Editorial Review

Fully equipped for the uber rescue mission, this souped-up spacecraft doubles as a jet and a Rescue Heroes command center. The top of the jet flips open to reveal an electronic screen and an operations deck, where Keytron, a robot, plugs into the control board to relay missions to the team. Included are two tethered backpacks which, as Rescue Heroes fans know, allow the action figures to communicate. What's more, the jet itself transforms into a giant robot, with a deployable space pod as the head and a tank-like tough-terrain vehicle down below. This is a sturdy, sizable toy that those who enjoy Rescue Heroes ought to love, and it contains plenty of moving parts. Also included is a C.D. Moon action figure in a red space suit. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fully equipped for looting and plundering across the high seas, this pirate ship sports a massive wooden hull powered forward by six sails, three adorned with skulls and crossbones. Triple-firing cannons lay above and below deck, while a sword-wielding captain commands two crew members. A parrot can rest atop the captain's shoulder. There's also a working wench for hauling up all that misbegotten treasure and a removable dinghy for one-off raids. Other elements include a deployable anchor, a walking plank, and a yellow guard rail that circles the deck. The boat measures over 2 feet long once assembled, and can be put together in several ways, outlined in the accompanying booklet. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Editorial Review

For kids who want to experience the magic of growing their own garden, this kit is a fun andinventive experience. It contains everything you need to grow a small terrarium complete with an entirecommunity of tiny fantastical inhabitants. Paint the special planter with the paints (three primary colorsincluded), fill with soil, and then plant the enclosed beans and grass seeds. Then it's time to arrange the tinyfairy cottage, use the green pebbles to make a tiny path, and decorate the garden with the rocks, shells, and plastic animals that come with the kit. As the beans sprout and grow, you can cut and shape them sothey look like miniature trees--and for variety, add pepper, lemon, cantaloupe, and tomato seeds and watchjust what comes up. --John Longenbaugh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Best toy in the world!
I think that this toy allows fun and education into children. It gives them a craft to play with when they are bored, and is fun for anyone to play with. I defenitely recommend this one of a kind "Wee Enchanted Garden Kit." My child Jessica who is 10, just loves crafts! I also teach in a school and bring crafts for them to do all the time! They seem to really enjoy it a bunch! this is totally a five star kit!

"Awsome Fun!"
It was so cool!I loved it!I could design it anyway I wanted to.Thanks!

MOTHER OF 6 YEAR OLD
MY DAUGHTER LOVES FAIRIES SO I HAD TO ORDER THIS. IN 3 DAYS WE HAD 6 INCHES OF GRASS AND A FEW BEAN SPROUT TREES!!!! SHE LOVES TAKING CARE OF HER FAIRIES!!!!

Plants grew TALL
Had a wonderful couple hours putting this together with my 5-year old niece. And, because I live across country from her, she promised she would call me when the plants started growing. Just a few days later, I got an excited phone message from her that the garden was growing and the "plants were SO TALL." I called her back and told her to get the lawnmower out, which she quickly relayed to her father. The only thing I would change about this kit would be to have more realistic and fun animals and maybe an elf to go with the house. The kit includes a plastic frog and mouse that aren't even near scaled to the size of the house. An elf, a few deer, and a squirrel might be a better combination.

Takes awhile, but is still fun!
I got this for myself, actually. I like playing with stuff like this, even though I am no longer a kid! I had fun painting the pot and planting the seeds. A few days later, the grass started to grow. Unfortunately I haven't seen much of the beans - but hopefully soon. This is a fun kit to play with, but doesn't actually give you many hours of enjoyment. Once you paint the kit and plant the seeds (which doesn't take THAT long) you basically just check on it every so often to water it and see the plants. One other good thing about this kit, they give you extra seeds and tell you how to make them sprout using paper towels so you can see the entire process - very interesting! Would recommend, as the price is not too bad - but there are plenty of more eduacational toys out there that will occupy more of your time. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Accompanied by a "PowerCard" to record account information, this make-believe ATM machine features an electronic screen, an alpha-numeric keypad, and slots for cards, coins, and bills. Insert the card into the appropriate slot and enter a personal ID to get a personal greeting and an exact balance. You can also insert real dollar bills and coins, and the machine will add those amounts to the account. A cash drawer at the bottom pops open for withdrawals. The beeps, lights, and robotic voice resemble those one might find on a spaceship; it's almost as if you're withdrawing funds from the HAL 9000 rather than the ATM machine down the block. Also, the language seems a bit beyond the toy's target audience. ("Enter your name and secret PIN number for real personalized banking.") By the time children are old enough to use and understand this toy, it's possible they'll have outgrown it. The machine mounts easily to a wall, or you can set it on top of a dresser. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (2)

good
this a great toy! it teaches you that different people can have different jobs and its really fun 2 play with! its really durable!

