Reviews (26)

Great fun for my little one!
I bought this for my daughter when she was about five months old.She just loves it.It is educational, musical; it has everything.She is also able to practice walking a few steps and spinning around since this is both a stationary toy and one that allows them to move, all while remaining safe in one place.The Intellitainer has several different height adjustments within the seat which allows her to keep playing as she grows taller. I would definitely purchase this again!

newMNmom
I love this product!!My husband and I looked for a new stationary toy that my 4 month old could use.She loved to stand at and early age, and I wanted her to be able to play while she did this.This has been a great for her!At first her toes barely touched the ground, but now at 6 months, she can touch the ground and has a great time in it!The other review said her son had a hard time turning around.It is a little hard to turn in, but I can tell when she wants to see the other side, so I turn it forher.She can easily move back and forth in it though and I think it's been good for her to learn how to use her feet to move around.She loves the bells, and really starts dancing when the music plays.She also loves the mirror and the stationary toys.I agree it is big and not easy to move between rooms.But it is so worth it in the end.I would recommend this to anyone.

Fun for my little one
My 7 month old daughter loves the intelletainer, we got this when she was 5 months, it keeps her busy. She loves to play with the the plastic gears, the mirror/clock and the toys a lot. The only thing I didn't care for is its big and wide that it won't fit in between doors if you want to move it to another room.

Wonderful
We actually bought this entertainer when my son was only three months old, so we could have it ready when he was ready.I saw it in the store and was so impressed with everything it had on it, especially all the educational things!It was really easy to put together.My son was a lap-standing baby pretty early, and he would want to stand all the time, which, of course, it's hard to find the time for.I put him in this for the first time when he was just four months old, and he cried at first because his feet didn't reach the ground...so I just put a pillow underneath, and he loved it.At first he just liked to pull and chew on the bell, but now he does everything (he's not quite six months).He turns himself around, he plays with the clock/mirror...this keeps him busy for up to half an hour, sometimes a bit longer!I would definitely recommend this!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
I am in love with this thing! It bought it about 4 months ago and my daughter loves it. At first, we had the exersaucer, there were not enough things on it for her to play with. So we got this on and it is great. She can hit the keys and they light up and sing the abc's. It has story telling, 123's, colors and alot of fun stuff. My daughter learns while she plays. It does take up alot of space, but worth every ince. Hard to move from room to room also. But I still give it an A+. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very Pleased Outstanding Product
We had to think long and hard on spending this kind of money on a single item. However once we opened it up our reservations evaporated. This thing is built like a tank, and is extremely sturdy.
As for the kids they had a blast and I have had a hard time getting them back inside the house. The weight limit is 200lbs which was found nowhere on the box. The box is indeed misleading the kids are shrunk down about 1/2 the actual size, no weight limits on the outside either, the water fall isn't nearly 1/2 the output as it appears on the box photo. But it really didn't matter this item was a blast and will provide years of enjoyment. Now to get the kids to bed so I can play.

misslead
I would like to know where they found the hobbit kids for the pictures on the box. We have three children ranging in age from 5 to 9, approximately the same age as the kids in the pictures on the box. After setting it up and having the children position themselves like the pictures on the box, it was obvious that the children on the box are imposed. The pool at the bottom is about a third of the size as implied on the box. At the end of the day, out of the 6 kids playing on the slide (with adult supervision), 3 had hurt necks and one was bleeding.

Wasn't too sure
I debated getting this slide as it is A LOT of money for something that could just pop.I was VERY impressed with the quality.We purchased ours at a local store but it is VERY similar to this one.We have three children ranging in age from 9 to 3 and they LOVE this and can play on it for hours!You can turn off the water and still slide down into the pool of water at the bottom.It sets up quickly and that comes in handy! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This is a wonderful swing for any age!
We got this swing as a gift, and right away we were able to use it with our newborn!It's safe and easy to work.My child loves the music it plays and the flashing lights that can either be on when the music is playing or not!Sometimes I'll just put him in the swing with the music bar pulled back and he'll fall alsleep.This is a great place for a child to just sit and 'hang out'.

Best Swing Ever
We have four children and the oldest are twins that are 6 yrs old so I wanted to upgrade to a better swing. It was the best investment we ever made. My daughter who is now 8 weeks old loves her swing so much that its the only thing that seemed to make her happy. She refused to sleep in her bassinet or crib so she slept in her swing. I guess she liked how it was reclined and didn't like to lay flat. She still loves to take naps in her swing and for the mother who thinks the bar is too heavy and the bird startles the baby when you flip it over well just catch the bird when you flip it over. We have never had a problem with it startling our daughter and she spends alot of time in the swing. Its also so easy to put the baby in the seat which is very well padded with the bar flipped back. It has an adorable pattern and we have all of the Flutter Bye items. She just loves to look at the bird with the lights and the music and I would highly recommend this item to everyone.

Good Swing!
My 12 week old loves this swing. She stares intenetly at the swinging bird.She likes the lights, the music, and the toys that she can't yet reach.She spends upwards of three hours a day in the swing.Some kids just don't like swings no matter what toys are attached.Our first daughter was like that. We had a Graco swing with the little bears on top that always swing to the back. When this one came and loved to swing we realized we needed an upgrade. The swing is easy to put together and easy to use.

Cute Swing But Has Some Problems
This is a very cute swing and it plays some nice melodies and it has interesting lights and sounds from the top swivel bar.However, my son is afraid of the bird.At first I thought it was the bird staring down at him, but no matter which way I point the bird, my son is very skeptical!It may not be the bird but the general busy-ness of the swivel bar and the amount of toys and objects hanging off of it that bothers my son.

I first put my son in the swing when he was about 6 weeks old.He is now 16 weeks and he still will not stay in the swing for longer than 5 minutes.It doesn't matter if music or lights are on or off, or if the swing is on fast or slow, he does not like it.

The bird should detach from the swing.I don't believe this would pose a hazard because the bird is too high for a baby to reach when the baby is properly strapped in the swing.I also believe the swivel light tool bar should be made lighter in weight.It is difficult to put my son in the swing because it is tilted at an odd angle when the tool bar is flipped back.When I go to flip the tool bar foward all the toys swing and the bird snaps into place very loudly and startles my son every time.So I find myself trying to hold all the toys so they don't swing while trying to flip the music/light bar forward, and it is very difficult and cumbersome.

If I could make a swing purchase again, I would definately not get this swing, but one that had less activity and toys above my son.

BUY A DIFFERENT ONE!
My child loves this swing, However, I have had it for 4 months and I have had to call Fisherprice 3 different times to have them replace the music and lights bar.The wiring is horible to where it won't play. If you don't mind having to call to get a replacement part than this is your swing, because Fisherprice has no problem with sending you a new one. I should know, I am on my 4 new lights and music toy bar.I do like the swing, but I wish that it worked better. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

GREAT FOR BABY!
Well for my its plural, I am a first time mother of twin boys. This seat is by far not only the best in the Graco line, but the best on the entire market!!

