Editorial Review

Halo 2 is one of those rare video games that garnishes attention from regular folk who wouldn't know which direction to point a game controller. With more than 1.5 million pre-orders and a massive release party in Times Square, the game enjoys the sort of buzz, and sales, generally reserved for boy wizards. But does it merit the hype?

Opening Scene

Halo 2 opens with a cut scene in the Covenant Holy City of High Charity. Much has happened since Master Chief (that's you) created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do for his failures. This first cut scene is long, but the lush graphics, orchestral sound, and polished voice talent for both this and other cut scenes as well as the game itself put most animated television shows to shame.

Much has happened since Master Chief created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do.

In the end, though, Halo 2 is unabashedly a first-person shooter. It has a Mature rating and is not meant for kids. Gameplay is constant and intense. No sooner is one bunch of aliens taken care of than another descends. The controls are identical to the first game so those familiar with it will be up and blasting in no time. And the sound and graphics have been beefed up so that Halo 2 is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful console games available.

Opening Fire

Most of the weapons from the first game return, although strangely the MA5B Assault Rifle (the default weapon in the first game) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as the Covenant Sword, but the controls for it are the same as that for all the shooter weapons, making it difficult to direct. Also, for a new twist, you can hold two of the smaller guns at the same time and shoot double-fisted.

As for vehicles, the old favorites are back and joined by a few new, mostly Covenant wheeled monsters. Some improvements have been made to the AI so that the nonplayer characters can drive without running into too many obstacles while you man the turret. This improved AI also has enemies ducking for cover, and the banter from both the Marines and the bad guys has undergone massive improvements so that it no longer sounds quite so repetitive.

On Your Own

The most significant change in the single-player game is with Master Chief's much-touted defensive suit. At the beginning of the game, he is told that the suit has been upgraded, but it's really undergone a severe downgrade. In Halo 2, the player has only one lifeline. Unlike in the first game, there is basically no defensive shield on the suit, making gameplay tougher. It can often take multiple--sometimes a maddening number--attempts to make it through thorny parts of the game.

Or with a Friend

Finally, no review of a Halo game is complete without mentioning multiplayer. One of the main reasons to buy Halo 2 is the ability to play through Xbox Live, a feature not included in the first game, which was among the original releases for the Xbox. Multiplayer for Halo 2 uses all of the same weapons and vehicles as in the single-player game, and the types of games available in Halo (King of the Hill, Slayer, Capture the Flag) return with a host of new maps. Multiplayer Halo 2 offers customizable profiles, control layout, and screens as well as a voice proximity feature, where you can talk with other players via an Xbox Communicator so that those closer to you sound louder than those farther away. Players can also create both permanent clans and temporary parties in the Xbox Live world. Undoubtedly, this multiplayer feature alone ensures that Halo 2 will remain a top-selling game for years to come. --David Morel

Pros:

• Lush graphics and orchestral sound
• Constant, thumping shoot-'em-up action
• Multiplayer available through Xbox live

Cons:

• Suit downgrade makes single-player often overly difficult
• Get ready for some bleary-eyed mornings

... Read more

Features

• Covenant forces attack Earth, another Halo ring comes into play, and the Master Chief takes the battle to the Covenant
• New vehicles and weapons, destructible environments, low gravity, online play, Human vs. Covenant multiplayer battles, improved AI, and more
• Better control: sprint at twice normal speed, peek around corners, chain melee attacks into devastating combos
• Completely rewritten graphics engine allows previously unimaginable complexity anddetail

Reviews (532)

Excellent sequel with few very small issues
For the first few years in the xbox's life, I was the most anti-xbox person among my friends.That all changed the summer of '04 when I played Halo for the first time.It was a blast, and gave me that rush that only a few games have.

So here we are with the sequel to the game that made an xbox worth owning in the first place.Halo 2 isn't a great game; it's an excellent game.With perhaps the most perfect fps controls ever, killer graphics and replayability that shoots through the roof, Halo 2 is the new killer app.