REVIEW
This toy was pretty fun for my child, except some of the parts broke really easily ... Read more

Editorial Review

Well-designed with lots of terrific detail, Learning Resources' Calculator Cash Register completely satisfies a young child's hunger to play with bills, coins, cash drawers, and big numbers. The chiming cash register features a built-in solar calculator as its keypad, thus allowing kids to act as bankers, shopkeepers, and accountants all at once. A large cash drawer holds life-sized bills in four denominations (1, 5, 10, and 20), and four coin holders make room for embossed plastic pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. There is even a credit card slot that dings when you correctly slide the faux VISA card through it.A suggested-activities booklet is included. Requires a 1.5V button cell battery (included) to make the chiming noise. No assembly required. Winner of awards from Dr. Toy, FamilyFun Magazine, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

It's the most popular toy at my house!
This cash register is a favorite at my house! We often have children from ages two to six visiting, and this is the first toy that many of them go to. The calculator makes beeping noises that the kids enjoy, and the cash drawer opens and closes with a satisfying click. I've enjoyed teaching my son the value of money and how to use a calculator with this toy.

Can't Live Without It
We were at a friends house last night and she had this toy for her 3 year old son. My 2 year old daughter could not stop playing with it. She simply loved opening the drawer and handing out the money to each person in the room. She would then collect the money and put it back. This activity kept her busy for an hour and it would have been longer except for the fact we needed to leave. I have bought her other cash register toys but none have been as realistic or kept her interest as long as this one did. I am buying one for her now and can only hope that she loves it as much as she did last night.

This is the funniest toy ever
When I got this toy i played with it for such along time and still do. You only spend $29.99 on it and it is money well spent. You make the right choice if you get this toy. The age group i would say is probably 5-whenever. Let me tell you parents what when my mom and dad got this for me i lovedit and it made me happy for so long.Three words for this toy.
MONEY WELL SPENT!!!!!!!!! FUN
so you should get this toy. KNOW dont think twice get it...NOW
dont forget get the scanner and bar codes* that go with it.
*SOLD SEPARTLEY

A preschool favorite
I'm buying this toy for my son's 3rd birthday because he makes a beeline to it everytime we go to our parent-child preschool class. He usually sets up a toy phone nearby, too. I get to be the customer and bring a basket of toy food to him which he "scans" on the notepad area. It's nice when toys leave something to the imagination. He loves the play bills and coins and pretending to make change. I believe that this toy will grow with my child and still be fun for him in a few years.

I figure that if this toy has survived daily use by multiple 2-4 year olds, it will survive around our house. If it doesn't, then I will update this posting!!!

hits money learning right on the head
I bought this for my daughter five years ago when she turned 4... it is still a household favorite. The design is good and it has held up well despite its being knocked around a fair amount.

The display is large and easy to read. The play money, which was one of my primary concerns, is realistically sized and marked. There is plenty of it to play with and make change too. The credit card is a nice touch which slides into a slot with a beep.

The sticky note space isn't as useful or cool as I thought it could have been, but I think sticky notes tend to just get ripped off of the pad and spread across the room by most children.

Now that my daughter is older, she still plays with it as well as putting it to use while running her punch & shaved ice stand in the summer. I feel like this was a good purchase and I would recommend it as a sturdy playset with high educational potential. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Watch out Emeril! Future Gourmet Chef at work!
We got this for our daughter's 2nd birthday after reading ALL the reviews, and even wrote to Step 2 FIRST to inquire about some common problems. The dishrack HAS been fixed and the dishes don't fall out. The instructions don't seem to be in a logical order: we put the decals on FIRST while the pieces are easier to get to(which are very forgiving: you can remove if not lined up right!); make SURE you have batteries (12 AA for the Dream kitchen); put spindles and door/drawer knobs on before assembling big pieces together. Just seems to make more sense that way. Took about an hour for the 2 of us to assemble. Some holes are NOT drilled, so have a drill on hand. The fridge door is fine on ours, but the keypad next to the microwave is not quite centered, so the microwave door catches on it and is hard to open and close. Maybe can remedy by redrilling the top hole for keypad. Also like the idea of taping a string behind keypad for ease of removing to change batteries.

Lots of FUN sounds and "boiling/sizzling" sounds also stop on their own after about a minute. Daughter LOVES it so far! Well Worth the money, but shop around: found $15 difference in shipping cost from here to Target.com. VERY durable: 20lb cat jumped up on it - didn't tip or move at all! After the assembly, you'll love it! Hope/expect to have many years of fun play out of it!