I love how this seat is great for anyparent. The seat is very nice and light, and it snaps easily into our double snap n' go (in black) and there is no fear of tipping. It can also fit in grocery carts, restaurant highchairs, snap n' go's, travel systems, and on little tables too. Its easy to snap into the included base as well, just snap it in litterally and its super safe too! its easy to reqline and the little harness fits nicely, is easily adjustable and its easy to reqline too. The handle is comfortable and easy to hold. The fabric is to die for and its very, very good for babies skin.

My sons are winter babies (gonna be 5 months old soon) and this seat really kept them warm. Now that its getting warmer outside, the seat "breathes" and keeps my babies at the perfect temperature and they never come out sticky and sweaty like wiht my friend who has a 9 month old and a lower priced graco model with suede, who thought of that? The seat also has great foam that I havent seen on any other seat out there, and it contours to my babies and they always fall straight to sleep. Its also very easy to hang little toys on it.

I couldnt be any happier with the quality of this seat, its great and comfortable for our sons, and I can't imagine anything else...

What We've Been Waiting for!
My husband and I were thrilled to receive this gift for our shower. We registered for this car seat because of its known brand and its safety mechanisms.We also love the patttern and portability - it's unisex and easy to take in and out of the base.

Worth the extra money for the comfy foam
I chose this carseat not only because the pattern caught my eye but mainly because of the Gracopedic foam. It was the only seat with the extra cushioning. The unique black and creme colored swirl pattern is very suitable for a girl which is hard to find when most carseats seem to be mostly navy or brown patterns. It is definitely worth the price for the extra comfort of the foam not to mention safer too. I just didn't like the idea of my baby riding on the plastic. I also recommend the matching stroller.

Waring label is on all seats
I was just reading through the reviews below and happened to see the review about the warning label. I have had three graco infant seats and they have all had the warning label on them in the same spot, none of the labels have been a problem they are not scratchy and will not hurt your child. It sounds like the previous reviewer was just worried about the looks of the seat not the function, and function (SAFETY) should be the primary concern. I currently have two of these seats and matching duoglider in the GGG pattern(the graco G is in two tones of brown on fabric). I have been VERY happy with all three of my graco snugrides they are very safe and my babies have been comfortable in them. A big plus is that they have gracopedic foam in them which feels like a cloud. My twin babies always fall asleep when the are in their car seats.

Great-Except for the large, unremovable warning label!
When I first saw this seat online I couldn't wait to order it.I really liked the black and white design, thought it was stylish and go with anything.Plus the memory foam would be sure to feel good for the baby.However, when it arrived, it has this large, warning label (warning you not to place an infant carrier in the front seat) on the left side, close to wear the baby's face would lay.It's apparently ironed on or something, but either way, you can't get it off.I decided to return the car-seat because I thought that one surely must be defective.Wrong!The replacement had the same big, rough, unremovable warning label, so I returned it and request a refund. I will say however that BabiesRus/Amazon.com handled both my replacement and refund request in a very timely manner.I was pleased with their customer service.However to me the warning label being located where it was is awful.Not only an eye-sore but rough material for the baby's face.Not worth it.And it was such a disappointment because otherwise it was the perfect seat! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Buyer Beware
I love the two position swings and so does my son.However, I am not happy with this particular product.After a week, the mobile was no longer working.After 2 months, we are going through 4 D batteries every week!This swing just didn't last!!!If you like the two position swings... I would recommend paying a little extra to GET A BETTER ONE.

its really nice
i love the 2 swinging positions it has. its awesome thats why i go it. the animals on the mobile seem more or a decoration for the parent rather than the baby because all the baby see are the animals feet no big deal. my son loves the mirror on the mobile and always looks at it. it does swing a little fast, but you can just drape a blanket on the back ofit, or even over the baby and it slows down. my son likes that its fast though. its light enough so i can hold my son and move the swing to another point in the house. the seat can sit up or lay down a bit.. this is a really good buy.

Mobile Breaks.........
When I bought this swing was very excited.I loved the look, the cute animals on the mobile and the fact that it swings 2 different ways.BUT after only two days of use the mobile broke.Either way my son still loves the swing, but I didn't pay 80 bucks for a swing that only half works. Word to the wise save the box just in case you have to return it.

Good, not great
I bought this swing for my son, who is now eight weeks old.He loves it!I , however, am not so sure how I feel about it.It makes alot of clicking sounds while it is swinging, which isn't very helpful when you're trying to get a baby to sleep.It's not very loud, but I wouldn't recomend it if your little one is a light sleeper, like mine.I also noticed that it is a little unstable, unless you constantly check to make sure the legs are pulled all the way out.I do, however, love that you can swing the baby in two directions.That in itself may compensate for the other shortfalls.

Swings Great, but .....
My son is not even 3 months old yet and I am on my third swing.The swing is awesome and the fact that you can decide which way to swing it is a great feature.However, the reason I am on my 3rd swing is because the mobile keeps breaking down.My son loves to look at the mobile MOVE.Overall, if the mobile didn't contiuously break down I would rate it 5 stars, but it has been a pain to have to return it over and over. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "LàCi Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (107)

fabulous for babies and toddlers
My daughter loved this toy when she was six months old, and still loves it at 18 months. I have had no durability issues, and when I noticed the instruments playing out of sync I replaced the batteries, which solved the problem. I love that she can select different instruments to listen to, and that it exposes her to more than the usual canned electronic baby music... she now has a love for instrumental music! This is a fantastic addition to her toybox.

Great music, but it doesn't hold my son's interest.
I seem to be more interested in this toy than my 8 month old. There are lots of beautiful songs and the music is very high quality for an electronic toy. It's too bad my son doesn't like to play with it, because the music is so much nicer to listen to than any of his other toys!

BEST toy we have, by far!
This toy was given to me for my 1 yr old daugther. She is almost 2 yrs now, and she still LOVES playing with it. It is very durable, considering how much she tosses it (and that another baby played with it before they gave it to us). Also, we have only had to change the batteries once. We take it with us every where we go, and it has served us very well in the car - especially in those moments when she just doesn't want to be put in the car seat. It has been very educational as well, in that she can now identify each instrument by name and picture, and presses the appropriate button. She will keep playing the instruments over and over - and yet we don't get tired of it either. This is one of the best toys we have, by far.

He loved it- while it lasted
This toy gets my son's attention- and did since he got it for his first Christmas (9 months)- but unfortunately, it is NOT DURABLE. You cannot let the child actually play with the toy- if they throw it at all, it's history. And guess what- most babies throw things when they get excited. They tend to drop things, too- the toy is heavy for a small child. He loved the lights, and he loved pressing teh big buttons- the music is not too bad, either- but for the cost, you want it to be durable so the baby can play with it.