First of all, if you played Halo, do yourself a favor and play this game on at LEAST the normal difficulty.To get the full experience out of this game I would really recommend playing through on Legendary.Trust me on this.When you finish the game you will release the biggest sigh of relief since beating Ninja Gaiden.

**SPOILER ALERT**

Many people knock the single player game, and this is MOSTLY (not always) for two reasons:
1)For part of the game you play as a covenant elite, and
2)The ending is one hell of a cliffhanger, I guarantee it will illicit a "WTF!?" from nearly everyone.

**END OF SPOILERS**

I personally don't mind those two aspects of the game.Once some people get past that, it's hard to deny that the single player game is fun.With the addition of dual weilding, boarding, more interactive enviroments and an increase in the number of enemies you'll face, Halo 2's single player game is a beast on its own.The lush graphics and rich colors will leave you in awe, and if you pair it with a 5.1 surround sound system, you're in for a real treat.There are a few minor problems with the game, such as glitches in a couple of cut scenes, but the end product easily overshadows this.But the fun doesn't end there...

For those with xbox live (or with friends, for that matter), multiplayer will give you hours upon hours of fun.I personally prefer 8-16 player team system link games, but xbox live is fun, too.There are so many game variants, and I don't think I've played all of them yet.And with the addition of 9 new maps available to everyone sometime in June, the life of this game just got a shot in the arm.With the single player, this makes Halo 2 the new killer app for xbox, and will probably remain the most popular until we see xbox 360 later this year.

...you're entitled to your opinion.
Halo 2 was a good game, exceptional by my standards, sure it was a hassle getting through the level with the lack of defenses... but geez...

I personally liked this game for these reasons
-Good gameplay, remniscent of Halo TwT
-Solid sound and graphics
-Good story

My gripes...
-Semi-repetitive gameplay
-Dual weilding clutters up the m***********g screen!
-The health system is harder to deal with... TwT but that's okay, Masta Chief's still gangsta...

P.-Friggin-S.- Samwise, you're entitled to your opinion, albeit a very idiotic one... but your misconception of us being "retards" is based off of non-concrete evidence and your lack of tolerance for other people's opinions. I understand that you believe we are, but seriously, go back to lonely nights with vaseline, kleenex and a copy of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", because with an attitude like that, you obviously have no friends, life, or parents to teach you manners that and you apparently need a girlfriend. Same goes to anyone else who rags a game and can't do any better. So to all of you I'd like to say you're not worth being called retarded because poor Terry Schiavo doesn't deserve to be associated with people unable to do stuff with a fully functioning brain, so shut up, and don't blow my Xbox high!

lol did he say fable and halo stinks?!
Thie game is a must it has a good soundtrack cinemas and gameplay it will keep you buisy just playing levels to mess around with the vehicles the only things bad about the game is they changed the asult rife model (i like the original assult rife better) and they made it so you play as a elite all else is fine halo 3 is going to be at e3 so all u xbox live players out there get the multi player expansion pack for 20 dollars (you need halo 2 to play) i think microsoft will make new features such as peaking around corners and new viechles dont think hallo series will end this franchies will be a very long and popular series.

spoiler alert








people are saying the story for halo 3 is master chief travels back in the past to kill the people or aliens that made halo but that would stink cuz it would be like pong a never ending battle so master chief will destroy it aliens will destroy master chief! and all those game he said stunk is NOT TRUE KOTOR IS FOR EVEN STAR WARS HATERS!it a very good game that has multiple paths and it is a hack and slash not turned based

GET THE FIRST BEFORE THE SECOND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Action    5. Adventure   

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

Reviews (14)

i love this toy!
hi, im 10 years old and i really like this toy! there are so many diffrent things it can do, it is well worth the money!!! there is a little vehicle thing that a rescue hero can ride on, the front of the ship can be used as a spacepod (the ship is NOT a good flying toy but the space pod is simple to fly),the front and the vehicle can be made into a giant robot,the top can be made into a hang glider, and one of my favorite parts: IT HAS A COMMAND CENTER WHERE THE RESCUE HEROES REALLY INTERACT WITH EACHOTHER!!!! I have two mission select robots with thing i call "backpacks" and their names are matt medic and gil gripper. they are also compatible with the command center. i also have a cool robot called fire stomper and billy blazes. NOTE (the fire stomper comes with billy blazes and neither are compatible with the command center but fire stomper can move in a neat way!) then i have the robot that came with the ship.