The Best Kitchen Out There
My daughter received this kitchen for Christmas when she was
1 1\2. I was worried she wouldn't be interested in it, i thought maybe she was a little young, but she started to play with it right away, and hasn't stopped since. Everyday she is cooking Mommy something. It wasn't as hard to put together as i thought, and it is very durable. My daughter plays rough, and not one thing is broken or cracked. My only regret for this kitchen is it doesn't have a lot of counterspace. Ever since she got it, everyone wants to buy her blenders, and coffepots, and toasters, but there is no room to put it in her kitchen. Also my daughter wishes the faucet made noise. it is a great value for the money as well. It's is the only kitchen I could find that wasn't pink & purple, and I plan to have a boy eventually, and I try to buy larger toy items that can be used by either a girl ot a boy. This is a GREAT value, and anyone in the market for a kid's kitchen should definitely purchase this one.

Well worth the money!
I bought this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she loves it. It keeps her occupied like no other toy she has. She loves to help me in the kitchen and now she has her own, her size. I read other reviews about this product and I didn't have any of the problems other people say they did. It was easy to put together, I do, however, recommend using an electric screwdriver, it'll go much faster that way. My daughter thinks the overhead light is the coolest thing ever and no worries, it shuts itself off within minutes if they forget to. So no wasting batteries. This kitchen is well worth the money I paid for it and has all the storage space they could need for thier dishes and food. My only complaint, actually it's more my daughters, is that she wishes the faucet made noise like everything else does.
Anyway, all the doors fit right and it is sturdy. My advice is just take your time assembling it. I'd say it took me about an hour to put it all together, decals and all.

Well Worth It!
I bought this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she loves it. It keeps her occupied like no other toy she has. She loves to help me in the kitchen and now she has her own, her size. I read other reviews about this product and I didn't have any of the problems other people say they did. It was easy to put together, I do, however, recommend using an electric screwdriver, it'll go much faster that way. My daughter thinks the overhead light is the coolest thing ever and no worries, it shuts itself off within minutes if they forget to. So no wasting batteries. This kitchen is well worth the money I paid for it and has all the storage space they could need for thier dishes and food. My only complaint, actually it's more my daughters, is that she wishes the faucet made noise like everything else does.
Anyway, all the doors fit right and it is sturdy. My advice is just take your time assembling it. I'd say it took me about an hour to put it all together, decals and all.

Very Happy Mommy
My 3 yaer ols son recieved this as a gift for his 3rd birthday. He has played with it everyday since he got it. Its big and has lots of things to do. And I LOVE that it is the only kitchen out there that is not pink and purple. It suits either a boy or a girl. It was very easy to put together and you dont have to worry about it tipping over onto anyone. The bottm is heavy enough to support the wieght on the top. The light has an automatic shut off, which is a great feature. Keeps the batteries from dieing so fast from little ones forgetting to turn it off. I will be purchasing more Step2 toys in the very near future! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for a horse or animal enthusiast
My 4-year old daughter got this 8 months ago and it is a winner. The two compartments, many doors, storage areas and folding fence give her all she needs to make her space for her many horses and other animals. It gets used every day and nothing has broken.

Worth the money
This play barn is exactly what I was looking for for my 4 year old son who is a Horse enthusiast. It is much bigger than I expected, beautiful, and has lots of opening doors and gates. It also comes with a fence that folds up and stores neatly in the barn. This barn is big enough for Breyer horses, and has an a swing out side. It was a great purchase and highly recommended.

Nice barn for toy horses
Just got this item today and I am impressed with it's compatibility for various sizes of toy horses. I especially love the fact that it can be folded up to a smaller size to be tucked into a closet when needed.

This barn has multiple doors that open-some slide and other's are dutch doors. We do have another barn of this type that has the dutch doors and the hinge's fell apart right away. I am hoping this one will be better since the doors do seem to open and close more smoothly on this particular barn...but need to stress that the kids need to be somewhat 'gentle' with these dutch doors so they don't break the hinges. The manufacturer really should attach them with metal hinges and they would last alot longer.

Overall...I feel my kids are going to get alot of enjoyment out of this barn. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classroom Teacher
This product has provided hours of entertainment to my Kindergarteners and my first graders in the last two years. I can't believe how rough they can be with the toy and nothing breaks.

Really neat...even fun for mom
I bought this set for my son when he turned 4. He didn't attempt to play with it by himself until one day I got it out, sat on the floor with him and started building really neat stuff. When he saw what I had done and watched all the colors of gears turning round and round that was it, he loved it. This set has so many options; you can build 1,000 different things. We will have this set for a long time.

