Amazon.com Review

Video game makers have been experimenting with live-action video in games since the early 1980s but EyeToy (a digital camera for PlayStation2) marks the first time it's been done right. The device magically superimposes video-game graphics onto a player's image and translates his or her movements into controlling elements of the game. It is the best improvement of video game controls since the joystick.

The EyeToy camera plugs into your PS2

EyeToy has two components: a digital camera that plugs into one of the USB ports in the front of the PS2 and a disc of party games. In the EyeToy games--there are 12 on the disc, but some of them are little more than variations on the same theme--your image is at the center of the action. The game is totally controlled by moving your body in front of the camera. For example, in one game where the object is to beat back invading hordes of kung-fu fighters who come at you from the four corners of the screen, you must move your hands (or elbows, head, hips, whatever) to connect with the fighters onscreen and slap them away. Unlike most contemporary video games, EyeToy is so intuitive that most users will be able to play in a matter of seconds--even toddlers and senior citizens. Watching someone play EyeToy is fun: onscreen, the games are like the fanciful mix of live action and animation á la Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and off-screen, the player's movements are almost as goofy as those playing Dance Dance Revolution.

EyeToy is best enjoyed by groups

Setting up EyeToy is simple--just plug in the camera and drop in the disc--but fine-tuning it for your game environment takes a little effort. First, you'll need to have adequate, well-balanced lighting. We found that a bare 60-watt light bulb positioned behind the EyeToy camera worked pretty well. Next, you should clear away as many objects as possible between you and the EyeToy camera. Not only can extra objects impede the camera's function, they can present hazard when playing the game. A uniform background helps, too; we found that a light-colored wall worked better than a dark background. Before you drag the couch out on the lawn and pull pictures off the wall, try out the camera in different positions to see if you can find something that works without redecorating. The recommended placement of your EyeToy camera is right on top of your TV, but if your PS2 is situated farther than the 72-inch attached camera cord, you will have to get creative. We tried pointing the camera up at us from a coffee table and it worked fine.

The EyeToy games, while fun, are too simple to keep solo gamers interested for long periods of time. EyeToy is best as a party game played with groups of friends, or as a way to show off your PS2. And as a peripheral for future games EyeToy holds a lot of promise. Let's hope that Tony Hawk and John Madden find a use for this little camera. --Porter B. Hall

Pros:

• Totally unique approach to video game design
• Great for groups
• So intuitive that anyone will be able to play it immediately

• Only the pathologically vain will find lasting fun in this as a solo game

Features

• USB digital camera makes the player the "star" of the game; camera unit is 2.25" tall by 2.25" wide by 3.5" deep
• Motion-tracking technology instantly translates body movement into on-screen interaction
• Comes with twelve mini-games, including: Wish-Washi, Beat Freak, Kung Fu, Soccer Craze, Boxing Chump
• Can also be used to instantly create personalized video messages
• Funky Playroom feature (visual effects) and multiplayer options make EyeToy the perfect party peripheral

Reviews (125)

Fun, fun, and more enjoyable fun!
I got this item the day after I got my Playstation 2 on Christmas day with the money I got. it was easier to set up than I expected. there are to USB ports on your PS2. it's on the left of your controler port in the horizontol postion (side to side) or below the controler port in the vertical postion(up and down). you plug the camera wire into one of them (dosen't mater which one) and the camera on top of the TV. all you need to do than is to move the camera up and down untell your in the picture. than you move the lens untell the picture is really clear.sounds hard but really easy. OK, there are 12 games on this game very fun. me and my Dad played for 45 minutes and sweating all lot for punching vertuol people to death. This are very fun games. wouldn't change a thing about them. there is also a play mode which you can pop bubbles, play in snow, twitch like your dieing (on the TV, not in real life) and much more! The last thing I'm going to say is this thing is less than two inches tall and less than three inches wide!

One of the greatest games in the PLANET!!!!
My friend got this for her birthday and we played it almost all night long on her birthday party. You actually feel like u'r in the tv playing game- whether its heading soccer balls, doing kung fu or dancing! Its a really cool and fun technology and a must have for all ages and both genders. Its definitely going on my birthday and christmas wishlist this year! It is truly one of the greatest games in the planet!!!!

***fine print: even this almost-perfect sounding game has its drawbacks---you have to get used to pressing buttons by waving your hands in the air which might take a while and on some of the games you can't see yourself very clearly on the screen. Also, in the dancing game (i think its called Disco stars) you have to position the camera in a very good position or sometimes the buttons don't get pressed and you don't get points.***

BUT STILL, THIS GAME IS THE BEST!!!

awesome!
I GOT MY EYETOY YESTERDAY AND I HAVE PUT ABOUT 8 HOURS OF PLAY TIME INTO IT. I REALLY LOVE SOME OF THE GAMES AND THE VOICE AND VIDEO MESSAGING IS WONDERFUL I DID A BUNCH OF FAKE COMMERCIALS THAT WERE REALLY STUPID AND MY FRIENDS GOT A KICK OUT OF IT.IF YOUR LOOKING AT THE FRONT OF THE BOX AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE ARE THE LEAST FUN GAMES, BUT ALL THE OTHERS ARE "WILDLY ADDICTING" IIF U DO BEAT FREAK WITH SOME LIKE 7 POUND WEIGHTS ITS A REALLY GOOD WORKOUT! MY 3 YEAR OLD NEPHEW LOVES IT SPECIALLY THE PLAYROOM I RECCOMMEND THIS PRODUCT!

eye toy ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EYE TOY ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!i love playing kungfoo,boxing,and wishiwashi.they're my 3 favorites.my friends and i love to make funny videos on eye toy.this is one of the best games ever!!!!!!

Eye Toy
The games on Eye Toy are really cool but you can get really bored of playing some of the games over and over. Out of the 12 games you can play games by savimg your friends, playing soccor, destroying ghost,spinning plates,washing windows, boxing, being a dancing diva, and becoming a kung fu fighter. Before you start Eye Toy the game will tell you some really good tips and before each game I'd recomend reading the instructions first. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Grandmother's perfect present
My granddaughter, 22 months, loves to crawl into small spaces such as cupboards, under chairs etc. Sometimes she is hard to find. With this perfect option she loves the crawling in the tunnel and making her own house in the tent. My daughter is expecting multiples (don't know yet how many) and she needs to have her daughter occupied in a safe place. Another great thing is how portable as when they come visiting they can bring her house with her. I read the one commentary about the 100 balls, gads! We'll try that if this doesn't work as she gets older.

One and a half years and still going strong
Santa brought this tent and tunnel for my son in 2003, and it was an immediate hit. He is now 3 years old, and still enjoys playing with it.

Last week, he took it to a fun day at school, where three classes of active kids gave it a try out. It stood up admirably, and went back into its storage bag proud and intact. It took a huge amount of abuse and shrugged it off. I was deeply impressed, because I never expected it to last this long. Several teachers and parents asked me where I got it from, so I guess they were also impressed.

It stores easily in the handy bag, and the tunnel when strapped up takes up little space. It's light, portable, affordable and fun.