in my opinion out of all the people i have billy is the best :)

you may be wondering why a 10 yr old is playing with this but i know a 12 year old and many other 10 and 11 yr. olds with this toy. i don't play with it like let's go put out the fire, or something, i play with it like the robots are attacking and stuff, very fun toy! i totally recommened this toy and these other toys below:

rescue heroes hyper jet
Gil gripper (with mission select backpack)
Matt medic (with mission select backpack)
Billy blazes and fire stomper
rescue heroes mission car
geotrax Tracktown Railway
geotrax Fire station
geotrax remote controlled fire truck
spiderman and friends super hero playset
spiderman and friends wolverine with motorcycle
imaginex castle (and alot of knights...i have like 20)
imaginex dragon
imaginex deluxe pirate ship
imaginex ghost raider
imaginex glow in the dark shark
animal planets big bucket o' dinosaurs


they aren't exact names but they are some of the alot toys i have here at home. I reccomend them ALL!!!!!!!

very disapointed
This was the only toy my son requested from Santa and what a letdown. I think that Fisher Proce rushed it for the holiday season because it does not compare to the quality of the other toys. It falls apart and really does not do much for the size or promise of the ads. I hate this hunk of junk that now takes up a lot of space and I have learned my lesson for next year.

To Collette
I thought my console didnt work at first, too.It turned out I just needed to switch the on/off button which is annoyingly hidden behind one of the 2 attached backpacks (the one on the right). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

Reviews (9)

HORRIBLEPRODUCT AND VERY UNSAFE!!!!!!!
I purchased this for my daughter and thank god it was before she was born. This is absolutely the worst product I have ever purchased! I bought it because of the pattern, the canopy and the flip down changing table. I thought it was too perfect! Well, it was far from perfect! I had a very hard time setting it up. And the bottom would not stay down on the floor, so it would keep folding up. The bottom plastic was all cracked, little hairline cracks and it was missing a piece to the changing table, so I couldn't even assemble that part! It was very heavy to move around, so not good for travel. And for as long as it took to put it up, I didn't even want to touch it to take it down. Because the bottom wouldn't stay down, it would cause the it to fold up underneath which in turn could make it collapse. My husband helped to disassemble this product, and found it very flimsy and even difficult to take down. I was very disappointed with this and am glad I was able to return it to the store and exchange it for another one. I would have never put her in this and would have thrown it out for the trash if I wouldn't have been able to take it back. I purchased the graco newport bears pattern and am more than pleased. It was half the price and was easier to put together. It doesn't have a changing table, but it will work great as I am not worried about it collapsing or folding up on her. Safety overrides luxury anyday with me! So please before you puchase this, read all the reviews and just be aware that I feel that this is a very unsafe product and I want to warn all parents about my experience with it.

Hard to set up!
Wouldn't recommend. Very hard to assemble & I found this extremely hard to set up & take down. Very disappointed in this product.

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT...
...unless you are able to open it up before buysing and check to make sure it can actually be assembled!

After spending nearly an hour trying to decipher the vague and poorly detailed instructions/diagrams for assembly, I reached a point where I could not continue where one of the support poles could not be properly inserted into the bassinet fabric.

After contacting customer service, apparently the area had been "overstitched" to where the pole could longer be inserted all the way through and I was told I would have to order a new bassinet fabric altogether and wait an additional 7 business days for it to be ordered and sent to me.(And Judging from the rep's precognitive "guess" as to what my problem was, it was also very apparent that this was not an isolated issue but probably one affecting several other customers in the past as well.)