Start with the Under Sea Adventure set, this as add on!
We received several gears, gears, gears sets at the same time, and found that the plain set ie Super set although initially fun looses excitement without some add ons. If I were to buy just one set I would start with the Under the Sea adventure set first, then add with the fantasy play park. The Undersea set has parts that move the gears in interesting ways from the standard set. It also comes with regular gears for building, although in limited number so the super set still helps extend the play.The motorized monstors sounded more intteresting than it was, but the parts when added to the Undersea adventure set was great fun! The gears are an interesting way of learning how things work. If your child is mechanically minded any of these sets will provide a wonderful new constructin opportunity. If your child hasn't been inclined towards let's say lego's etc.. This toy may provide some interest initially in being able to create a design that moves. However, construction with this set is more complicated than legos and for the less mechanically inclined child will still need paren'ts help beyond the age minimum's recommended.

Love! Love! Love! Gears! Gears! Gears!
My kids love their Gears! Gears! Gears! My sister bought them this set for Christmas and they are still enjoying it. The gears seem very durable and the colors are vibrant and look great in their playroom. There are so many things they can make, and the gears are a nice change from all the legos.

Kids feel like they've made a real "machine"
This set of "gears" is really neat. There are lots of pieces, very nice bright colors, and countless configurations. I really like that the set didn't include patterns to follow or directions--it just told you how to make flat gears, upright, etc. My oldest child is 3--his main fascination right now is how everything moves together. He yells at me to come see the "machine" he has made. I think it will stay interesting to him for several years. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

VERY COOL TOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really excited about this toy. when I got it I decided to test it out.it was great!everything worked VERY WELL!

Calling all spies!!!!!
Calling all spies! The Micro spy kit is really cool! The NIGHTSPYER mini-scope is great for snooping around in the dark. The voice scrambler is excellent for passing top- secret messages. The spy motion alarm is great for keeping secure areas secure, and the spy micro listener is great for listening in on secret conversations and picking up top-secret info. Anyway, on to the REVIEW. My favorite part of this kit is the NIGHTSPYER mini-scope because it's small, yet it's good for taking a closer look in the middle of the night. This toy is really cool! Buy it!!!

P.S. If it's too bright to use your NIGHTSPYER, you can go on a mission on [postopia website] . Look for the game called "Night Spy Mission" and go on a 4-level adventure for late night snacks. And look at the directions!!!

I love this toy!
This toy is really fun. My favorite attachment is the voice scrambler. My ten-year-old sister likes to use the Micro Listener. My eleven-year-old sister likes the Voice Scrambler, too. You should get this toy.

Spy Micro Kit
This toy is great! The NIGHT SPYER really works well. It can see in even the darkest places. The detector is nice and sensetive [and loud....], and it sounds even when there is a little bit of light. The voice changer lowers your voice, but besides that, it works great. The listener is the best thing in the micro kit. You can hear voices from REALLY far away, and through walls. The durability of this toy is ......ok, but it won't last long if stepped on or dropped. The educational value is bad because there is nothing educational. But it is SO MUCH FUN! Buy this toy! You won't be dissapointed!

A spy's best gadgets
Spy Micro kit is awesome!!! The Detector is great and sensitive, The night spyer is good for magnifying and seeing in the dark, the voice changer didn't really work but I still liked it, and the listener really worked! The only bad thing is that the voice changer lowers the volume of your voice and most of what you hear with the listener is backround noises but you can still hear better. I defenitly reccommend this item!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dinner's on! A cute toy for budding chefs, this make-believe kitchen lets preschoolers pretend they're cooking along with mom and dad, and features a couple of chatty appliances: Bake the Oven, Zap the Microwave, and Mixy the Blender. Pressing the red buttons on the stovetop makes them talk ("Hey, Mixy--what's shakin'?" "I am!"), while Bake the Oven's eyes and mouth move. There's also a whole spread of plastic food and utensils, including a freshly baked pie, a slice of pizza, a sauté pan, and a pair of sunny-side-up eggs. Other elements include a tick-tocking timer and two attachable shelves. Included are three AA batteries. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Barbie Shop With Me Cash Register proves once again that Barbie is the coolest.Madedurably and in Barb's trademark colors (pink, hot pink, purple, white, etc.), this is a sleek number that canbe operated on the floor, bed, or tabletop. It features four realistic ways to buy noodles, yogurt, and toiletpaper. Option 1: A "clerk"--either a child or Barbie--scans the bar codes of included price tags. Option 2:You can manually input the price of items. Option 3: Items may be scrolled down the register. Option 4,which is, by the way, your humble writer's favorite: Make up your own prices! Get "Barbie Discounts"when you use your savings debit card. The Barbie register comes with a slew of accessories, including 18scannable price tags, play money, play credit/debit cards, a keypad, built-in microphone, and a 120-itemshopping catalogue offering everything from Barbie-brand jeans to junk food. The machine features ahigh-tech hand-held scanner and LCD on the register, which shows a customer's subtotal, item number, unitprice, and total. You get everything but a receipt. Hmmm.