One of the best toys I have ever purchased on Santa's behalf.

fun tent
I bought this tent for my son when he was about 1 1/2 years old. He is now almost 3 and still has a blast in it. We bought a 100 balls to go in it and he loves to throw them down the tunnel. It takes minutes to set up and the rods are pretty strong. My son can even put the rods together without hurting them or himself. It has a bigger opening so a parent can get in it too (although it is a tight fit.) I have a 5 month old that loves to watch his brother pop in and out of it. I would imagine the real test of strength will come when both boys are playing in it, but I have no doubt that it will hold up. I would definitely recommend this to other parents. We are happy with it.

Alot of fun for a bargain price!
This little tent is great for young kids. My son loves to crawl thru the tunnel then stand in the tent and look ouy the screen at the top of the tent. It semms to be made well (for inside the house). I don't think you can find a better tent with a tunnel for the price than this one!

i enjoy this toy
my son feels like he has his own little house, its really cool for a play room and also outdoors. delivery was also very quick, i got it in a week! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A must have collectible
This doll looks amazingly like the people of Portugal.
It has amazing Facial features and the dress is exquisite.
It's a good price, great bargain and a magnificant barbie doll.

E Portuguese Menina (A Portuguese Girl)
I collect Barbies. I started at the beginning of this year and have 46 in all in my collection. I don't play with them. I keep them in the boxes. But Princess Of The Portuguese Empire was the first barbie I got to start my collecting. I am Portuguese myself and I was browsing through Wal-Mart one day and was shocked to discover that a Portuguese Barbie was made. For I always liked Barbie's and started to collect them seriously after the Portuguese one came out. She's gorgeous! Her dress is a beautiful dark brown color and is of Renaissance Fashion. She is great for all collectors out there. A great doll.

Beautiful!
Gorgeous gown, lush curly hair, intelligent expression; great for redressing- she looks good in everything.

I don't know about educational value-- I throw the box away before I get the doll in the house. Dolls are for PLAYING, is what I say.

Beautiful and fun Barbie
I have had this doll since right after she came out, and I love her. I still play with barbies although I am 15, and this one is one of my absolute favorites. Her dress is absolutly lovely, although once taken off it can be difficult to get the sleeves over her thumbs again. Her hair is beautiful, thick, dark and curly. An amazing doll well worth the price.

Step Back In Time...
Barbie's The Dolls of The World Collection as a whole is enchanting and engaging. The Princess of the Portuguese Empire, one of the more recent additions to the set, is a strikingly beautiful doll.

Dressed in a gorgeously detailed period costume (bodice and gown) of sienna velvet, this Barbie represents a young woman of the royal court of Lisbon in the 1500's.

Unlike many Barbies, she has long, rich, dark curly hair, and an olive complexion with arrestingly dark eyes.

I have purchased this Barbie for a serious female adult collector, whose first reaction upon seeing her was to gasp in pleasure at Barbie's appearance. I can't imagine a better endorsement. ... Read more

Features

• Return to Kanto to experience the original duo's plot
• Prove yourself in the region's Pokémon League, bring down Team Rocket, and pursue new storylines
• Bring the Pokémon you catch into Pokémon Ruby, Saphire, and Colosseum
• Comes with a free Wireless Adaptor
• For 1 to 4 players in the Direct Corner, or up to 40 in the Union Room

Reviews (14)

Wonderful Moment!!
I am a HUGE fan of pokemon even though people tell me I'm not a child anymore (I'm 14) Who cares! I'm totally excited about the Green/Red games appearing. I just recently played my old red and remembered how much I loved it when I got it. This will be even better. The new connector to link battles and chatters is new and a great idea. New graphics, new people and eh...imported things from the other version is going to be a great installment. I'm really looking forward to getting this game...so should you!

OMG a re-make of PKMN Red/Green
This game gives you the chance to talk to people and trade/battle without actully having to do any connecting any cords, and because it's one of the first games to have this accesory, they give it to you free with the purchace, this will make Nintendo go up in Pok'emon products, and, which i highly doubt, more people could like the remake better, and actully buy more! The old game revolutionized the gameboy system, and this game gives honor and respect to, probably, the best gameboy game ever, an awsome chance to relive it's golory days, with a few new changes

That's the best game
If you are a pokemon fan this is the game for you. This game is similar to red version, except it contains all the cool futures of Ruby and Suppire. When i first started this game i thought it will be boring, but i was wrong, this game was the best pokemon game i ever played. You can catch Enti, and othe Jhotoe's pokemon. This game is twice as long as red version. It has 7 extra island that conatins Jhotoe's pokemons. You can get Lugia, Ho-Oh too. The graphic is awsome, the trees and the houses look better than in Ruby/Suppire version. Believe me this will be the best pokemon game you ever buy.

Awsome remake!
The makers of pokemon did a great job remaking the classic games that got most of us fans hooked better gameplay better graphics better story line and the endless new possibilities i definatley give this game 5 stars although they should have came out with a ocean blue as well that would have been neat

Another one? Ah well.
Pokemon merchandise has faded ever since the cards came out. But the games still show that Nintendo has some potential. I'm no pokemon fan. And I certainly do not collect TCG cards. But I have been buying pokemon games since Gold/Silver came out. Nintendo shows that Pokemon can still be in just not in a collecting way. Leafgreen and Firered show almost no "revolutionary" gaming experiences or "leaps" from its predecessors. But it's still fun. Wireless Adapter? We can wait until Nintendo DS comes out. graphics? Not very new. I've seen better. Just get F-Zero when it comes out. But the fun cannot be matched by almost none and gameplay is quite good. So even though pokemon merchandise TCG is out, Nintendo gaming is definetely in. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Put some spring in your step! This sturdy pogo stick, sizedjunior-through-granny, will safely support bouncers weighing 80 to 160pounds. It seems easier to tame than most, and you can quickly findyourself using the entire 8 inches of spring travel for blastingoff. The brightly colored exposed main spring is set in the middle of ablack steel main frame. The multicolored rubber footpads, grips, andtip are replaceable. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Awsome Pogo!!!
This stick is the the greatest thing ever! My friend just got it a few days ago in just the first few jumps he was already getting over a foot of air! it was was crazy even he was amazed. Even I who had never really done it before learned pretty fast on this stick. Plus the foam is awsome it feels really good on your hands and legs unlike other pogo sticks. but the foam at the bottom of the stick did tear a little but that doesn't really matter, oh and as for the tip it seems like whenever I see my friend hes bouncing on this pogostick and the tip hasn't worn very much at all.
I very highly recomend this pogostick for beginers or pros alike and its a very good price too. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT OUTDOOR TOY
Our new foam covered Master Pogo has stood up to punishing abuse by my children and thier friends. Contrary to other reviews, our rubber tip shows little sign of wear and will probably last for several more months. Our Pogos rubber tip does look different than our old Master Pogos, so I guess it was redesigned and is much improved.

According to my kids, the black and yellow foam covering makes the pogo very comfortable to ride because it doesn't hurt thie inside of their legs.