After realizing the total lack of professionalism practiced by this company - selling a defective product - I began to seriously think about simply returning the product in exchange for a NON-Baby Trend product; and after now reading several other reviews warning against the safety of this product as well, I will MOST DEFINITELY return it and never buy another Baby Trend play yard product again!

Save you money, time, piece of mind - and YOUR BABY'S LIFE - by not buying this product!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Playards    3. Furniture   

Editorial Review

The Aquadoodle isn't a pool or tub toy, but without water it's no fun at all. It's just a drawing mat after all, but kids will like the novelty of its disappearing colors. The 81 by 53-inch drawing mat is large enough for several kids to doodle on at a time, using the included magic marker pens that do not transfer color to other surfaces (to our knowledge …). Color from the pens appears when water touches the mat; it then fades out without a trace in 60 seconds or so. That's it: no ink, no paint, and no mess.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Lots of fun
My 2 year old loves his aquadoodle.He got the aquadoodle and some extra pens and the stamps.You need to order at least one extra pen so you can play with it with them.

Great for anywhere doodling
I recently saw this toy at a friends house. I had to get a 2 year birthday present and decided to buy this and buy one for my 3 year old and 14 month old. My 3 year had a great time during quiet time the other day and even figured out to wet her hands and feet and make prints. Today my 14 month old played with it while I premade some dinner. I like the fact that it doesn't write on anything else and my 14 month put the pen in his mouth but it is only water. It will be great on trips.We got the extra pens and stamps and that has been wonderful. Love it.

A hit for kids of various ages!!!!
This product is AWESOME!!!!My 2 year old son received this for Christmas.Since it only came with one pen, I bought the extra pens so he and my 4 year old daughter could play with it at the same time.They both love it and I don't have to worry about them fighting over who gets to play with it.It is big enough, they can both draw on it at the same time.
Yesterday, I also brought it with us while my daughter was in gymnastics.It folds up easily enough to take it places and I stuck the pens in the middle of it so they would not get lost.There are plenty of other kids that go there, so they are all sharing each others toys.It definitely was a hit as kids from 2 - 10 were down drawing on it with him.There was constantly 3 kids drawing on it at a time and they ended up filling up the mat by the end of the hour, so I just layed it out when I got home to complete drying.However, most of the time when it is just my son and daughter using it, any of their drawings dry fast enough that it DOES keep them entertained for quite a while.

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Painting    3. Wacky   

Reviews (2)

My Trampoline
I love my new Trampoline! It is so much fun to play on. It helps me do my gymnastics better. If it was'nt for my trampoline i wanted be in the gymnastices champship! And I won my Championship!

Buy it!
this is great for kids, it is very good and it holds about seven people! Definitly buy this product! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

Rockstar Games has partnered with DUB Magazine -- the authoritative source on automotive lifestyles -- to redefine the racing genre with Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition. With this installment, the series that took racing from the tracks to the open urban streets is back, and the stakes have never been higher.

Get ready for insanely fast driving with open-city racing in Atlanta, San Diego, and Detroit. The online competition brings together up to eight players with the most comprehensive vehicle customization every seen in a video game. You'll be driving the hottest licensed real-life SUVs, import tuners, muscle cars, choppers, and luxury rides on the road today. Plus, you can trick them out with the latest rims, trims, and upgrades just like the pages of DUB. Without a doubt, customization goes above and beyond any other game with Midnight Club 3. The level of detail dedicated to your car's look and feel is unprecedented. Not only can you trick out your car, but you can select your favorite chassis, brakes, exhaust, and even power-boosting nitrous oxide!

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition has more speed, more choices, and more chrome than any game has ever packed under the hood. It rocks hard, and delivers slick, fast, intense driving action in challenging environments. Step up, pimp your ride, and get ready to hit the streets for high-adrenaline urban racing! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

This game is TIGHT!
It's like Pimp My ride and The Fast and the Furious in one. You can customize yur own car and evrything. when its snowing in detroit you can do donuts and when you customize your car, hydrolics are the first thing to buy. if you put on the no damage cheat - ontheroad - you can crash into as many things as you want, and your car wont even get dirt on it. its really annoying and fun when your in the middle of a race and a cop is right on yur tail. I just rented it but i know im gonna buy it. you will not waste your money on this game, its worth every penny. And the soundtrack is the best. its got 50 cent, twista, petey pablo. but it also has really stupid disco songs too, but this is the funnest racing game ive ever played.