A built-in microphone allows your child to make store announcements and call for price checks and itemvoids. This heightens the interaction this toy was built for, since Barbie's voice simulates the real shoppingexperience enough already. "Cash or charge?" she asks in a perky tone. Tip: If you don't pay up at oncewith your Barbie greenbacks or American Express-like credit card, you'll be harassed. We writers foundourselves fumbling through our own wallets, trolling for coupons. Barbie prompts the shopper throughoutthe entire process ("Seventeen dollars and twelve cents... No... seventeen dollars and TWELVE cents.").And parents--there's no volume control. If you just happen to sneak a play while your kid's eating lunch,well... everybody in the house will hear if your card is over the limit. Just kidding. But it's best to useBarbie's credit cards anyway. This kind of hectic shopping experience makes adults really appreciate theonline shopping experience, but kids will love it so much they'll forget it's just a pretend play toy. Registercomes with all accessories, manufacturer's warranty, a real grocery store coupon for a kid's treat, and thefour required AA batteries. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Great toy, but didn't last 3 weeks!
I had such high hopes for this toy! My 4-year-old received it for Christmas and just loved it -- especially the microphone. But the entire thing (except the microphone) stopped working less than 3 weeks after Christmas! To make matters worse, when I went to exchange it, I couldn't find it at any local Target store so, since I bought it at 1/2 price right before Christmas, I had to return it and lose out on my special deal. (Not to mention a VERY sad little girl...) The lady who helped me with the return said her grand-daughter had one going on 3 years so I'm hopeful mine was just a lemon, but the reviews I've read on other boards seem to indicate a real problem with durability. I probably will buy another one (though probably not at the normal $40 price tag -- the toy isn't durable enough for that kind of price), but will make sure I keep the receipt AND the box it came in for awhile...

Great toy, but didn't even last 3 weeks!
I had such high hopes for this toy! My daughter just loved it. I even enjoyed playing with it. She loved the microphone! I thought the scanner was really cool... BUT, the thing stopped working less than 3 weeks after Christmas!! VERY frustrating. To top it off, I was unable to find one to exchange it with so I had to return it (therefore losing the 1/2 price off I'd received when I purchased it, not to mention a sad daughter...) The lady that helped me with the return said her grand-daughter had one that was going on 3 years, so hopefully I just received a "lemon". But, after reading other reviews, this toy just doesn't seem durable enough for the $40 price tag. I do plan on trying another one (if I can ever find it again...), but I will certainly keep up with the receipt AND the box it came in...

Cool toy!
this is a cool toy especially for younger ones. I used to play with it, and i remember it was fun. And you could learn a lot actually! I think it helps in math. You could learn to count and add and subtract. Also it is fun because almost everyone loves shopping and this is almost like shopping in your very house! You could use any item in your home and turn it into an item for sale at your "store," You can choose your own price, whether its on sale or not and more! I remember i used to have much fun with it especially when friends came over. In general, it is a great toy! But one thing i dont really like is that the cash register (barbie) does all the talking. IT says the price, and welcome, and all that stuff. So the "clerk" doesnt really do much but check out and give money back and stuff like that. But other than that its great!

Age range way off!
My daughter received this for Christmas when she was 3. She was way too young for this, but what can you do with a gift from Grandma? I think the age range should start at 7 or 8. The problem with this toy and younger kids is that they lose all the pieces. Now that she is 5 and could play with it more, all the money and credit cards are gone. My kids just use it for the microphone now. Save it until your child is old enough to appreciate it. I believe it would provide hours of fun for the child of the right age.

scanner do not work.
This is a great toy, it 's scanners stop working instantly though. My daughter still plays with it but misses the scanners. ... Read more

Reviews (390)

Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion, for Nintendo Gamecube, is an excellent game. The only bad thing is that the game is way too short. I beat it in under a month. However, they pretty much make up for that little blemish with incredible replay value. For example, depending on how much money you get over the course of the game, Luigi will end up with a different house that he bought with the money. The highest grade is A, and I'm not sure how low you can get, but the lowest I ever got was E. [My first time beating it.] The game is worth playing over just to see how high you can get.
Then there is the Hidden Mansion. Beat the game, and you get access to it. The differences are small, but they're there. See if you can spot them!
Then, once you've gotten bored, you can still visit that nice Training Room! It's really enjoyable! See if you can get eleven ghosts!
Overall, this is my rating-
Gameplay-9.25/10. Some puzzles are too short, yet incredibly frustrating, and sometimes you have to do completely random things to get ghosts to appear, like shaking a moose head. Other than that, though, they gameplay is great.
Graphics-8.50/10. The graphics are typical for Gamecube. [Meaning that they are very good], but I really wish the facial features on the characters would actually change.
Camera-9.75/10. The camera control in unbelievable. I just wish you could adjust it.
Sound-7.50/10. The sound could have been better. The game only has one main tune throughout the game. [If it's playing any music at all]. It's a good thing that the tune is a good one.
Well, that's my Luigi's Mansion review. I hope it was helpful to you!

"Fun" if you like difficult, tedious and repetitive games.
Luigi's mansion is one of the Gamecube Oldies. Most everyone who ended up reserving a Gamecube reserved Luigi's Mansion as well.

Oops.

Luigi's mansion is so incredibly... what's the word... oh yeah, STUPID.

You start out with a plot line that you have won a haunted mansion in a contest you never entered. You encounter a ghost, and some crazy guy sucks it up with a poltergust 3000 (a vacume cleaner) You then must rescue Mario from the mansion, and thats when it gets exciting... for the one time.

Whats the gameplay like? Well, you need to suck up ghosts. First you need to shine a light on them to freeze them, then press L and pull back on the control stick to suck them up. But the drop bombs down, and you go into them, and you lose health and the ghosts! It's [horrible] how you cannot control the way you go. Second, more ghosts pop out and hurt you, and you can't do anything about that either! You would not beleive how stupid the entire thing is. The entire game revolves around pressing L and holding the C-stick down. Short "mini" games involve you the size of a peanut againts ghosts 50x your size. Also, during gameplay, the dumbest things let you get furthur. What does sucking in a peice of paper have to do with letting 50 boo's come out of a sewer? Speaking of boo's, you need to capture 50 of them. They are virtually all the same, and by ghost 10, you are saying "What's the point of this?" They travel through the walls and you need to capture them by going into a different room! Once I was stuck for 10 minutes in a hallway chasing a boo from room to room. BOOOOORING. You also lose health for opening doors, having mice touch you, and you virtually are dead after 10 touches by a ghosts, plus -20 everytime it shoots out a bomb at you. The gameplay gets a 5/10.

Now, I know, I sound like the old men from [a t.v. show], complaining about everything, but I can't complain about this. Despite the ...awful gameplay, the graphics will blow you away. Everything is in 3D and makes it look great. Ghosts have perfect transparentry, and the physics are perfect. If you try to suck up a cloth, it will respond to how hard you pressing the button, where you are, and how much your moving back. It's amazing. The graphics get a 10/10, but don't count on it to help this game's grade.

The sound is neutral. I can't complain, but I can't praise. The ghosts basically all make the same chattery laughter, and the boo's have the exact safe sfx for all of them. The sound gets a 7/10, but I'm being generous to the fact that it was one of the first games from Gamecube.

Speed's ok. It's not like Madden 2002, thank god, but it's superfast. There is loading time, but it's not annoyingly slow. Speed gets a 8/10.

Controls are decent, except for one part. The y button helps you see what can kill a ghost, but it's so slow by the time you know what it is, it bumps into you and you lose major health. You also have to pull the control stick in the opposite direction, which is very difficult because it seems to change while you are holding it. You will know what I mean if you foolishly purchase this game. Controls get a 8.5/10

Whats this "replay value" you speak of? L's Mansion has NO replay value. Whats the point of doing it again? It's gonna be exactly the same everytime! I'm not joking when I give the replay value a 1/10. You beat it, end of story. What's more to do?

Basically, if you want a game that will frustrate and waste your time and your hard-earned [$$], buy Luigi's Mansion. Case closed.
Let's review:
Gameplay: 5/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 7/10
Speed: 8/10
Controls: 8.5/10
Replay value: 1/10
Total: 39.5/60 giving Luigi's Mansion a 65.83, my lowest review ever.

Am I forgetting something? Oh yeah! I always add points for cheats on games. Right, so now instead of a 65.83, I'm gonna give it the appropriate amount of points for cheats, leaving Luigi's Mansion new total to be... 65.83! Woohoo!