Safety is of course a major concern. I make sure everyone using the pogo wears a helmet. All and all this has proven to be a very durable toy, one that my kids will undoubtedly enjoy for many yeart to come. I hightly recommend it.

Great Fun, but pros only
I think this pogo stick is great fun. Althogh there were some bad reviews, i still bought this item. I found it pretty good, I'm a good pogo-er, i even hold a record of 3024 jumps in my town.therefore i am qualified to use any pogo sick, and im considered to bee a pro. I just reccomend that you buy a replacement tip with it, and you need some pogo experience.

WARNING! UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN!
This toy may be a lot of fun to play with but it is also dangerous - the rubber tip on the end of the pogo stick wears off very quickly. I have noticed that I am not the only reviewer on here that has had this problem.
I gave this pogo stick to my 9 year old stepdaughter for her birthday and within a week the rubber tip wore off and she ended up falling off the stick, onto the ground, and hit her head pretty hard.
Until the company improves this item, I HIGHLY recommend that you do not buy this no matter how much fun it may be. It's not worth getting hurt over.

Great stick
This is a great pogo for anyone who wants to jump really high. It gets tons of air. In general it's just a great stick plus the custormer service is really good so I would reccomend this to 10-11 year olds and teenagers who are below the weight limit. For more info on this stick go to www.pogosticks.com ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Likes to tinker
I bought this for my grandson's birthday. He is 10 years old and ADHD. When he would visit me, he always wanted to start tinkering with something, either a clock or an old radio. This gift is perfect for him, it is not in the least frustrating and the outcome is very rewarding for him. He will sit and work with the set for an hour at a time.I have recommended this set to many of my friends.

A Happy Granny in Michigan

Very versatile kits for kids 6+
I got 2 kits - one for my 6 yo and one for my 8 yo. Both boys love the kits and can build the projects. The parts are durable yet easy to configure. The directions for the projects are clear. I highly recommend this toy for kids who like to build and are even marginally interested in science/electronics.

Excellent Excellent Excellent
My 5 year old son has an interest in how things work and likes to "experiment." We go this as a first step toward learning about electricity, and it has not disappointed.

The projects range from fast simple ones (can get a light bulb and a switch going in a minute or so) to more elaborate more interesting ones (we actually built a working AM radio).

There are endless projects in the book with easy to follow directions on how to put them together.

The "snap" mechanism for connecting components is extremely clever -- it eliminates the challenges of bad connections on wiring boards I grew up with. The snaps are a little hard for a 5 year old to push close, so I find myself helping on them -- although the kit is aimed for somewhat older kids anyway.

Only "complaint" I have is that they could have put a couple educational points about how the circuit is working in the book near each circuit -- to spell out the "learnings" of each project.

Overall though, this is definitely one of the best science kits of any type that I've seen, and absolutely worth the investment.

No More Gameboy
My 8 year old son got this toy for Christmas and for the first time in a year, he's put down the Gameboy. It's perfect for his age. And the payoff with flashing lights and sounds is a jackpot for him every time he finishes a project. I really can't tell you much fun and how educational this toy is. I love it too and I'm his 40 year old dad. He has to fight me to see who snaps together the next project.

Great Educational Toy
I bought this for my son(8 yrs old) for X-mas. He hasn't stopped playing with it. He was able to follow the directions/designs on his own. Really a fun educational toy! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Log Cabin Playhouse
This is a great toy to keep kids occupied. My two year old daughter loves it. She especially likes the shutters that open and shut and the fold up table inside where she insists on eating all her snacks at. The house is rather large so it is best suited for outdoor play but even the bigger kids can use it for the same reason. This house is very durable and well designed for little kids but then again Little Tikes is well known for its durable products. I would say that it is a good investment that will last for a really long time.

GrandParent Best Gift Ever
This has been the best gift ever. It did not take my son-in-law any time to put together. My grandson who is 2 1/2 years old LOVES it.
Thank you for a great product Little Tykes!
Shipping cost is a bit high (...). That was a big draw back for me.

Wowzer..
We bought this for our almost 2 yr old for Christmas and he loves it. We set it up in his playroom during the winter time so he could enjoy playing with it, but are planning to move it outdoors soon.

little tikes house SOLD!!
I bought this for my home daycare, two year old daughter and my four year old son I was looking for a playhouse that was non-gender specific so my son would enjoy playing in it too! Boy did I score with this purchase!!All of the kids really enjoy playing in this they especially love to ride their cozy coupe up to the window and pretend they are pulling up to mcdonalds drive thru we really love this and it seemed pretty easy to assemble I needed my husbands help but we did it in about 40 minutes...we were as excited to start playing as the kids I am very glad we bought this and if your in the market for a new home this is a great find for a boy or a girl

a little house for my 2 yr old twins
My boy / girl twins really like their new log cabin. The assembly of this log cabin wasn't that bad. My hubby and I put it together in 45 minutes and then it had to be wiped down because of a lot of loose plastic pieces and dust.

My kids will definitely get a couple of years out of this one. Currently we have it set up in our dining room (kids play room). Once it gets warm in the spring / summer, we will put it in the backyard. My twins love going in and out of the door, while the other one usually opens and closes the shutters on the window.

This is a nice log cabin and is worth it. Hope this helps. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

nerf RF 20
i think that the nerf rapidfire 20 is a great toy. it shoots roughly 12 darts per second. at first i thought that single fire would be great to help conserve ammo...but the tank leaks in that mode so i just fire bursts in rapidfire. you have to be careful with the pump because it is very thin and doesn't look strong at all. the only other downside to this nerf is that it takes 20 -25 pumps to fill the tank, and since you have so many darts you tend to run out of ammo quickly. for this reason i wear painter pants and put a backup gun in the loop. this is defenitely the best gun i own, or have heard of.

The Rapid Fire 20
Firstly, I am impressed with this gun. It fires faster than the Wildfire or the Powerclip and is much more quieter. The Single Fire mode is extremely good because it saves your ammo. It doesn't fire only only one at a time it can also fire in a slower way. For instance, when you hold down the trigger, all the darts fly out just at a lot slower pace. This enables you to take acurate shots while not wasting your ammo. It's really fun. I think you you should buy this gun other than the Wildfire, or Powerclip. It gives you more varity when firing. Secondly, I know you are looking for one but can only find that "Air tech" junk. Just search online at sites other than Amazon. (Amazon is not bad. You have to realize that nerf doesn't make this gun anymore). Just three things to add. One, I rated this item five stars for fun because oviously, you know what I mean. Seconed, I rated this four stars for educational because it uses gattiling-gun technology. You can see this happen through the clear air toob. Third, I rated this item a five star for durable because it really is. You hear in other reviews that it isn't durable because the air tank leaks. That isn't true because most careless boys pump it up to where it blows up. If you keep it at twenty max, it will last a lifetime. Thank you for reading my review on the Rapid fire 20.