Koo fast blingin
possibly- no the BEST game from the midnite club series, has to be this 1. I am hooked on it, but the only bad thing bout this game is: when i have everthing set up for the online feature, i start it and it says the network cables are not plugged in, AND THEY ARE! Good unlockables and customization like in NFSUG2, custom colors and decals- tight, new vinayls-sweet, and good cars, wish it had the rx7 though.

Not as fun as Need for Speed: Underground series!
I really tried to play this game over and over to be addicted to it but the replay value is very poor to me on this game. The controls are not that good as EA's Need for Speed: Underground series. I played both games this one and Underground 2. I leaning more towards EA's car game now b/c this Midnight Club 3 just is not what I expected. What happen to the real street car racing that Rockstar Games left out such as Drifting races and drag races. The main focus is on unlimited customization of 60 cars and circuit races. Don't get me wrong... I love street car challenges but this game doesn't give me a reason to come back and play it after each race. There is no strong storyline so it's just race after race. Gets kinda of boring after awhile. I probably have to trade in this one to get Underground 2 which I think is slightly better but has it's flaws too. Any Need for Speed: Underground gamers like me might want to rent before buying this game b/c the first 2 Midnight Club games I thought weren't as good either. Here's my other ratings on the game:
Graphics: 4/5
Presentation: 4.5/5
Controls: 3.5/5
Replay Value: 2/5
Soundtrack: 5/5 ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Action    6. Adventure    7. Racing    8. Flying   

Reviews (9)

Doesn't last, battery dead in 15 minutes!!
I bought this product for my son because we already bought the pink corvette for my daughter and loved the product better than Peg Perego or Power Wheels; BUT THE BATTERY DOESN'T LAST LONGER THAN 15-20 MINUTES PER CHARGE!! We even tried switching the battery with the corvette's but it still dies in 15 minutes. I think something is wrong with the fire truck! For $300. it should last longer than 15 minutes per day! GREAT CORVETTE THOUGH!!!

Buyer Beware
The product advertised is NOT made by Safety 1st!!!!It is really made by Kids Trax. The only diffence we see is the steering wheel, so far. Even the picture inside the box on the flyer is not the same truck. But my kids enjoy it the same. Makes me wonder though, I thought I was buying a product from one company, that I have bought before, but it is some other company making this product.

Miserable service
ToysRUs offered to sell me this toy in their store, then told me that it was unavailable and that I had to come back to the store and wait for 45 minutes to get a refund.They said that the toy was not available anywhere.I found it immediately available from their on-line site, but at $120 more than the in-store cost. Unfortunately, this kind of a bait and switch routine has made this toy and all of their merchandise suspect. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Motorized   

Reviews (18)

Love this car seat!!
This is not the car seat I originally wanted but I bought it because I thought that it had a lot of padding and would be comfortable for my 8 month old daughter.I am glad I did buy this car seat because it is wonderfull.It was easy to put together, easy adjusting, and very comfortable for her.I loved the leather look on the sides of it too.I would defenitly recomend this car seat to anyone.My sister even bought the same one for her daughter and loves it as well.

I loved this carseat after I got to know it
i bought this seat without a lot of information, however have come to love this seat. The adjustment strap is akwardly positioned however my daughter who hated her snug ride enjoys it.FYI I am from the Chicago area and the Fire Department installs carseats for FREE!!, it took them about 10 minutes because I do not have the latch system in my 2000 accent and they also showed me how to work it and it is fairly easy.They put some styrofoam noodles in it which made the adjuster easier to access and it reclines more.I like that it has a level on the side to make sure it is properly positioned.The technician was also impressed with the carseat and gave it a good critique in comparison with some others.