Good game
This is a good game, and is the perfect starter game if you just bought a gamecube but once you beat it ... you don't play it again (at least for me). This and Super Smash Bros. Melee were the first games I got with the cube and it didn't take very long to beat it. It's a fun game featuring Luigi who rarely gets the credit he deserves but it's just not hard enough. If it took longer to beat or if it were as fun and innovative as the Zelda or Mario series, I might want to play this more. The main reason I got sick of this game is that the whole thing takes place in the manshion, there really is no worlds or temples. Really, it's not as good because it doesn't take that long to explore the whole place. In all, this game is more worth renting once or twice until you beat it then buying it. Unless you are a cube or Mario series fanatic like me, this isn't really worth your money just for the fact that it's too easy to beat.

A Good Value
OK, so Luigi's Mansion isn't the 2nd coming of the original Super Mario Brothers platform for the NES that made video games a household necessity, but it's easily a worthy title for any GameCube collection. Luigi's Mansion was indeed a game designed for a "younger generation", but video game lovers of all ages could learn to appreciate what it has to offer.

The marvelous graphics alone make LM a good value considering it's currently only running about 20 bucks. Does this title have replay value like Nas' Illmatic? No, but this isn't one of those "beat it, trash it" games either. You're actually graded on your overall performance once you defeat the game; Making it a challenge. Take heed to reviewers saying this game can be done in a couple of hours. That's not true. If you start from scratch, and use zero *cheats*, you'll find yourself baffled in tons of puzzles and enigmatic riddles.

The controls could have been more polished, but overall, they're doable. The storyline is the game's most evident flaw. There could have been more to the plot, it was a little simple, and I must say childish. The ending was quite disappointing and nauseating to be honest, but a game's ending shouldn't be a major factor in my opinion. I liked playing the bosses, and the entire concept behind it.

A four star rating is given, simply because you can get this game for such a good price these days. Next time you're in your local department store, slide that plastic, and save LM for a rainy day, you'll be glad you did.

Spooky? More Fun Than Spooky, Really...
As one of the GameCube's launch titles, a lot was expected of "Luigi's Mansion." Are the graphics sparkling? Is the gameplay interesting? Do the controls work well? Can Nintendo's most underappreciated character possibly grab part of the spotlight away from his brother? Well, the answers are yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Luigi wins a mansion one day from a contest that he didn't enter. Yeah, you read that right. Mario went to check out the mansion, to see if it was some kind of trap, and still hasn't returned. Luigi gets antsy and finally works up the courage to go into the mansion and search for his missing brother.

When he gets into the mansion, he discovers it is populated by hundreds of ghosts, all of which are vulnerable to his scientist friend E. Gadd's new vacuum-cleaner-type device called the "Poltergust." Using this weapon and some slick thumb skills on the C stick, Luigi can capture the mansion's spook population and get closer to finding his brother.

The graphics are nice, certainly. The ghosts, while not exactly frightening, are very creatively done, and they fit almost seamlessly into the environment. Luigi's constant shivering and tooth-chattering reminds you not to be scared anyway, because he's doing plenty of that for you.

Using the Poltergust, you can unearth all kinds of secrets throughout the mansion, but the real draw is the capturing of the apparitions, "Ghostbusters"-style. The bigger, "boss"-type ghosts all have something a little different about them, a weakness that you must exhibit before being able to capture them, and sometimes that can be half the fun. Without question, I think "Luigi's Mansion" manages to live up to initial expectations, delivering a family-friendly experience, a few spooky moments, and even a classical "Mario" reference in the form of the old theme song, reproduced by a set of ghostly musical instruments. A game well worth its salt.

Inventiveness: 8 (out of 10)
The game concept and design, while not exactly "Resident Evil," is very well thought-out, and the unique flavor of the "Mario" series manages to hang on to this ghost-hunting adventure.

Sound: 8
Just about all the sounds are good, and the music is great, but some of the ghosts' noises get to be absolutely maddening after awhile. Perhaps a few less-annoying sound effects next time, Nintendo?

Graphics: 10
A dark, spooky mansion done in the light-hearted cartoony style of the Mario series is a dark, spooky mansion done right. Again, not a game to scare your pants off of you, but rather, to make you laugh at the fright of the protagonist.

Control: 9
The arrangement of the controls, while perfect for this game, does seem a bit strange. The B button turns your flashlight on or off, and the C stick controls the direction you turn the Poltergust in to capture a ghost or other booty. While it may take some getting used to, once you warm up to it, it'll make perfect sense, I promise.