AWESOME
This is by far the best nerf gun that I own. the single fire mode actually helps becuz that way you can still do a rapid fire type action but if you miss the enemy at first you have a little more time to aim. the rapid fire mode is my favorite (obviously). It feels like im firing a tommy gun. At first I thought it was broken becuz I didn't pump it up enuf. but when i did it was wonderful. if your ever in a nerf war you can take out up to five people at the same time with this thing. Its durability does suffer however. Mine broke in a week. I ordered a new one so mayb i just got a dud on the first try. this gun overall can be summed up in one word, "Awesome"

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY
This gun is great. It only cost me 10 bucks! This gun is really fun to shoot at people who can take the force without getting hurt. But do not get this gun for kids under 8. I gave it a five for how much fun it is. Its really fun. And I gave it a two for educational value. I mean comon, how often are you gonna use a gun in your life? This toy is not very durable. You have to pump it up 25 times for it to fire! And the pumper snaps if you pump it to fast. If you are in need of shooting something BUY IT !!!

great
It's a good gun. High rate of fire. Two-three pumps per dart. good once you put washers on the screws in the switch for single fire so it is only rapid, and take off all the black parts (except the pump) its pretty easy. then the only problem is the red thing that pushes on your arm... It has a much better trigger so you can fire just a couple shots at a time on rapid mode. Fun: good up close. Educational: everybody needs to defend themselves. Durability looks strong i don't know. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

THE INCREDIBLE "MOON SHOES!"
This is an excellent toy! It teaches chilren how it feels to be able to walk on the moon. But at the same time, it is as fun as having a 25 scoops of peanut-butter ice-cream!

P.S.~ This toy is even at the flight museum in Seattle. Aand oh yeah, I am 10. I don't know if that really means anything if I am 10 though, but it might! And thanks for making this fabulause toy!
Your Friend,
Katie

Umm..I can barely jump on this thing
Well, first of all..I'm 13 so I guess I'm probably out of the weight range for these things now..but nonetheless, I still think these dont work very well. For little kids, these shoes help with balancing skills..and I have to admit they're pretty awesome on a trampoline (i did almost sprain my ankle tho). On the ground, though, they're just loud, heavy, shoes that clonk around. I wouldn't really recommend buying these though. They're kind of pointless and will probably end up under a pile of junk in your garage.

Might as well jump!
Don't let the picture fool you, these shoes DO NOT make you jump as high as the moon. In fact, even the most highly trained athlete wearing these shoes would only be able to jump as high as the clouds.

While gravity and shoddy craftsmanship might limit your jumping potential, your imagination will allow you to leap to the stars! That's the best part about Black Moon Shoes -- it's not about how high you can or can't jump -- it's about how high you WANT to jump.

So when it comes to using your imagination and developing important motor skills, Hart Enterprises' Black Moon Shoes are leaps and bounds above the competition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Re-create Mother Nature's beautiful designs on the wings of butterflies with this kit from Balitono. It includes 4-inch wooden butterflies that can be used as refrigerator magnets, hanging sculptures, window decorations, and toy treasures. The kit offers three butterflies, nontoxic acrylic paints in five colors, shiny varnish, and a paintbrush. Each figure also comes with a press-on magnet, hanging accessories, a suction cup (for window use), and a small gift tag. An easy-to-follow instruction sheet includes compelling facts about the nature of butterflies. Colorful illustrations on the box show a wide variety of butterflies young artists might like to paint. A coded diagram inside identifies each species by name. Children may want to give these items as gifts, use them to decorate their rooms, or simply use them in creative play. --Joan DeClaire ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great Memory!!
My 8-year old daughter received this Paint the Wild Butterflies as a birthday gift, when we started the project together, I was surprised that my 5-year son got really into it too. We had a really wonderful time painting, imagining and laughing at the table while doing this project. I have never seen activity kits with actual handcrafted wood and the butterflies actually look life-like as opposed to be machined made. The paints are suprisingly good quality, it dried quickly and we were able to change colors and added stripes and spots. I did wish there was more than 1 paintbrush to do all 3 at the same time. My daughter made it into a eye-catching ornament with gift card for her dad and my son and I each made a magnet. It is most definitely a memorable project and it captured my kids' artistic expressions which I am sure will bring smiles years from now.

Awesome for family fun
I bought this for my daughter for christmas and we made it a family project, we each painted a butterfly and it was alot of fun, gave her a chance to use her imagination as to what she wanted HER butterfly to look like...She attached the magnets and we now have it displayed on our refridgerator. I would definately reccomend this for a child who loves to be creative.

Cheap wood pieces
This kit is a great idea, but the butterflies break apart pretty easily. Need to make them of more durable wood.

Easy craft project for kids
My son at age 7 enjoyed this kit. It comes with 3 wooden butterflies, paint, paintbrush, etc. There is a small pamphlet included with some information about butterflies. We added our own glitter glue and other items to make the butterflies more decorative.

KIDS LOVE BUTTERFLIES!
Ever since I read j.singh's The Butterfly to my kids they've been obsessed with caterpillars and butterflies and just about the entire insect kingdom. So, undoubtedly, I've been cajoled into buying pretty much every butterfly book on the market (i plan to bill Singh!). Now having read all these books I consider myself a sorta self-proclaimed authority whose mission is to save parents time and money. And so here are the winners according to me and my two wonderful children. The gold medal goes to GOOD NIGHT SWEET BUTTERFLIES (for the illustrations color and content); the silver medal to FROM BUTTERFLY TO CATERPILLAR (for content and pictures); and the bronze to WAITING FOR WINGS (for content). There are plenty of others but these are a good place to start. Hope I've been helpful. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Parents looking to encourage a love of athletics in their children without breaking the bank buying up an infinite variety of sports gear, may wish to consider this versatile set branded by the folks at ESPN, who know a thing or two about sports. Its a collapsible freestanding kit that offers six sports in all. Basketball is rendered in the model of the classic pop-a-shot game, keeping score as you shoot baskets. In football, youre the quarterback throwing a ball through a small hoop, the same hoop used to test your pitching accuracy in the baseball mode. The action moves to the floor for the other sports as you kick at a small target with a soccer ball, slap a puck at a small target in hockey, and putt into a cup for golf. All necessary gear is included for each sport and an electronic scoring system and the canned voice of ESPN announcer Stuart Scott add to the fun. Some sports in this set work better than others, basketball being a little more fun than hockey, but the sheer versatility of this set make it a good option and means it will be hard for anyone to run out of challenges. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Features

• Marshall your forces and draw your steel -- the legendary Fire Emblem roleplaying games have arrived on the GBA
• Defend against usurpers and assassins as you aid young lords on their quest against evil
• Assume control of a diverse and powerful army of soldiers loyal to your cause
• Persuade powerful enemy heroes to leave their evil armies and join your growing cause
• For 1-4 players over link cable

Reviews (86)

Awesome Game
From the creators of Advance Wars - This game is one of the best on the GBA console. Although I'm sure that many people would find this game incredibly boring, I believe that it certainly lived up to my expectations.

Learning about this title from Super Smash Bros.: Melee, I looked into it and decided that I might as well buy it. After all, I had been a huge fan of the Advance Wars series (even though it's only two games), and this game was supposed to be very similar. I found out that while this game IS similar to Advance Wars, the feel for it is very different.