Best toy yet!
My parents gave this to my daughter when she was three months old, and she seemed to like the musical sounds as we pressed the buttons. She is now eight months old, and she STILL loves it! It is her favorite toy. At 5 months, we would put it between her legs for balance while she learned to sit up, and she would make the music play. Now she's learning to crawl, and she always goes for this toy! The music is NOT annoying, and we enjoy listening to it as much as she does. We feel like she will enjoy this toy for a long time to come! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Good Investment
My decision to buy this car seat was based on the fact that I already have an alpha omega car seat.I bought the first one when my daughter was six months.She is now two.She has a lot of room and she is very comfortable in it. I love that thebelts adjusts easily.I tried the Graco Platinum but did not like it.In the end it is a good investment for the price.

A great fit!
This is a great seat!It was easy to install.I had it checked by a safety seat tech and he agreed it was a great fit.I purchased and returned several other seats including the Britax Marathon, which was not worth all the hype.The only down side is taking the seat apart to wash the seat cover.My 3 year old is comfortable and happy in this one!

caring mom
Over all this is a great seat.I bought this when my 8 month old out grew her carrier.The seat is a little trick getting it to sit correctly when you have to install in the rear facing position.After having this checked by a professional we were told that with some vehicles you must remove the base and reinstall it once you turn forward facing for the booster seat.My child loves this once she adjusted to the difference.

SAVED MY BABY'S LIFE *****
Very easy to install and use. My 21 month old son was buckled in this carseat when our family was involved in a roll over accident.Our Suburban was T-boned at over 60 miles an hour causing us to roll and land on the roof of our vehicle.My son came out of the accident with only a few bruises from the shoulder harnesses.It is the worst but the greatest feeling to turn around and see your babies hanging from their carseats and knowing that they did their jobs.You can bet that I went the next day and purchased the same seats for my 2 boys.My 4 1/2 year old was in the Graco Turbo Booster.Thanks to carseat manufactures and SAFE KIDS my babies are with me today. ... Read more

Reviews (245)

Stormy's Aunt
I purchased this car seat when my niece was born and I had difficulties from the start. Getting her little arms through the straps was and still is difficult and she is now 4 months old. The unit is heavier than most and I must confess I bought it because it looked good. Changing cars means setting up the base and that too is difficult because you have to level while it is strapped to the seat. Once you get the base leveled, then when you place the car seat in with the baby...the base becomes unleveled...so it becomes a guessing game.
The one plus I have for this infant seat is that it attaches pretty easily with the Primo Viaggo stroller, which I love.

It's O-K....
This carseat wasn't as great as I thought it was going to be.I first registered for it b/c this brand was what "all the new moms were getting".My son was born very little (only 6 lbs) and in July.He was sweating in this carseat after the first week or so and always cried in it.He grew so fast that by the time he was 2 months old, he was 14.5 lbs and squished into his carseat and cried even more when he was in it.His backside was always hot and sweaty.Not only that, the Primo Viaggio infant carseat was heavy to begin with but with the added weight of the baby, I was struggling.We bought the Britax Marathon carseat and changed him into it by the time he was 4 months old.He LOVES his carseat now and enjoys every car ride now that he's not squished, sweaty and uncomfortable.Seems that it was a waste of money to only use the infant carseat for 4 months.

Before buying, make sure base fits in car!
We bought this car seat because of the great review in the Baby Bargains book, and for the clean styling.After spending an hour trying to install it, we figured out that the LATCH system only works if you have the LATCH system installed on the BOTTOM of your car seat (not the latches behind the back seat head rests).Our car does not have the LATCH system at the top AND bottom of the seat.That is an *extra* updated feature.

We figred there had to be another way to install it without using the LATCH system...we went to the Highway Patrol who proceeded to tell us that there is a way to install it, but since our seats aren't flat enough in the back, the car seat won't work in our car anyway.Our car is an '02 Audi A4 - pretty common size in cars, I think.

Not really worth the money.The Highway Patrol said that he prefers (for safety reasons) the Evenflo car seats - but this one is a safe car seat if it fits right.Now I have to buy another car seat AND stroller since it went together with the Aria stroller....

NOT SAFE!!
I took this car seat to my local fire department for safe installment and I was told it was an unsafe seat for my baby b/c there is so much cushion b/w the baby and the plastic. The more cushion, the more air, and the more unsafe for baby.I am going out to buy a graco snugride.Do not waste your money on this seat, even if you want to buy a peg perego stroller to use with it.

Love this seat
I love this car seat!!The snug fit, keeps my little girl safe and cozy. She easily falls asleep in this car seat. The straps are easy to adjust. The fabric is well made; it doesn't look cheap like some of the other seats. Consumer Reports also rated this car seat as one of the safest. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Venezia stroller -- not as good as needs to be
We have purchased two of these strollers -- the earlier model, and then the 2004 updated one. The 2004 model is better, but neither one is great. I chose this stroller because of the boot cover, which was supposed to be great in winter ( I walk outside a lot) only to find out a shocking suprise -- THE STROLLER DOES NOT WORK IN THE SNOW !!!!!!!!!!!! This was a complete shock when it first snowed and I was caught outside, to find out that not only the snow gets stuck in the weels and the stroller stops moving until the weels are cleared ( and after five feet the same story) but also it slips!! I fell twice with the stroller falling on its side before I made it home ( I was 15 minutes away from it). TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE !!!! Luckly, my baby was almost 12 months then and was not hurt, but what if it was a newborn?!I stoped using Venezia immediately. We have also bought Pliko P3 earlier that year ( the newest model ) and I used that for some time. P3 did a good job, but is was not was I needed. Even though P3 handled snow and everything always great, I needed a reversable handle, so that I could flip my baby over if there was wind, or he wanted to see me. We found Bugaboo online -- THE BEST STROLLER IN THE WORLD!!! it is more expensive, but not only worth every penny, but I think it is underpriced for what you get! It comes as two parts -- bassinet for a little baby, and a stroller seat for an older, but can aslo be used in full recline with the newborn, and ALSO you can just not use anything in the frame but snap in your carseat -- it fits craco, peg perego, evenflow, babytrend, combi and a couple of others, that i didn't recognize. The set of weels is amazing! You get your city/mall, or pavement/grass/offroad, you can not only reverse the handle, but also reverse the seat, so you can ALWAYS get the weels that you want and the seat position that you want. IT RIDES INCREADIBLY SMOOTH over EVERYTHING!!!! After having Graco, Pliko and Venezia, I was cautious about the curbs and bumps and was pleasantly shocked when Bugaboo rode over everything without me even noticing. It turns easily even is smallest isles. It is very sturdy, but even more important -- increadibly light. The whole thing is only 14 lb -- which is unbelievable to me -- as it is super sturdy. It also folds up to very compact, much smaller then venezia. I highly recommend this stroller over any other on the market.