Love it overall, but has a few snags
I bought this carseat for my son and LOVED it! I love the cup holders, the pattern is nice and versatile. But the cover is not very practical in the fact that I washed it after my son got sick and a corner of it shredded in the wash. Sadly, new covers are very pricey. Overall I love this seat, just wish the cover was more sturdy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Car Seats   

Reviews (344)

Wow! My daughter loves her ABC's!
My daughter received this as a gift when she was too young (24 months old) for it.I held it off to the side for 6 months & then finally decided to give it to her right before she started preschool.

She loves to sing her ABC's now.The Fridge Phonics set reinforces the letter she is learning in school.We bought her a carry case for the letters & fridge magnet.She will carry it around & change the letter whenever she's in the mood.

I think this is one of the best educational toys out there for the alphabet.It tells the child the name of the letter, the sound(s) it makes & a few words.

Great learning toy
We have had this on our fridge for about 5 weeks now and my grandson loves to play with it, he now says the sounds before the little machine tells you the sound.

It is made very sturdy as my grandson has already had the peices thrown all over the place and the little machine too and there is no sign of any hard play with it, it still looks brand new.

Great, and durable toy
My 3 kids all love this, they can sing along with it and change letters so keeps them entertained.
One of them threw it in a sink full of water and it still works even after non stop singing for days!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet   

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 (52)

MVP Baseball Is As Good As Manny Himself
This game is great for any baseball lover. Unless you're a Yankees fan. The game has Manny Ramirez on the cover and talks about the Red Sox historic 2004 season in the previews. It's got great features, such as the Owner Mode, and Mini Games. Both are new to the MVP titles this year. The Owner Mode lets you build your own ballpark and control your team for up to 30 seasons and try to make it the best franchise in the MLB, while keeping finances and fans in mind. Mini Games are a great way to just have fun. Improve on your hitting or pitching, or rack up MVP points to put towards things like, legendary stadiums, and famous players from the past. The game controls are crisp and the graphics are great. The songs get a little old, but they are still creative. The Homerun Showdown is still a hit, but there is still no actual Homerun Derby. I give this game 4 3/4 out of 5 stars for graphics. 5 out of 5 stars for gameplay, and 6 out of 5 stars overall. Yes. It's that good.

Big Inpruvment
Mvp has made a huge inpruvment from last year. Last year you ether strike out or hit a homerun. Now you hit singiles and doubles. The grafices are soooooooo much more deitailed. THe new owner mode lets you start with a begginers park, add seating capasity, restorants, arcads, food stands, ect. You get an inbox and other feachers like hiters eye the ball flashes colors for difforent pitches

da only game
I luv it. period. i luv how u can create players, sim games, play seasons, everything. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Outdoors    3. Video Games    4. PS2 (PSX2)    5. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    6. Playstation2 (Play station2)    7. Action    8. Adventure   

Reviews (29)

Finally a modest Barbie
I have two daughters,a 6 year old and a 4 year old.It has been a struggle finding dolls they can play with that are beautiful, but still modest in their clothing and looks.My girls love this doll and I'm excited to give them a role model that I agree with.As for the old concern of the Barbies' figure being unrealistic, I grew up playing with Barbies and still gained a realistic understanding that a Barbies' figure is unrealistic.It's a toy.Children understand that if the parents explain it to them.

Lovely!
My three year old daughter loves this barbie doll. She has Erika also and loves it too. She plays with these more than her other barbies probably because they sing and she pretends they are sisters. I help her maintain her barbies though; she can be a little rough. Over all good by for barbie fans.

Beautiful Barbie Doll
I bought this doll as a gift and was very happy when she arrived.

She is even prettier than in the picture and very well made. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Princesses   

Reviews (89)

Fun, Fun, Fun!!!
I just purchased this toy for my daughter and she really likes it alot.She is 4 months old and can easily grab the handles and shake it.We have a lot of the Lamaze toys and her two favorites are this cube and Freddie the Firefly.I highly recommend it!