The game is a turn-based strategy RPG where you control a small army fighting to accomplish various tasks in the game. Each character has a certain strength, defence, movement, etc. rating which effects it's overall usefulness. There are many character classes, but roughly half of them come from previous forms (i.e. an archer changes class to become a sniper).

The game is pure fantasy, with no guns or the like in it. It's based entirely on "traditional" weapons like swords and lances along with it's own supply of magic.

There are more than one "story-line" in the game, but since I don't want to spoil anything for you, I'll just say that each story-line builds upon the previous one.

I only have two complaints about this game...

My first problem is that you can only get a certain amount of characters in the game. If that unit "dies" (even though they really only get injured), then they're out for the rest of that story-line. This can get EXTREMELY annoying if you're not smart about who you use as cannon fodder. Every unit that you get can be crucial at certain times.

My second problem comes from my first problem. The first problem wouldn't be so bad if you could save in the middle of a battle. It IS possible to save, but it's not really like a save. It's more like putting the game on hold. If you choose the "suspend" option, then your game will be reset and you can continue a the place that you left of on. However, this does not work like a save in that you can restart and come back to that exact same place. Once you continue a suspend, the game automatically saves after each battle sequence. Because of this, you can not got back to the middle of a level where you last "saved."

Overall, I would recommend to this game to almost anyone who like to play the GBA. I'm sure that anybody who plays this will be hooked for at least a day.

if u dont buy this ur a complete idiot
this game is awesome. its the best tactical rpg ive ever played. unlike advanced wars once your characters die there is no bringing them back unless you restart the chapter. This adds an interesting layer of strategy. In advanced wars if your units die you just make fifty more and no one cares. You can win advanced wars by making thousands of units the mashing the buttons with your backside. In fire emblem the tactical part of the tactical rpg is actually present. The characters are all greatly drawn and they each have different personalities. You can learn much more about the characters by making them talk to each other when in other games all you get is "this is bill, now go kill someone with him". basicaly the game is set in medeival times with magic and dragons. There are three stories one with 10 chapters, 2 with 20+.You command your units into battle and supply them with weapons and armor. You sre only a tactician so you dont fight. the hand drawn backgrounds and characters are amazing. This is a fun simple game. most good games have been lost to the void of complexity but not this one. The controls are simple with extensive menus which allow you to control most aspects of the game. and unlike rpgs like zelda you dont have to spend hours looking fo the triforce shard or the old man...etc
simply put this game rocks and if you dont buy it you are a stupid moron.

It's about freakin time.
For those of you who aren't game savvy, we got our first taste of Fire Emblem in Super Smash Bros Melee, with two hidden characters, Roy and Marth. But when some of us looked into it further, we discovered that Fire Emblem had been around for about six or seven games from the SNES days. When some of us saw how cool Roy and Marth were, we wanted to see the actual game. So the newly announced GBA game was brought to US shores. And it was good.

The US version of Fire Emblem takes place in "Roy's storyline" but Roy isn't really in the game. Instead it revolves around Eliwood, his father and Prince of Pherae, his good friend Hector, Brother of Marquess Ostia, and a new friend Lyn, granddaughter of Marquess Cailen. A dark power in the form of the Black Fang rises, kidnapping Eliwood's father. Eliwood sets out with his friends too find his father and stop the Black Fang.

The gameplay is technically RPG based but is tactial strategy. In your turn you select your characters to move to certain locations based on the map. When your turn is over, your opponents do the same thing on their turn. It repeats until the mission goal is achieved. Leveling up is in the form of battling your enemies.

The gameplay is fun and the storyline is wonderful. There are several challenges for the advanced gamers, like support conversations and fully leveling up, or if you're pretty straight forward, that works too. The game's graphics are good and cinematic sequences are shown in artistic format, which is very effective for the storytelling game.

Overall, if you're an RPG fan, this is a must have game. It is the best game I played that came out in 2003. I reccomend it to anyone with a GBA/SP.

amazing!
Fire Emblem is amazing.

In the game, you are a tactician, and it is your job to direct your army to victory through many hours of wonderful gameplay (divided into chapters). There are three main lords, and each has their own story line (Lyn's is the "tutorial" stage while Hector's and Eliwood's are very, very similar with the exception of a few different stages). Each chapter starts off with a little clip about the storyline, and then after making preparations, you are off to war.

Each map is different, and on the map there are many kinds of terrain (different terrains offer different advantages), shops, houses, and enemies galore. You have your characters on the map ("sprites") and you direct them where to go, whom to talk to (if possible), what items to use, and so forth. Yes, it's turnbased. When you attack, the enemy is given the chance to counterattack (unless it can't).

Fire Emblem has a nice hierachy when it comes to weapons and magic. Lances beat Swords, Swords beat Axes, and Axes beat Lances. Anima (Nature) beats Light. Light beats Dark. Dark beats Anima. Like rock paper scissors, it is not hard to get the hang of.

What I like (unlike its counterpart, Advance Wars) is the fact that every character you acquire is unique with their personality and looks. As you may know, when a character dies in battle (except for the tutorial stage), you lose that character forever, and if you're like me, you develop a fondness for them, so losing one could cause you to turn off the game immediately and starting over :) One thing you must be careful: if any of your three Lords die (Hector, Eliwood, Lyn), it's game over.

There are many classes, each with their own advantages/disadvantages. For example, archers must strike at least two squares away, and they cannot counterattack in melee. Most of these classes can upgrade to more powerful units, and you'll have fun leveling up.

The graphics are really nice (if you like anime). When they talk, they show their heads, and they even blink and show facial expressions/turn their heads when appropriate. The sprites on the battlefield are, in my opinion, adorable, although some people beg to differ.

The music is riveting and fits the mood. You feel like you're really about to go to war. Not to mention the storyline is beautifully written, and you'll be anxious to play through the chapters.

There is also a "support" system, where on the battlefield, you put two characters next to each other for several (cumulative) turns, and after awhile, they can talk (Support) each other, thus increasing stats. If you get two characters' support levels high enough, they may have a special ending, ie: they get married :) This gives the game yet another great replay value because support conversations are recorded.

However, if you're looking for great multiplayer action, you might want to look somewhere else. You pick 5 characters from your file, and you fight your opponents' 5 characters. A little unfair, since the person who gets the first strike often sets the tide of the battle. Plus, you can't take healers in, and there's no terrain advantages, just a little square of an arena.

All in all, Fire Emblem is a wonderful RPG/strategy game that fans of these genres should not pass up.

Wish This Had Been Brought to NA Earlier!
I try to be honest in all of my reviews, and this will be no different. I wanted not to like Fire Emblem. I assumed that there had to be a really good reason that a strong-selling title from a beloved Japanese series would not have made it to North America. As you can tell from my score, this was not the case. I absolutely LOVED every minute I played this game, and continue to play it at least once a week.

Story
To discuss the story in great depth would certainly lead to spoilers. I do not want to ruin the intricate attention to detail that the authors have so lovingly crafted into this title.