Good, but not great!
I bought this stroller because of the buggy feature, color (there were few black strollers at the time), and high quality brand.I was generally happy with it, but I had a few issues:
1.It is not as easy to close as the American models
2.The fabric boot cannot be removed to be washed
3.The wheels are not as large as some similar models for better shock
4.There is no tray for cups, keys, etc. (there is a cup holder, but it is not as handy)

I did love the fact that you could move the handle either way so you could look at your baby or they could look out.

The best stroller-worth the money
This is by far the best stroller made. The ride is smooth. The fabric is classy--love the Italian fabric.I haven't had problems with the wheels--people who have, might need to change the wheel settings. The basket is a little hard to get to when using the infant car seat; however other strollers have similar problems when using the infant car seat. I also love that the handle moves, which allows me to see my precious cargo.This stroller is the Mercedes of all strollers.

My favorite stroller!!!!
I own 2 strollers.I've been searching for the perfect stroller since my daughter was born and I've finally found it!I started with the P3 (also a Peg Perego) because it is lighter than the Venezia and folds smaller.I figured that with the carseat I could create the same effect as the reversible handle.Boy was I wrong!My baby hates her carseat.And she did not like the P3 either because she couldn't see me.So I bought the Venezia.It is fantastic.My baby is happy because she can see me.And I'm happy because it is a plush, gorgeous stroller.

The wheels are not huge, but it handles fine on city sidewalks.This is not a stroller for grass and gravel, but few strollers are.That's where joggers come in handy.The wheels are bigger than they used to be - starting in 2004 Peg Perego increased the wheel size - they are now the same size as the wheels on my P3.I'm sure that has helped the handling.When you read reviews, pay attention to the age of the stroller because Peg Perego has improved it.

The boot is fantastic.It is so cozy.And you can unzip it, creating a bassinet effect which will also prevent toys (or your baby!) from falling out.The fabric is plush - it's so cozy and soft!

I find the handling to be great.Just remember to lock the wheels closest to the handle whichever way the handle is facing.What's great about this reversible stroller is that it has four sets of swivel wheels, so it handles great no matter which way the handle is facing.

The fold does take some getting used to.But it folds up (rather than towards the pavement) and stands when folded.I always keep one set of wheels locked (the ones closest to the handle in reverse mode).You can also fold it with things in the basket (like your raincover) which you can't do with the P3.It isn't terribly heavy.The 2004 and later models have handles to help you lift the stroller up steps while it is open or out of the trunk when closed.It takes up more space in my trunk than the P3, but I can fit both the Venezia and the P3 in the trunk at the same time.

The basket is HUGE!My P3 basket was ok, not really great.I found it hard to get things in and out.This basket is sooo roomy.Since 2004 the basket can be pushed down for easy access.

That said, there is 1 thing I don't like.The cupholder is a total joke!Nothing fits in it except a can of soda or the tiniest of water bottles.You can't even try to cram anything in there because it'll flip upside down.I clip a diaper bag (Kecci Mommybag) to the loops on the handlebar or hang my Skip Hop and stick my water bottle in the outside bottle pocket.

Also, I am keeping my P3 as a travel stroller.The Venezia doesn't strike me as great for airports since the fold is more complicated.But it is so wonderful that if I could do it all over again, I'd buy the Venezia now and maybe something like the Maclaren Triumph or Chicco Tuscany for toddlerhood.

A carrige like stroller
I have an infant and when I was pregnant a friend told me she lover her Venezia stroller.So when I went looking for a stroller I saw this one and tried it out.I like that fact that the stroller has a reversable handle and it lays all the way down.It is like an old carrige only it strolls great.We love taking walks.It is easy to push and when the sun is in her eyes the sun shade covers her up.I love this stroller. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The next great RPG from Bioware
As I type this, I finished Jade Empire only minutes ago...and I am quite pleased with what Bioware brought to the table yet again.Great games like this (and other gems like Knights of the Old Republic) are too far and few between, yet it only serves to highlight just how great a game can be... when made by the right people.

Although the lush graphics and fluid animations are certainly a high point of Jade Empire, it's really the fleshed out storyline that makes this game shine. Throughout the entire 17 hours and 16 minutes that it took me to finish Jade Empire, I felt I was very much a part of something "big".Each person you meet along the way has a part to play, and they feel much more than just supporting characters in a video game.

They bring their own hopes, fears, dreams, and even personal viewpoints... and are developed nicely. In essence, they not only help to move the story along its key points, but they feel like they are there for a specific purpose. Walking away from the game, I felt that all were crucial in my journey... something that is unusual in most games I play today (even my much beloved Knights of the Old Republic).Beyond the characters, the storyline itself was full of surprises, which fueled my desire to keep moving forward in the game. If you've played other games from Bioware, you'll know that things are not always as they appear.

Much like KOTOR, Jade Empire incorporates what we gamer's affectionately call the "morality system" into the game; though not as clear-cut this time around. Instead of choosing the path of "good" or "evil", players choose a demeanor based on the "Open palm" or "Closed fist" principles. Although some may view the closed fist as somewhat closer to evil than the open palm, it really just means that you are choosing a path based more on physical power, than inner strength, much like hard vs. soft styles in the martial arts world. What about the game play itself, you ask?

The game play mechanics were pretty neat, though I didn't find the normal difficulty setting all that challenging (for the most part anyway). The amount of styles you could purchase seemed unending, and choosing from each of them really wasn't that difficult. Mapping them to the respective d-pad was a cinch. My only regret was how little I used the strong attacks in the game, due to how open they left my character so open to counterattacks. Opposing characters could block your fast attacks, but getting past their shields was as simple as jumping over their heads and attacking again from behind.

Of course if you played the game on hard, this was much easier said than done. Bottom line though, you don't want to go anywhere near the easy difficulty, or the game might be a "pushover" for most of you. Difficulty settings aside, I greatly enjoyed the combat engine and the many fighting styles I could choose "on the fly".Besides being a boatload of fun, they enable you to personalize your martial style to your liking.

As I expected, the voice work and music was quite good. Though based on an obvious fictitious Asian world, the sounds (and sights of course) of Jade Empire are believable in every respect. It is obvious that much work was put into using the music to help convey feeling throughout the game, and shows. Overall, I think Jade Empire is fantastic, and I applaud this and the other great games Bioware has made for the Xbox.

The only real complaint SOME may have is with the length of the game itself. While I completed it in around 17 hours, I didn't do most of the side quests. Had I done so, I can imagine the game lasting somewhat longer. Of course you could play it through again using the opposite style of what you chose the first time, and squeeze even more game play out of Jade Empire. Bottom line? I don't think my time is really a good gage of Jade Empire's true length. Nonetheless, I loved every minute of the game, and I think most of you will as well.Though not perfect, Jade Empire is quite the game.

"gAmE bOi"

The 2nd best RPG!!!!
Jade Empire is an excellent game, period.It's not perfect, but what game is?Well, KOTOR came pretty close to perfect...so due to it's similarities and since many people played that game (either loving it or hating it) I think it is a good reference point for Jade Empire.