Favorite toy
My now 7 month old loves this toy. She has played with it since around 5 months and it hasn't gotten old yet. She plays with it in the car and in her crib. It is a great toy and doesn't make alot of noise.

My 8-month old absolutely loves this
She'll play with this toy for 30 minutes straight.It makes lots of little noises (not electronic) and has plenty of things to grab onto with little hands.I definitely recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Learning    3. Toddler    4. Hand-Eye Coordination    5. Stuffed Toys   

Editorial Review

Tot Wheels is a well-designed and versatile "lowchair" forbabies in the 6- to 18-month range. Three rubber feet around the squarebase help keep the chair motionless, but when they're popped out of theway it's possible to pick up the rear handle and move the unit aroundon two large plastic casters. There's a tray for meals and games,complete with a see-through panel; onto this can be attached theelectronic activity center, which has a mirror, lights, steering wheel,and sound effects. The cloth seat snaps on and off and is washable.Height is adjustable. Adult assembly and two AA batteries required.--Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• All-plastic construction
• Food/game tray
• Electronic activity module
• Height adjustable
• Moves on casters

Reviews (119)

Better than the bouncers
Having three children I decided to go with the walker. We never used one before because it was never recommend by Dr's. This center is the best. It has stoppers so don't fear your little one can't move. Pull them out and you can push them from room to room with you with the handy holder in the back. The baby loves it and I think it's great. Also, Mom's who have taller babies this one lasts longer than the average bouncer;seems it adjusts higher than the others.

great walker
My son is 6 months old and he loves this walker.He will sit int it and play by himself for at least 30 minutes.

I really like the three tabs that come down to make the walker stationary.They really work and the walker doesn't move even on the linoleum in my kitchen.Also, while the walker doesn't fold like many of the other walkers on the market, it easily comes apart and goes back together.We took it on a trip to my mother's and it was no hassle at all.I also like that the toy panel comes off to reveal a plain base that I can add my own toys to if my son ever gets tired of the toy that comes with the walker.

The only reason I did not give this walker 5 stars is that periodically one of the buttons on the toy panel just quits working.All of the others continue to work, though, so it's really not a big deal.

Watch your feet!
My daughter loves her walker; however, the only area she has to use it in is the kitchen and she is always running over my feet.Beware, it is cute, but it hurts! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Walkers    3. Play Centers    4. Stationary Entertainers   

Editorial Review

Outfitted in orange and purple, this electronic learning system for preschoolers plugs directly into a television, and at first take looks a lot like a video-game console. Insert any of Vtech's "Smartridges" into the unit for lessons on language, math, phonics, problem-solving, music, and more. Children can choose between two difficulty levels. Included are a large joystick, adjustable to right- and left-handed kids, and an Alphabet Park Adventure cartridge; other cartridges are sold separately. There's also a storage compartment on top that holds up to six cartridges. The system can run on either three C batteries or an AC adaptor; strangely, neither are included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (260)

Don't Buy This
This started out to be a wonderful toy for my 4 year old son.But after a month (and after I'd spent quite a bit of money on the cartridges) the problems started.The power goes on & off at will.When I called the V-tech 1-800 number they walk me through the re-set process which takes 2 minutes & is a pain the he heiney.And within a few days it happens again.What a pain...

vsmile a bit disappointing
I bought the vsmile thinking it looked cute and would be a great way for my child to learn.From the beginning, the controller had a loose part rattling around in it.After about two weeks the "enter" button kept getting stuck.I had to pay shipping to send it back, but it was replaced with a new one.I will be calling tommorrow to have the unit replaced.Often the power button would stay on and now after replacing batteries, the power won't even come on.A bit disappointed at this point because my child rarely got to play with it.

stopped working
I thought that this was a cool toy until it stopped working afer about 2 weeks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Games    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Math    6. Alphabet    7. Preschool   