Without going into great story-ruining detail (beyond the ''Tutorial'' chapters), you are placed in the role of a Tactician. As such, you are responsible for assisting Lyn, a woman who is attempting to rid her locale of invading hordes. Along the way, you meet up with several like-minded characters who wish to help you with your quest. Some first appear as enemies, however. If you choose to attack them rather than talk to them (which are different menu commands), you will find yourself possibly missing out on their contribution to the storyline.

As your cabal increases in number, you have a choice as to which characters to choose from. There is an ''old woman'' who can do a reading for you where she occasionally recommends that you take someone along (usually because they will be needed to talk to another character). This ''Augury'' costs you money, but is very helpful to the newbie turn-based strategist.

Characters
The story really has strong character development, and a wide range of characters you will encounter:
* Archer
* Cavalier
* Paladin
* Monk
* Magician
* Lord
* Wyvern Rider
* Pegasus Knight
* Nomad
* Fighter
* Thief
...

Most of the characters have a deep back-story that unfolds throughout the game. Like many RPGs, the characters level-up through an experience-based system, which automatically improves their personal statistics as well. Items throughout the game also act as power-ups, allowing your characters to evolve into a ''super'' class based upon those which they started from.

Gameplay
This is a turn-based strategy game. When two characters are near one another, they have the opportunity to attack one another (depending on their attack range). Each class of character has their own type of attack (largely dependent upon the weapon or magic that they wield).

The fighting in the game is based upon a triad, much like rock-paper-scissors:

* Axes beat Lances
* Lances beat Swords
* Swords beat Axes

The same can be said for magic, where you have 3 types of magic and each has one type that it is strong against and one that it is weaker against:

* Elemental Magic beats Light Magic
* Light Magic beats Dark Magic
* Dark Magic beats Elemental Magic

This makes for very interesting gameplay, as you can have a relatively low-level character with light magic beat the heck out of a higher-level Dark Mage, simply because of the magic balance.

SNES Level Animation and Good Attention to Detail
I expect GBA games to have decent animation and sound, and Fire Emblem does well on this platform. The music is great, the sound effects are appropriate and well-timed.

What really caught my eye was the attention to detail. If a unit is holding one type of weapon, when you cut to the battle sequence, they fight with that weapon (not their default). I was especially impressed with the fighting sequences, although I eventually turned them off for the later chapters so I could spend less time watching fights and more time strategizing!

A really great feature of this game is the ability to save almost any time. At any time that you are in control (e.g. not when computer or ''other'' is moving), you can choose to ''Suspend'' your game. This means that all moves up to that point will be saved, and you can continue from that point on. This was very important to my enjoyment, as later battles can take upwards of an hour a piece. If you want to try a silly ''blitz'' approach to map out the level, you can have a throw-away save spot and use it to store your explorations.

Well worth noting is the automatic saving feature. A couple of times I found myself up very late at night, trying to finish a level before the power of my GBA ran out. Ignoring the orange light, I continued to battle. When the machine ran out of power, as all batteries inevitably do, I was very worried that my progress would be lost! Luckily, all moves up to the point that the power went out were saved to the slot I was working on. I wouldn't recommend this approach, as I am sure I jeopardized the stability of said save file, but it is good to know that if you get too involved, you won't lose everything!

Will This Gather Dust?
It certainly won't in my collection. I have played this game to death, and still have a few chapters left to conquer. This is the kind of game you play, then rethink how you completed the chapter...could I have saved more guards if I had only...could I have reached that village before it was sacked by barbarians???

Well worth its price, and I do truly wish this series had been brought to North America earlier. I look forward to the next Fire Emblem game reaching our shores!

Overall Recommendations:
You'll like this if:
* You like RPGs.
* You like medieval-themed games.
* You liked Warcraft I or II or StarCraft. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This talking book comes with an interactive "magic pen" that works like a hand-held computer mouse pointer. Children can opt to turn the paper pages and listen to the story read with different voices for each character. Or they can interrupt the read-aloud session to play with the magic pen (permanently attached with a wire). They can point the pen tip to any word on a page and hear it pronounced, or touch a picture and hear a sound effect (such as "Strike one!" for the baseball bat). Very similar to the popular Living Books computer games, this 10-by-11-inch book is more portable than a home computer. Stories in this set include Lil's Loose Tooth, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, and Winnie the Pooh in A Sweet Good Morning. The set also includes a paper piano keyboard and map and human anatomy games.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (365)

Not as great as we thought it'd be...
I got this for my son when he was about 4, and it was a great learning tool before it started falling apart. The quality of it was terrible, and it didn't last more than a year after normal wear and tear. This product was definitely a disappointment, especially after spending a lot of money on books and cartridges shortly before it bit the dust.

fun for all ages
I bought a leap frog for my son when he was 4 and he loved it. He liked the pictures and sounds. It is also great for older kids, the leap frog book that came with his had activities for all ages. It is very educational and a great item to take on trips in the car.

great for my preschooler as well as older childern
I purchased a leappad for my 3 1/2 year old about a 1 1/2 years ago for christmas and it was a hit!! She loved the noises it made and she could write with the pen. The book that comes with the system is broken up into different age groups so the first book didn't have much she could do as for learning, but my older children (then 9 & 11) found a few pages that interested them as well. We soon purchased a couple of addition books that were age appropriate for my daughter and she began to learn numbers, letters and shapes. My sons even got a book to help them in the areas such as bones. My daughter turned 5 yesterday and she still carries her leappad where ever we go. She has moved up to learning sounds and sight words and hasn't even started kindergarden yet. She loves the games and the interaction since it will tell you (or beep/buzz you)when you have made a wrong answer. This product allows my husband & I, as well as other family members, to sit down and spend time with my daughter learning and ITS FUN for us all!! She can even entertain herself when we are unable to sit with her because of how user friendly it is.

We have had NO problems with our leappad and believe me it has been around and used.

I highly recommend it for a child that is eager to learn new things. If I had to find a fault with it, it would be that due to so many different books available, we sometimes misplace the cartridges. I have ordered her a backpack to keep them all together to solve this problem.

Beware Of Leap Frog Products
We are a family of 5. Our 3 children are 6, 3 1/2, and 2. You can imagine how many wonderful Leap Frog products we have in our household. We have a lot. We want to provide our children with a great educational start in life and what better way to do it than with these wonderful Leap Pad products right? Give me a break. Educationally they are great. Durable you ask, no way. Leap Frog only warrants their products for 3 months. We had 2 LeapPads. One still works great, we've had it for almost 4 years. The newer one we bought for our 3 year old stopped working in 4 months. It wasn't product misuse, because my son was only allowed to look at it with an adult. We only used it about 3 or 4 times a month, that's about 12-16 total uses, before the right side of the LeapPad stopped working. Several emails to Leap Frog resulted with no reply from them. They make these products but only warrant them for 3 months. Now I know why. Our Explorer globe flopped out after only 6 months. I will admit that the Leap Frog preschool toys we own have held up great, especially with all the banging around that they get, but their expensive products like LeapPad, Explorer Globe and Leapster have not. I'd look into buying educational products from a company who is willing to stand behind them and has the necessary means to make repair work on expensive products that no longer work. Leap Frog is a company I will no longer spend any more of my hard earned money on.