STORY -As usual with Bioware, the game is driven strongly by a great story and very interesting characters.From a young girl possessed by two different demons and a mysterious and feisty woman in black, to a huge axe wielding mercenary who only wants to drink and fight.The plot is filled with myth, magic, spirits,demons and a share of comedy.It has elements of classic kung fu movies which you will immediately recognize.The only downside to the story is that it's not that surprising.I think the plot twist KOTOR had will be very hard to beat...and Jade Empire has it's share of surprises, but nothing you can't see coming.I won't reveal the plot twist, but I think the impact of KOTOR's plot twist was that it involved the player's character directly, while Jade Empire's twist centers around an NPC.This is not necesseraly bad, since it serves the plot perfectly and ties up the story nicely...but the impact is not as strong.Regardless, Jade Empire's story and characters are by far it's strongest points.

GAMEPLAY - A lot of people complained about KOTOR's turn based system, so did I when I started the game.To fix that, Jade Empire's combat system is real time. This was done no doubt to try and get more people to play the game, not only RPG fans, and since it is a kung fu game it makes sense.The combat system is essentially a rock-scissor-paper game.The downside....it's too simple!Action gamers will not get as excited with the fighting system due to it's simplicity and RPG fans will miss the strategy behind the turn based system.Add the fact that the standard difficulty level is not too tough and you end up with a pretty easy game to beat.There's no real leveling-up, all this does is increase your health, chi and focus bars more, and improve your styles, which by the way you can get along with just two of them really.I beat the game with the first weapon style I got and the first martial style.The inventory is also trimmed down a lot to gems.While in KOTOR you had to customize your inventory for different fights or situations, adding to the strategy, here you can get along just fine with whatever it is you're carrying.In summary, the gameplay seems to be "RPG-Light" to try and get more people to play it, but it may be just a bit too simple.The moral aspect of it has no influence either.While in KOTOR being dark side or light side had meant different quests, different powers, etc. in Jade Empire it has really no influence during the game, probably just for the ending.Does the gameplay make the game less enjoyable...not really, but it is I think it's weakest point.

GRAPHICS AND SOUND - No complaints here.Graphics are awesome, the music great, and the voice over is good as well.The loading times are still long though.

OVERALL -As said at the beginning, the game is great...although I personally enjoyed KOTOR more.This one is also shorter which is a shame because it is good enough to make you want to keep playing it.Story, characters, graphics and sound are great while gameplay is good, but a bit trimmed down.That's why I think it's the second best RPG...KOTOR still being the best.

A Martial Odyssey

After creating the 2003 game of the year, what would you expect from Bioware? Well it's not what I saw coming, passing up the chance to make the sequel to KOTOR they decided to finally make a game that they've imagined for nearly a decade, an RPG in an ancient-China like land with plenty of kung-fu elements.

Jade Empire is not your standard RPG, it's far from it, but with it's improvements on the genre it very well may become the standard. The first noticeable difference in the gameplay is the innovative fighting style allowing you to fight in real time, but it's a change for the better. It's truly new feel is based around the d-pad, setting a different fighting style to each direction so that while in battle it is simple to change between them. This allows for many moves with various twists making it easier to navigate attacks. Bioware was correct in saying that for the player to be a kung-fu master they must feel like one as well, this is what the system of fighting does over a turn-based so common to RPGs.

I will not ruin the story, but it leads for action-packed sequences that will have you on the edge of your seat. You will easily find your self immersed in the story of this world. If you have played "Knight's of the Old Republic" you will know that Bioware's storytelling is top-notch and they only improve with Jade Empire's plot. The scenes have been pondered and perfected, the mythology is in-depth and brings an incredible realism to the world, and the architecture and newly-developed language are the icing on the cake.

On your quest there is plenty of customization available, mini quests to go upon, and lands to explore, all the while your choices having consequences leading you down the path of The Open Palm or The Closed Fist. You also constantly upgrade your character with the experience you gain over time, mastering different ways of fighting.

I have not enjoyed a game this much in a long while, and even if your are not a fan of the RPG genre this game can draw you in. It is an almost certain for RPG of the Year and a definite contender for Game of the Year.

Bioware's attention to detail, the over 320 minor characters have full voice-overs, and superb gameplay earn Jade Empire
A Bliss of 9

In The Fashion of KOTOR
I believe this game is alot better than the resent KOTOR II. The graphics are pretty decent. However there are flaws to this game but they are very few. I wonder if Bioware had done KOTORII, it would've been alot better. The story to this game seems like a Star Wars rip off but a well done rip off. The graphics are pretty impressive and the gameplay is solid in and real time.

Not as good as KOTOR, but still a great game
Nobody can really blame Bioware for trying to have their games reach out to more gamers, but this certainly alienates their hardcore fans.

Jade Empire follows this 'commercially' and 'user-friendly' RPG format. The game is actually an Action/Adventure, cleverly disguised as an RPG. The lenght of the game is around 20+ hours, down from 40+, in other Bioware RPGs.

Gone are also the 2 person parties - now you can only have a follower with you at a time. This means that in order to get their stories, you will have to constantly shuffle your follower. I ended giving up.

Gone is also the ability to Level Up your followers. This is now handled same way as in Diablo 2, automatically, by the game. Gone are also your levelling up options. Instead, everything has been simplified to the max, similar to Fable.

Gone is also the inventory - this time around you only upgrade 3 slots from an amulet. Like in Bard's Tale, you automatically get the best stuff. This could have worked great, but this 'best stuff' hardly ever comes around.

The game's main selling point is the new fighting system. No more turn based, everything takes place in real time. The fighting styles, magic and support styles are mapped to the directional pad, allowing 4 of them to be used. However, fighting ends up being reduced to Prince of Persia 1 fighting: simply jump over an opponent, then hit him with a power attack. Magic is very underpowered and with monsters being immune to magic or weapons, you may end up using one fighting style for whole game.

Graphics are gorgeous, very similar to Fable. You can still display a MiniMap on screen and all objectives are clearly displayed on it.

Quests are great and my only complaint is that you never know when or if you will leave the area for good. Chapters seem to be independent from each other and many times areas can no longer be accessed.

Like Fable, JE is avery linear game. You can only travel on the path you see on the map, everything else is 'invisible walls'.

Limited Edition comes with an additional character, a Monk. I could not see any differences between this character and others, so I would recommend buying LE only if it sells at same price as the normal edition.