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Overall Score: 8.5
The bottom line: A G-rated adventurous quest through a spooky mansion finally gets Luigi the credit he deserves, and it shows how much he really does love his brother, despite the second-banana role. Good job, Nintendo. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

While exploring some ancient ruins on a forbidden island off the coast, Jak's best friend, Daxter, is knocked into a vat of Dark Eco--a terrifying and deadly substance that could corrupt the world forever--transforming him into a weasel-like rodent. The village sage, Samos Hagai, tells Jak that there's only one person who holds the secrets to transforming Daxter back. Now the pair must set out on a quest in search of a wise old sage who has the power to restore Daxter to his former self.

Plunge into a world of adventure, exploration, and discovery. Embark on a magical, often harrowing journey that challenges gamers to test their wits and skills, allowing them to discover twisted plots and battle the evil within. Delivering nothing but the best ingredients for a game that's set to be one of the biggest titles of the year, Jak and Daxter features great character designs and animations, innovative gameplay mechanics, superior technology, and absolutely stunning graphics. Jak and Daxter pushes the power of the PlayStation2, offering an engaging, immersive entertainment experience that stretches the imagination. ... Read more

Reviews (270)

Great game, but short...
This game is fun for all ages and has excellent graphics! It has some funny characters (mainly Daxter) and is a "Greatest Hits" game. The game is about how Daxter transforms into a muskrat by falling into a pool filled with "Dark Eco." He decides to set off on a journey with Jak, in search of a cure for his transformation. The game is an action/adventure/platform type. You (Jak) must complete different tasks to receive Power Cells that help aid your quest. The moves that Jak can perform are pretty neat. There are the basic jumps, punches, kick spins...stuff like that, and then there are the uppercuts, rolling turbo jump, dive attack, and the aerial attack. I thought that the only bad thing about the game was that it was too short. I finished the game in about 1-2 weeks, couple hours a day. I just hope that the sequel will be much longer. Overall, I recommend this game to anyone that likes to play adventure/platform games. =)

The pinnacle of platform games
This is probably one of the greatest platform games of all time. Of course, that doesn't say much since platform games aren't truly the greatest games. The graphics are very good, though a little garish. The frustration level is not truly a problem. The most important aspect is the openness of such a game. You could move from the level to level with ease. If you're stuck at one place, just move onto a different place. The constraints of a standard platform game are absent.

Basically, Jak and Daxter travel through different areas (beaches, volcanoes, caves, villages) and try to pick up power cells. You can gain power cells through accomplishing many different task, from finding certain crates, destroying certain creatures, to mini-games, and on and on. You travel by foot, travel in a sort of hover bike, or in one instance ride a small bird like creature.

The controls are pretty intuitive, and the camera angles are right on. You can't save at any point in the game, but the saving takes place in very frequent spots. . This saves the user from repeating many jumps and actions. Sometimes jumping is a little cheap and frustrating, but no one is asking for perfection

The bad part is that it just is a platform game. Even though the exploration part is nice, it's basically a series of jumps for most of the game. It even falls to the same cliched trap of fighting some super boss at the end.

Pros:
Good graphics
Intuitive
Very little in terms of cut scenes
Wide open
Little repetition

Cons:
Just a platform game

Time: 17 hours

Frustration: Low

Difficulty: Low

THE GREATEST GAME THAT EVER LIVED!
This game's instruction manual is a map of the game's world. Naughty dog out did them selves with the details. The details are amazing because ther so yery detailed with all the colores and landscapes and with 17 areas and vehicles, characters and creatures and even a secrt movie. Yup from geyser rock to the dark eco silo jak and daxter is the greatest game everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Supprisingly fun!!!
In Jak and Daxter:The Precursor Legacy,you play the role as Jak,a village boy who travels with his friend Daxter to a haunted place,known as Misty Island.After secretely eavesdropping on a top secret meeting that plans to unleash Dark Eco,a terryfing substance that can destroy anything in it's path,Daxter'accidentely' falls into a pool of Dark Eco and gets transformed into a strange furry animal.Then,the two friends travel back to the village to ask the village's sage(wizard)Samos how Daxter could be transformed back to a human again.They must travel to the north to reach Gol,the sage to change Daxter back to normal.Later,they realize that Gol plans to unleash Dark Eco around the world.Now it is up to you to stop Gol and his sister Mia.Encounter a magical world full of mystery,excitement,adventure,survive over 15 worlds collecting Precursor Orbs,Power Cells and Eco.The graphics in this game are great and this is sure to please anyone who plays it.

great game
this game is so much fun!I beat it 3 times.not even my mom could put it down.my favriote level is lavatube you are on a hover bike.I love this game. ... Read more