Fantastic even for age 3
My three-year-old received this leappad for his birthday, which he wanted very badly, and just cannot put it down. He carries it with him throughout the day and it's the first thing he looks for when he gets up in the morning. He saw it at toysrus and just absolutely loved it so he was very excited to get one of his own. He loves learning his abc's and numbers, and loves it when his favorite characters talk back to him. This is such a great tool - if you're trying to decide between this one and the Fisher price one, go for this one. The gal at toys rus said that the fisher price one is just for preschoolers whereas the leappad will grow with the child until age 8. Not bad! ... Read more

Features

• Build and run a farm while building and living a successful life
• A brand new Harvest Moon world with 40 new characters
• Revived marriage system, the ability to raise a child
• 6 chapters of your life spanning 30 years
• For 1 player

Reviews (160)

Another Great Game Coming Soon.
The first Harvest Moon game I had ever played was HM64, and I keep getting the newer versions. Okay, I'll admit that HM64 had its flaws, and HM:STH was just plain pathetic (it lacked a bunch of features older games had), but this one looks really promising!

A Wonderful Life will contain elements of all the past Harvest Moons all wrapped into one. Staying true to the series' tradition, it will of course feature completely non-linear gameplay, letting gamers create a unique life of their own. It's just you, a farm, and the rest of your life. You'll have to successfully manage your farm,

FEATURES

-Harvest Moon at its best, live life how you want to and enjoy a completely non-linear gameplay experience

-Get married and raise a family

-Farm your crops and create all-new hybrid vegetables

-Brand new farmyard animals to raise

-A Wonderful Life draws on the best qualities of the series and promises to add more

Some other information I found on the Victor Interactive Site is below!

-The game will be in a completely new town with a story as long as 30 years.
-There will be 6 tales and 40+ characters.
-You can have a child.
-If you connect the GameCube game to the GB Advance game new events occur, character dialogue changes and other things!

I have a really good feeling about this game.

A brilliant addition to the Harvest Moon series.
I've been a Harvest Moon addict for years, and I was thrilled when I found out that there was to be a new game for Gamecube. On the day it came out, I called literally over 20 different places (including Gamestop, Sam Goody, Target, Walmart and EB Games) and most places told me it was going to be released the following day (despite the fact the official site said the 16th!) so I grudgingly waited until the next day, and it was worth it! I'm 13, and to me $40 is a lot of money, which is what the game cost, but as I said it was completely worth it. The graphics are beautiful, and the gameplay is awesome, as is the plotline. I love that you can actually raise your son (usually he stays a toddler all his life!). Pros- Addicting gameplay Gorgeous graphics More realistic produce (cows only give milk after they give birth etc) Raise your son! Play through 6 chapters, adding to 10 years in the game altogether Cons- Only three potential brides - I liked having five or six Long days The fishing system is utterly boring. If you've never played Harvest Moon before I'd suggest renting this before buying, because it might not be your cup of tea, but for those of whom love the series, this is a must have!

a review :)
This game is the best :). It's easy and fun. If u win it, or finish it, u can do it over again the same way, or differently. Unlike other games, if u win them, it's the same thing over and over. But this one u can re-play it a billion times if u want. If u don't want a fast moving, complicated game, this is the game 4 u. :)

Looks like fun
I just bought this from amazon and i had it be the one day shipping. It should arive tomorrow and tomorrow i will get to play it. This game looks like a really fun game. I enjoy playing the sims and this looks like it will be just as fun. So anyways this looks like a great game and it looks like it will be a lot of fun.

This Game Rocks!
This game really expands and adds a lot of new features on to the other Harvest Moon games. In the other games you only play for one or two years, which if you have nothing better to do besides play, goes fast. In this new game you can play for six chapters, which is thirty years.
There are so many types of animals in the game. Normally you can only have cows, chickens and a horse, but in this game you can raise sheep, goats, and ducks in addition to the other animals. You also can have a pet dog and cat.
Another great new feature is that you can cross breed plants. You can mix watermelons with potatoes, and carrots with strawberries. The possobilities are endless.
To continue into the 2nd chapter you have to get married. There are three women to choose from, Celia, Nami and Muffy.
You also get to start a family. Your son will look like your wife.
This game is great. I reccomed it, and the Game Boy Advance version highly. Two thumbs up, 5 stars. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A pogo stick for smaller bouncers, this all-metal kangaroosubstitute features a completely enclosed main spring--hence nopinching. The all-black steel shaft is brightened up by multicoloredrubber footpads, grips, and tip, all of which are replaceable. Designedto support 'roos aged 5 through 9, or weighing 40 to 80 pounds.--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (11)

jakes favorite toy
My son, Jake, received the pogo stick as a gift when he was five. It has become his prized toy above his scotter, bike, blades, etc. He is now almost eight and I thought would want a "better" version, but his pogo stick is irreplaceable: It is very durable and lightweight (we've taken it on many vacations) It is easy to manuever(he can jump over and around anything and for close to an hour with few stops). The other pogo stick is being returned and we're buying another of this version.

Some of the best money I have ever spent!!!
My daughter received this for Christmas when she was six. She had never been on one before, so it took her a while to work on her balance and stay up on it. One jump became three, three jumps became ten, ten jumps became twenty five, and so on. With continued practice, her current record is over six hundred jumps without stopping. (Yes ---- she was exhausted afterward, but oh so proud of herself!!) This has been a wonderful toy, and well worth the $20 spent. Her balance has been incredible, and it's really quite a workout. She has had such fun competing against her old record jumps.

It is well-constructed over-all, but be sure to watch the rubber tip on the bottom if your child is a jumper like mine. She literally wore through the rubber tip without my realizing it, and the metal end of the stick had nothing to grip, once sending her flying onto the garage floor and hitting her head. Besides a goose egg she was OK, but she now wears her bike helmet to jump. (When I called the company they promptly sent me replacement tips at no charge.)

We have been very happy with this toy and are now purchasing the heavier Master Pogo since she's at the top of the weight range for this one.

Great update of a traditional toy!
My daughter received this pogo stick as a gift when she was five. At age six, she is still getting the hang of it, but she and her friends in the neighborhood have had a lot of fun with it. The foam cover is durable and prevents rust and dents which could render the toy unsafe. Also, the spring is covered, so there is no easy opportunity for injury to the child or damage to the spring. This is quieter and safer than the pogo stick I grew up with in the 80's!