Final thoughts: if you liked Fable, you will love this one. If you expect another Baldur's Gate or KOTOR, you may be disapointed. JE is NOT an RPG, but a great Action/Adventure. ... Read more

Editorial Reviews

Babies, start your engines! The Reebok Velocity stroller offers a comfy ride through both city terrain and well-worn rural trails, mainly because it is engineered with both jogger and passenger (up to 50 lbs.) in mind. Grownups can jaunt around guilt-free, knowing tots won’t have to endure body-jarring pot holes and unexpected bumps along the way. On the aluminum, collapsible stroller is a 5-point safety harness with adjustable shoulder, waist and crotch restraints; reclining seat; 16-inch, reflective bicycle tires (with air pump); hand/foot brakes; anti-roll tether cord; and a wide shade canopy for extra-sunny days. All of these features work together to make riding comfortable, and pushing easier. It also looks somewhat like a bicycle, so young kids will think it’s cool to ride in.--Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pulls to the Left
I have also had the same experience with this jogger pulling to the left. It's not worth buying unless you like to be inconvenienced!Our friend who used to fix bikes and jogging strollers for a living told us it was a manufacturing defect (not an installation one).Luckily, Babies R Us let us return it and we got a different one.

hard to steer & veers to the left
I was so excited when I bought this jogger but...
This is a terrrible jogger.I would highly reccommend you do not waste your money. Veers to the left and very difficult to steer. Your arms will be sore because it will not allow for anything but a straight line. Needs to be taken off the market.

Hard to steer
I recently bought the Reebok Stroller. I read all the reivews for it before my puchcase and thought I was buying a wonderful product. I got it home put it together and found it is very hard to steer it pulls to the left really bad. If you want a great upper arm workout get this product!

The best jogger--I shopped them all!
This jogger is awesome. First of all it has every feature you could want--light weight; canopy moves easily to block sunlight; great cushion for baby; adjustable seat in multiple positions for comfort; cell phone, bottle and toy holder; and a mesh basket underneath to carry along some essentials. I put it together myself and it was so easy. I took my 6 month old for a ride and she smiled, laughed, and later fell asleep. I looked at every jogger possible--this one is by far the best quality and most reasonably priced. Enjoy!!

LOVE this Reebok Velocity Stoller
I love everything about this stroller! It folds/opens easily; has a good, covered storage area; the cell phone and water bottle holder are great; the brakes are very easy to push and release; the seat adjusts with ease; the multy position shade is very functional; and the tire pump is the cherry on top! My son likes his smooth ride when I take him on trails, and I like easy handling...even with a 40 pound child! It is a great deal for $179, and my husband said it was much easier to put together than the other two stollers I brought home...and returned! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

ok Product with minor flaws
I purchased this because I love the Ocean Wonders line. It is just like a play gym. The Octopus toy has is battery operated but the batteries cannot be replaced so if your planning on having more children and what to pass this down its a no go. Secondly the one I have (I may just have purchased a defective one) comes apart too easy and is a chore putting together. The toys come off the bars way to easy the velcro on mine hasn't been sticking to well. And a couple of the toys are more like the toddler toys from MC Donalds. I hate to say this I usuaklly give FP high marks
Sure this is fun for some babies but there are other babies Ive seen that get bored with this quickly. And there are Play Gyms with better (and more) toys in this price range that will grow with your baby.

Fact: There's a reason why playgyms are made in Red black in white : Because its easier for babies to see at the time when these playgyms are in use.

ocean fun!
My son is nearly 2 months old and already loves this toy. He bats and kicks the toys hanging down. He's still too small to activate the songs from the octopus but this allows mommy and daddy to sit there with him and play too. The colors are fun and the characters are simply adorable. What's awesome is that this can be used for a boy or a girl and it also has many other matching items (ie. bouncer and swing). My only critique is that I wish there were activities on the mat itself to help with tummy time play.

Children not interested
I am a mother of 7 month old Quads, and I am always looking for something to help me entertain them. I thought that this would be a great toy for them, but I was wrong. All 4 of them just lie there and stare at the toys. They can't reach the Octobus thing, and don't really care about the ball. I am very disapointed.

Great!!!!
My daught just loves this item. It's a fun little toy to have and you can take it along with you any were. It does not take up alot of space.

What a wonderful swing!
I bought this swing after hearing great compliments from some of my cyber mommy friends. Wow, were they right. My son loves this swing. Everytime he cries I turn on the features with the lights and music including the fish mobile, and he stops crying. The music feature also plays some famous lullabies, ocean sounds and running water. Plus, the fact that it swings sideways as opposed to front and back, is what I think he enjoys too. It has two ways of swinging(east to west/north to south). I love the bright colors in the fabric, they are really pretty to look at, especially for a 5 month old. One more feature I forgot to mention is a pouch on back of the swing for storing things. I would recommend this swing to everyone out there. It was money well-spent and so easy to assemble. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This game is sort of like Twister meets Simon Says. Lay the Hullabaloo pads around on the floor about two 'kid's feet' away from each other. The pads are different shapes and colors and have pictures and words on them. Turn on the game console and the cheerful music begins, a happy voice welcomes you to the game and then gives the simple directions you'll need to play. "Jump on a square shape," "Slide over to a red shape," "Hop to a shape with an animal on it" and so on. Then it might tell you to freeze, or to put a body part on one pad, and then a different body part on another. Then, it'll tell you that if you are on a particular pad at the end of that round, you are the winner. We found it to be fun, and easy to understand--though we did wonder how long it might hold a child's interest. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Non-Stop Fun
I bought this for my two year old's birthday. We played it with her 5,6,11,12,& 13 year old Uncles and cousins. The older kids played it all that night and all day the next day. My two year old thought it was fun to run around on the pads, but she was able to point at her nose when they said "nose" and point at her knee when they said "knee". Even some of the adults got in on the fun. Very fun game for all ages.

IGNORE any bad review! This is AWESOME!
My 3 year old daughter got this game as a gift and she LOVES to play! My 7 year old also LOVES this game! It is really cute and anytime they play - someone is giggling. (...). It is a good oppotrunity to teach children about being a good winner/loser no matter who wins. That said- this game is just plain fun! I've even played this one with my kids and we all have a good time. You can't go wrong with this!

"Winners"also means there are "losers"!
I bought this for my two 4 1/2 year-old grandchildren. They really liked it at first until one child "won" several times in a row and the other hadn't "won" at all. The idea is basically very good, but I don't like the "winners-losers" aspect at all. It's totally inappropriate for this age, and even for older children, there is nothing they can do to "win"- it's all random. In addition, I would have liked it to be a little slower paced for pre-schoolers (more time to "skip to the square" or do a dance between games, etc.). I wouldn't buy another one or advise others to do so.

We love this game!
My children, ages 6 and 3, got this for Christmas and are still playing it regularly. As a mom, I really love it, too, because it's one of very few games they can set up, play and put away all by themselves (great for them, and even better if I need to get something done!).

