually posted this review earlier in the year though as this would be a suitable Christmas option, we decided to dig it up and re-post it. Look for our other toy reviews for some fun Christmas options for the kids!
Leap Frog is known for making some of the best toys with education in mind, that is currently on the toy market. Even though my child is older, I have kept my eye on all they have done because I might have more children, I have a young nephew, and because I just love toys. One thing I can be iffy on though is the idea of a child having a handheld gaming system. My son had one when he was younger and I noticed how he wanted to take it everywhere and play it constantly. Maybe my biggest issue was that it wasn’t very educational. Whatever it was, he doesn’t have one anymore and I am not very fond of the idea of him getting one again.
The Leapster 2 may have changed my mind, in part, on gaming systems for kids. This system is for children between the ages of four and seven. Depending on the child, a little younger or older might work, too. The thing I like the most about this system is that it’s educational. The games are fun for kids but they actually get something out of them, too. It’s not just mindless entertainment and as a parent and an educator, I can respect that.
We have paired this review up with the review for the game that we received with the system. WALL-E is sure to be one of the most popular games for this system. Set to possibly become one of the most popular Pixar films in existence, WALL-E is just plain fun when it comes to playing him on the Leapster 2. The kids love him and the environmental message makes it worth paying the main price and then some!
Positives & Negatives:
Positives:
Educational
Kid Friendly (they can operate and play on their own)
Good for Solo or Multiple Child Play
Reasonably Priced Games
Easy to find (this bright green isn’t getting past anyone!)
Sparks Creativity
Multiple Ways to play (SD Card, Main System Games, Computer, or Cartridge Games)
Negatives:
In a Faltering Economy could be Viewed as Expensive (Long Lasting Appeal could Cancel this out)
Bulky enough to be Awkward for some Kids
SD Card is Optional though Necessary for Advanced Features
Pricing & Availability:
The main Leapster 2 system will vary in cost depending on where you are buying it. I checked out Amazon.com for pricing and came up with a price tag of $69.99. If you’re comparing it to other game systems it is an absolute steal. You are not going to be able to purchase a new Nintendo DS for anything under $100 (that would be miracle pricing) and the PSP will run you much more than that. Meanwhile, the games for both systems would run around the $30 mark if not higher. The Leapster 2 games vary but many fall around $25. It’s a fair price if you want your young child to have a game system that is both educational and within their age range.
Requirements & Instructions:
Everything you need short of four batteries is included in the box when you buy the system. When you get the game everything is in there, too. Game systems like this are generally an out of the box solution to play. Just take it out of the box and as long as you have some batteries handy you will be up and going in no time.
Some options for play do come along with this though. For starters, parents that want their children to take full advantage of the Leapster 2 might want to pick up an SD card (purchase separately) because there are a number of features where this is necessary. You can play perfectly fine without one, but if you want to unlock all of the potential of the system at some point you will need one to experience all the system has to offer.
The SD card allows you to save pictures (there is a little art studio in the system), download new games, or even use the online Learning Path features. Without the SD card you will need game cartridges and while you can still go online with a USB cable it is only to view/print rewards for the completion of various game levels. You can also print out your pictures rather than saving them. So, if you do not have money for an SD card when you purchase this, your children will be able to get along without it for awhile.
Durability:
The Leapster 2 is definitely durable. As I mentioned earlier I cannot shake the feeling that it’s rather clunky. It’s big and thick, which is somewhat of a plus because if your child drops it, this is definitely not going to break. The child would literally have to make an effort to do damage to the Leapster 2 for it to show signs of abuse. The most delicate piece on this system would have to be the stylus pen. It is attached by a thin string, but we have not noticed any problems. The one thing that I have seen is that my four year old nephew is compelled to pull the system around by the string (he never wants to let go of the stylus). Still, the stylus remains intact and there are no problems with the game. We have not noticed any issues worth reporting to you when it comes to durability. Assuming your child does not throw their toys into the wall on a regular basis this should last longer than your child will be interested in it.
In the case of the WALL-E game, it’s a small cartridge. I did not intentionally attempt to damage it to find out what it could stand, though if I were you I would treat it like any other small electronic item that you don’t want broken. If it were stepped on it probably would not work anymore, but if it were dropped it should be fine. Other than that, use your best judgment.
Ease of Use:
Assuming your child is within the age range (give or take) there are no questions that this will be easy for them. There are a few options that they can choose from, but the kids didn’t ask me a thing when playing with the Leapster 2. I suppose part of the fun is in being able to find out what is what without having to ask for help. The four year old had the most challenge with it before, but the older child helped him along. Lil B had never had anything close to a handheld game, so this is probably where the problem came from.
Still with a little urging from the more experienced child he was up and running in minutes. He didn’t want to let this go either. He rotated from the game and art section of the system to the WALL-E game and he seemed to enjoy each one equally. He painted more than anything, though that didn’t surprise me because he loves to color. This was fine for me because it gave me plenty of nice new refrigerator art.
Naturally, if you have the SD card you would want to supervise your child when going online to download games or print progress sheets and rewards. However, if they are not going online this is simple and fun for them to use and they should not need much supervision while using it.
Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
I watched the kids play and I played a little myself and I have to say, for the money that you pay, it’s worth it to spend. The graphics are mildly archaic compared to some of the other systems, but I am not really a fan of any of the handhelds because none of them put out truly amazing graphics anyway. However, the screen is easy to see and the graphics are acceptable for younger children who probably won’t even notice how good/bad they are.
The thing that I love about the WALL-E game has to do with the environmentally educational nature of the game. Lil B made sure to have me read him the environment facts that popped up at the end of the game once we got there.
We didn’t spend too much time on the computer with it though I did notice that based on the progress that the kids made, there were recommendations of other games that he would like. That was a big positive for me because these recommendations appear to be based on strengths and weaknesses shown in the game. So, if you’re hoping to improve your child’s skill set this would be a good way to do it.
Lil B didn’t want to put the system down. He also liked the free game that is already on the system and ready to go. “Dragons to the Rescue!” has four levels and teaches numbers, letters, and moves up to spelling and multiplication. The levels are challenging but they are age/level appropriate. They will be harder for older kids, so two children of varying ages could still benefit from a Leapster 2.
Another big plus, especially if you own an earlier system, is that backplay is allowed so all of your children’s old games will work in this new system.
Bottom Line:
The Leapster 2 is an awesome toy and a great, educational dip into handheld gaming. If you want your child to have an on the go toy, but you do not want them exposed to something that offers access to violent gaming or other negative ideals, than this is for you. All of the games are friendly and educational for kids of most ages. Your children won’t be killing anything and there will not be any bloodshed. It’s just good clean fun in the simplest form. Sure there are some things that could be worked on. It’s a little clunky and the graphics aren’t the best, but it’s fairly priced, offers back play, and the kids love it. That being said, the good certainly outweighs the bad! If you do decide to purchase the Leapster 2, I highly recommend picking up the WALL-E game to go with it, too. The environmental message is excellent and kids seem to soak up the knowledge of the importance of helping keep our planet safe and clean. Again, this is well worth the few dollars you pay for it!
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Technorati Tags: Ages 4 to 7, Leap Frog, Leapster 2, WALL E, Handheld Game, Educational Game, Kids, Children, Young Children, Creative Play
Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.