My Sweet Pogo Stick
This is my first Pogo stick. It really helps you with other games for balance and especially with swings. I am only 7 years old and have it only two days so it is still hard for me, but I am practicing. Also this product is very nice colors and it feels nice to hold. I even got hit once and it didn't hurt because of the padding. I really like it

accidents
The toy is fun, but you can easily slip. I had one....but the rubber cap (which isn't durable enough) fell off. I pogo-ed on cement and chipped a permanent tooth.... ... Read more

Product Description

Electronic Arts (14891) MVP Baseball 2005 Gcube ... Read more

Features

• Read the Pitch with the EA SPORTS Hitters Eye: An all-new visual indicator allows the hitter to pick up the pitch the moment it leaves the pitchers hand. Admire a sweet swing or learn from your mistakes with an all-new enhanced replay that details, analyzes, and provides unprecedented feedback on your last swing.
• Own the Plate: Change your position in the box to adjust to what the pitcher is throwing you, or keep the defense honest with a drag bunt.
• Precision Pitching: Paint the corners or send a message with the Precision Pitch Meter, or catch runners napping with unprecedented pickoff control.
• Big Play Control Reaches a Whole New Level: Make an underhand toss to the pitcher as he covers first, slide around a tag at home, and make user-controlled stretches and dives. While leading off base, exercise your reflexes by beating pickoff throws with an all-new leadoff control.
• Build an Empire: Control every aspect of your organization in all-new Owner mode. Create your line-up based on player progression during Spring Training, or help build player attributes by completing in a variety of different mini-games.

Reviews (3)

Terrible baseball simulator
This is, without a doubt the worst baseball simulator out there.It's like EA just gave up on the product being that it's the last year they are doing it.The baseball games are just unrealistic.For exampleI'm three months into my season and all my starters have at least 2 perfect games each while my team has a batting average of .217!It's just impossible to hit in this game for both computer and player.I've even adjusted the contact levels to no avail.This game is just terrible!

The Elite of 2005's Lineup
MVP Baseball 2005 is the closest game currently on the market to give you the most in-depth baseball experience possible. In my opinion, the only people not liking some aspects of this game will be New York Yankees fans. It's not only Manny on the cover, but also the intro video, cracks and comments throughout the games and even a song praising Boston's first title in 86 years. Well, all I can say is, if you can't overlook those things, you're missing one fantastic game. Let's break it down:

Owner Mode:
New this year is Owner Mode where you begin with picking a stadium (not one of the existing ballparks, but a starter stadium) and making a few upgrades (seating, lights, whatever you can afford before opening day). You can add a restaurant, set ticket prices, make promotional days and on and on.

You have a financial advisor for the season, budget reports, player contracts, etc. One note: Yes, you can be the owner and play the game just like you would in Dynasty Mode. You can sim, play individual games, manage the game or sit in your luxury box and watch it all take place. There is so much to this mode that I couldn't possibly fit it into this review.

Dynasty Mode:
This mode is essentially the same as last year. Keep the owner happy, the players, do contracts and play the games. It's been updated and tweaked for more user friendly experience. And I can't leave out that this year, you even have single-A teams in addition to AA, AAA, and MLB.

Mini Games:
Instead of just a Home Run Derby, EA has included a variety of features that can teach you different aspects of the game. There is batting practice, pitching practice and also a scenario editor. To me, I found it to be an enjoyable experience especially when hitting the cars and busses over the outfield wall. This seems like a throw back to Triple-Play 2000 when you had target practice.

Graphics:
Simply amazing. Need I say more? The players faces and stances are mirrored to their real-life counterparts. Cutscenes, and animations are gorgeous. The only thing I found a proble with was the crowd...even in 2005, they are still wooden-looking. That's a sacrifice you have to make and it doesn't detract from the game experience.

Gameplay:
What a shift from last year! Pitching is now a lot more realistic with the way you use the meter. Instead on the old meter where you set power and tried to hit right spot, they have upgraded it to you having to stop it and exactly the right moment, if not, you risk and early or late breaking pitch. In rookie mode, it's not as big of a deal as it is in MVP mode. Make some mistake pitches in the higher levels and you're asking for trouble.

Batting is great! When you foul off a pitch, a little screen comes up and shows you how you hit it. Fouling off a pitch is a mistimed swing, same as a swing through. Gone is the animation where you swung, missed the ball and it popped up the crazy box to show you missing it. Instead, this year, they have the popup box, yet include the ball trail so you see how you missed it.

Fielding & baserunning is comparable to last years version with some great upgrades to visuals. There are plenty of dives, showboating grabs, wall jumps, and take-out slides.

Ok, I could go on & on with this review because, like I said, this is the most in-depth baseball game I have ever seen. If you want the best out there, MVP Baseball 2005 hits a Home Run.

Best Version yet
Unfortunately, it may also be the last version due to TakeTwo's contract with MLB.

Anyway, this is a great addition to EA's collection of sports titles.Some cons include:Commentators have new things to say, in addition to the old things, but they still get dull rather quickly.You can only control one team at a time.I like to play NCAA football and Madden while "playing" one team and "playing owner, gm, etc." for another.

Pros:

1)Graphics:So much smoother in this version.The outfield characters are leaner and better looking.The stadiums look great and even when you create a ballpark, it still looks good.

2)Gameplay:It is tougher to field, hit, etc. but I consider this a good thing.Fielding is tougher because when you're tracking a fly ball you don't automatically stop on the circle.You actually have to pay attention once you get "close".Hitting is tougher, I think, and I actually have had to lower my level of gameplay to make myself more competitive.Baserunning is also more of a challenge.The pitchers are better at picking your runners off, and while you can modify the "gameplay tuning" it doesn't make winning automatic.Additionally, they fixed a "bug" from the 2004 version that made it harder for left-handers to hit homeruns.

3)Game modes:
a.Dynasty:Great.Same as before.120 years to build a dynasty and see what you can do.

b.Owner mode:Wow!Only 30 years, but still long enough.You create your own stadium from pre-set options (This could be improved).You buy food stands to sell food to the fans.You buy batting cages, souvenir stands, order fireworks night, order magnetic schedules, etc.This is to get the fans to come, keep them interested while they're there, and hopefully make more money.You start off with a stadium of 20,000 and can work your way up to 65,000 (I think).Everything you buy costs money, but in the long run, you'll hopefully be able to turn a profit.This is hard.So far, I'm 30 games in and $5 million in the whole.

c.Mini-games.The pitching mini-game is HARD!Wow!It's not an automatic win.Of course, I could be losing because I'm using the Pirates.You have a "strike-zone" and you have to pitch the ball to certain locations in the strike-zone.THere is a timed game and an un-timed game.The batting mini-game is actually relatively easy, but definitely good for honing your directional hitting skills.You can also play these mini-games in your "season" games during spring training.It allows you to improve, or negate, your players' ratings.

d.Home-run Derby.Same as before.

One thing I really like that I didn't notice in the previous version is that when you do the different mini-games and homerun derby, the computer actually tells you how many points you got based on the level of difficulty.If you put it on higher settings (of difficulty) you get more points, but it's so much harder the higher you go.

I only became a baseball fan a few years ago, but these games have really helped me understand the game a bit better, learn more about the players, and boggled my mind with the number of things we can do with technology.

Great Game.Try www.easports.com first because they're currently offering free shipping. ... Read more

Features

• Kirby is back to help rid the Kingdom of Mirrors of the dark shadow
• Use Kirby's cell phone to call for backup
• New powers include a bow and arrow and the ability to grow wings
• Fight enemies with enemy-sucking powers
• For 1 or 2 players