The battery-operated box was very easy for them to learn, and they get a kick out of the silly things it instructs them to do. Many, many thumbs up from our family! :-)

Very Fun Toy
My kids loved this toy. Even my 2 year old could play. It is a really great family game and changes everytime you play. Lots of fun! ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Great buy
I live in a studio apt. with limited space and this is perfect for me. I love the storage on the bottom I keep all my sons blanketsand sheets in there. It is just the right size and fits snuggly in the corner. I do however have the same problem as another mom. My son likes to scoot himself diagionally and ends up sleeping with his face against the wall. But his nose does not press against it and the walls are ventilated so I dont worry to much. I have cats and the canopy works perfect in keeping them out of the sleeper. The sheets are very pricey at about 15$ each one of my complaints. I like the fact that the matress has a wipeable surface. It is so much easier to clean. I would recommend this product to anyone; as well as grandparets who are looking for something when thier grandkids come to visit.

I was not impressed
In theory, this is a wonderful product.However, I had two problems.

To start, the product came with only one set of sheets, and Babies-R-Us did not sell the sheets.I ordered some additional sheets from Arm's Reach, and they sent my order confirmation, containing my complete credit card number and expiration date, to me in an unencrypted e-mail.I had to cancel the credit card.I explained this to Arm's Reach and used a different credit card to purchase the sheets.

The mattress was very firm and my son did not like to sleep on it.If I could get him to fall asleep, sometimes I could transfer him to the co-sleeper without waking him, but I would frequently fall asleep before he would.

When my son did fall asleep in the co-sleeper, he would scoot around, and sometimes his nose ended up pressed against the padded edge that was next to my bed.This made me uncomfortable, but I figured that it was safer than having my son in the bed with me.

Other than these three problems, I liked the co-sleeper.

Great product and idea.
Definitely love this bassinet.I'm able to nurse and return my newborn to it without getting out of bed.I also like being able to check on her while in bed or if she has her pacifier fall out and needs it put back in.Her Ocean Wonders Aquarium only goes for a couple minutes and then needs to be restarted so that's nice to just lean over also.The bassinet comes with 1 sheet and then we bought additional sheets from BabiesR'Us that fit it just fine.

Can't Imagine Using Anything Else
We love the co-sleeper. It secures very well to our king-size bed.It's very easy to check on baby throughout the night by simply rolling over to see her or give her a pat on the back when she wakes. Helps me get a good night's sleep b/c I'm not constantly getting out of bed and walking to a crib down the hall.It's also reassuring to see/hear baby sleeping contently.

A must have for breast feeding or c-section moms
This is a life saver.Our daughter was born three weeks early by c-section and she nursed very often.I could nurse her while lying in bed and slip her into the co-sleeper.No worries about her falling out of our adult bed.I would however recommend the canapy if you have cats.Whenever our daughter was not in it our three cats used as their ultimate cat napping area. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Sand & Water Fan
Please read all reviews very carefully as most of them pertain to the "Easy Store Sand and Water Table" (which is 2 pieces). The Kingdom Table is great as it is one table with 2 areas of fun. This table provides hours of fun for the young children (and older ones as well - even me!) The plastic cover is great as it covers the entire table where the hard covers just "sit" on the box leaving room for bugs to sneak in! This is a must for those who love the beach, sand and water but not all the hassles that come with it!

Caution: Reviews in this section apply to wrong product
Read these reviews carefully. Some are talking about the Friendly Toys Kingdom sand and water table; others refer to a two-piece Little Tykes sand and water table that is not as well-designed.

Regarding covers: I prefer the soft cover on the Friendly Toys Sand and Water table to the hard cover on Little Tykes sand products. The elasticized cover keeps bugs out better than the hard cover.

Awful construction
In theory, this is a great table and my kids like playing with it. But putting it together is nearly impossible. The two sides have to link (because the water table has only two legs) and really don't. The table has crashed on my son's feet several times. When I contacted Little Tykes, they said "Yeah, that's hard to put together." The water side needs four legs or it needs to have a metal dowel that the water side can turn around. I would NOT recommend this product unless they fix this HUGE design flaw. I'm disappointed; Little Tykes products are not usually like this.

Great product just one small set back
My 2 year old loves this table. It's a great size, easy to assemble, easy to clean. Be careful with the flag inserts on the corners. One time she bent down to pick up a toy next to the table and one of the flags almost poked her eye. We were lucky it just poked the side of her eye. We still use the table, just without the flags.

too hard to hook together
My son loves this table, but I don't love trying to hook the water part to the sand part. It always seems to come apart, and the water side goes crashing to the ground. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A lemon!
I bought this for my daughter and she didn't care for it.I was not impressed with it either.It's not easily portable from one room to another, it's heavy and I found it to be a pain to fold up.It just proved to me that spending more money on something doesn't mean you get what you pay for.I had to return it to the store because the vibration wouldn't work on low speed and most of the time not at all on either speed, so I exchanged it for another one only to have the same thing happen to that one as well.Needless to say I decided to try a different brand.I got a Fisher Price bouncer, paid sixty dollars less for it than the Combi and my daughter loves it, the vibration works every time and the toy bar with music is wonderful too.I don't reccomend the Combi bouncer to anyone, it's a waste of money.

Needs Work
The concept of this rocker/vibration chair makes sense.However, the vibration part broke after two weeks.I had to keep pressing the low/high buttons to turn it on even with a brand new battery.Sometimes, it wouldn't even start with a new battery.I think it would be perfect if they made the vibration more reliable.The rocker part is awesome.My first son had a bouncer, this time I have the rocking bottom and it is definetly a plus.

What a Life Saver!!
I cannot say enough nice things about this rocker - it has been a life saver.I ended up having an emergency c-section, so I was unable to climb the stairs to my and the baby's bedrooms, so he slept in this rocker (the back of the seat goes down) as a bassinet on the floor right next to me on the couch.Now that he is more aware of life around him, we lift the seat into the chair position and he just has the best time watching everything that is going on.The fact that it rocks and has the vibrating motion has also been extremely valuable.He has spent so much time in this chair - I am very happy that I got this as a gift.It's also great that you can hook a CD player or tape player up to the speakers as well. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Amazing toy!
This is a great gift, a great toy. I am amazed by it, and so is everyone whom I have showed it to. It's great!

Lots of fun & full of surprises!
We got this toy as a gift & have just placed an order to send it as a gift as well.
It is as small as a yo-yo but has the artificial intelligence of a sofisticated robot.
This toy is surprisingly wise and witty; it seems to function as a mind reader.
It is great for rainy day recesses at school, parties and long car rides.
Highly recommended. The only negative is that it runs on batteries. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you grew up with a Radio Flyer wagon but lost it along the way, here's your chance to own abrand new one. The body and sides are made of finished wood. Painted bright red, the stake sides simplylift out, leaving you with a natural-finish flatbed. Steel wheels with big, inflatable pneumatic tires rolleasily on pavement or rough terrain. At 33.5 inches, the extra-long handle makes turning easy. The wagonbed is 36 inches long, 15 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 21 inches from the ground to the top of thewagon. The durable-tread rubber tires are 10.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches wide. If you're lucky, yourchild might let you borrow this wonderful wagon. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Very satisfied
This wagon was my second pick, but has ended up being my first choice! The wooden wagon bed stays cool even in the hot summer sun (unlike a metal bed), and the tall wooden sides keep "exploring" babies in their proper place. My son loves riding around in this wagon, and it has room enough for all of his favorite toys too. Walks are smooth and quiet (no rattling parts) and the large tires really make this wagon a pleasure to pull.

Great Wagon for Growing Families
We bought this wagon when we found out that we were expecting our third child. Since our oldest had just turned 2 when we found out about baby 3, we figured that we needed a way that we could safely transport three small children to and from the park, around the zoo, etc.

This wagon has been great. We've brought it to the zoo lots of times, and it fits right into the back of the minivan once you remove the siderails. The kids absolutely love to ride in it, and are looking forward to getting the cooler and the wagon trailer.

Wagon Canopy
... It looks like it cames from the horse and buggie era LOL but it covers the entire wagon definately worth it. I love this wagon but i am some what worried about the paint flaking off as i have read, but will make sure to cover the paint with car wax as told on the radio flyer site. We love this radio flyer! Its big you can fit everything in it!

Great #29 Wagon
I can't say enough good things about this wagon, but I also wanted comment on finding the correct wagon pad that will fit it. The pad sold through this site does not fit. You need to find the pad made specifically for Radio Flyer model #29, which I easily located through other online merchants. It is worth the effort to get the pad as it seems to make the ride much more comfortable and makes the wagon a good napping locale too.

GREAT GREAT GREAT
My daughter just turned 1. She got this as a present and loves it. It is a smooth ride on all types of terrain. We go to the park, the beach and around the block. There is plenty of room for all the extra stuff you want to take along. There is even enough room for a friend and their stuff too. I would recommend this wagon over the steel one to anyone. It is a quiet ride and there is no chance of rust since it is made of wood. ... Read more

Product Description

Namco (15001) Ridge Racer PSP ... Read more

Features

• Wireless Multiplayer Races: Compete head-to-head in 8-player multiplayer races through the PSP wireless connectivity feature. Multiplayer races require every player to have the Ridge Racer game inserted into their PSP system.
• Unprecedented Visual Quality: Experience DVD quality video in the 16:9 widescreen format, and enjoy more clean edged designs and richer colors on the high quality PSP system's liquid crystal screen.
• Robust Vehicle and Course Selections: Featuring 58 new vehicles, upgrades and 24 courses- the largest number of courses in the series! Classic courses from previous Ridge Racer titles return with entirely updated graphics leveraging the awesome processing power of the PSP.
• New "World Tour" Mode: In the newly added World Tour Mode, players challenge the vast number of courses from the first Ridge Racer introduced in 1993, to the latest in the Ridge Racer world.
• Special Features: Race faster than ever utilizing nitrous! Drift to fill thenew "Nitro Gauge" then boost ahead to burn the competetion. Conquer the World Tour Mode to unlock cars, courses, new tours, and more!

Reviews (28)

An amazing racer for the psp
For a launch title, Ridge Racer is an amazing game. It really shows off the great graphics on the PSP and the gameplay is great as well. Everything is near perfect on here. The graphics, sound, and controls are all outstanding although if you don't like arcade style racers you may want to avoid this or give it a rental. The game's use of power sliding works well and is fun although the game seems to be a bit easier because of it. Since the game require more streaming off the disk, the battery is life is shorter although I really don't mind it at all. Anyway, if you want a racing game for the PSP, one of the best is already out there waiting for you to pick it up.

when in doubt, just keep drifting
the problem of this game is this.. simply by deliberately drifting the car, you can avoid hitting the boundary, hence the reduction of speed.. although drifting too recklessly could slow you down.. but a well managed but a bit aimless drifting can help avoiding penalty.. and put your car back onto the right direction and track...which i think is a flaw... this makes the game a bit easlier to finish.. and a bit routine

Ridge Racer.......
Think of this Ridge Racer as a 'best-of' collectionthat has all the best bits of the ten-year long previous Ridge games and you pretty much got the idea of what this Ridge Racer holds in store. It boasts the largest selection of tracks in any previous version(24, to be exact), with a selection of 58 different cars, as well as upgrades for your cars. It's possibly the biggest and best Ridge Racer to date. Add to that, 8 player head to head competition(something that no other racer has, right now, except for Wipeout Pure) which can get really intense- at times-...let me tell you.Speed and control are dead-on, which is important with this type of racer. The graphics...well,...let's just say are simply amazing. Some of the best I've seen on the PSP so far. It's one of those games that shows the PSPs' graphical prowess. It's much sharper and realistic looking than the version of Ridge Racer for the Nintendo DS(which, in my opinion, looked downright horrendous). It's the second racer I've got for my collection(Need for Speed Underground Rivals being the first)of PSP games and is another that has kept me addicted playing for weeks on end.
If you're a Ridge Racer fan that wants to take a drive down Memory Lane for some all-out racing fun, this game is definitely for you.If, however, you're not big on the series...this game won't do much to change your mind about it.
I'll admit, I'm not much of a Ridge Racer fan myself but this game has been a blast to play. I love it.

Fourth best racer on PSP
This game has PS2 graphics and decent steering.This game is obviously better than the DS port it is lacking a realistic game play.It is too much of an arcade game, and I don't mean like a street racer, I mean like a game where you put in the 50 cents and drive.Also, like the other RRs, the cars are bunched up in small groups which you easily pass in half a lap so most of the time you are just driving around alone.The commentary is horrible.I bet Evenderr Hollyfield now wants Mike Tyson to bite off his other ear off too after listening to the commentary of the game.This game is ok but with the other good PSP games this might be one you want to pass.

Fun But Overrated
This game is pretty fun.The game modes include time trial, arcade race, world circuit, and multiplayer mode.You can choose from three cars (in beginner circuit) and up to seven cars to race from in the more advanced circuits.This may be a fun game, but the fun doesn't last long.

You race other drivers to unlock new things.But that is about the only objective.Also, beating the races are very easy.The only hard part about this game might be learning how to drift, turn, and powerslide, but that only takes about five minutes to learn.

Also, the races are barely any fun.You start out in last place and the car in front of you is always like 30 seconds ahead.There's no qualifying or practice, you always start last.

Also, gaining nitrous is hard and doesn't help much.You gain the nitrous by powersliding (which slows you down), and you only gain about 1/5 - 1/4 of a tank (depending on the turn and speed)After you get it, it lasts for about 5 seconds and you gain a little bit of speed, but then after that, you go back to the speed you were at before you ignited the nitrous.

And the last thing I have to say about this game that it is overrated.All the reviews I've seen say this is an awesome PSP launch game, but to me it an okay game.I would recommend buying Need For Speed Underground Rivals instead of this.But some people seem to love this game so I would recommend renting this game first at gamefly.com (that's what I did and I'm glad I did it because I didn't like it very much).(Please refer to me at gamefly.com).
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