Editorial Review

This takes the plastic playhouse to a new technological level. Impressed by the hipped4-foot-8-inch roof, red-shuttered windows, and doorbell with 20 different sound effects? Wait for the kids toget inside. First there's a complex, multi-buttoned wall phone. Then there's the motion detector. That'sright--as kids move around, the house senses where they are and responds with different sounds. Otherfeatures include a table that flips over to turn into a stove, and a back wall with a crawl-in hole. Theplayhouse requires two C batteries, not included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great Toy!!!
My husband and I bought this house for our sixteen month old for christmas.He loves it!!We have a little couch in it for him and he'll go in there and sit on the couch and talk on the phone or to his stuff animals.It's great for the imagination and it's big enough for my husband and I to go in it and play with him.The only downside is that it gives him a place to hide when bedtime comes around!

My girls totally love this!
After looking at about 20 playhouses and reading about a million reviews, we bought this for our 3 and 1 year old daughters. It's a good thing, because they LOVE it! It was very easy to assemble, my husband and step-son put it together in about a half hour. It's in our living room! All of our kids (from ages 1 to 11) LOVE to play in it. We put our daughter's play kitchen in it too and now it's even more like "mommy's house" We don't use the phone feature too often, but the kids don't mind. They read stories in there, play "house" and just about anything else you can think of. It can fit my 4 kids in there, but then nobody can move. However, for just two of them, it works out fine. They also play "McDonalds" with the stove/table feature. It's so cute! I absolutely recommend this play house for anyone who's not sure which to get. It's sturdy, easy to assemble and fun for all ages.

Great Playhouse
I purchased this playhouse for my 2 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. She loves to pretend play with Mommy.She loves the doorbell/play phone and loves to play house and "cook supper" with Mom.It is sturdy like most Little Tikes products.The only complaint I have is that there is no floor to keep it dry inside.It is a little pricey at $199, but my daughter plays with it every day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play   

Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (65)

DEAD BUGS
I purchased this for my 7 year old daughter for christmas. I was guarenteed 3 live larve.They are all dead and I can not get ahold of the company. I would rate this a big Zero

Butterfly Garden
My sister gave this to my 8 year old daughter for her birthday.I also have a 4 year old daughter.This is one of the best gifts my children have ever received!From the start, both of my children were enthralled with the metamorposis from caterpillar to butterfly.The bonus is that there is very little that is required of parents except to make sure the instructions are followed.The caterpillars come in a plastic container that has all the food they require to grow and change.Even though one of the chrysalides fell off the paper disc under the lid, it still was able to continue metamorphosis at the bottom of the butterfly observatory.We just released our three beautiful painted lady butterflies yesterday after three weeks of wonder and excitement.Luckily my daughter's birthday is in July so we could release our butterflies when the weather is warm and the flowers are in full bloom.I recommend that you keep your butterflies safe in their observation chamber for at least two days.Two butterflies emerged before the third one did and I was afraid they weren't eating the food I provided (sugar water).Not wanting the first two to starve, I had my daughters release all of them less than a day after the third butterfly emerged.That third butterfly didn't seem ready to fly off yet and stayed in the garden on a post unmoving for a long while. I watched it to make sure it was unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief when it finally flew off.I couldn't have asked for a more fun and educational gift!

Excellent
I purchased this for my daughter's 4th birthday. The caterpillars arrived on her birthday, which she loved even more. They are now in chrysalide form and she is so excited because she can see them grow and grow every day. This is an awesome toy and have reccomended it to everyone with and with out kids. I also bought a book called "From Caterpillar to Butterfly" and it describes the metaphorsis excellently to her. 2 thumbs up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Bugs    5. Butterflies   

Editorial Review

Toys that grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood are well worth their cost. The Classical Chorus Gym is one such toy, allowing your child to explore music at every stage of his development. As an infant, your child can lay on his back and bat at the hanging toys while the keyboard plays 10 different classical or nursery melodies, some with a children’s chorus. You can set the music to play continuously for up to 10 minutes, or only when your child successfully hits a toy, teaching him cause and effect. When your child learns to sit, the keyboard adjusts with him to the proper height, and then adjusts one more times to accommodate a standing or walking child. At these stages, you can set the music to play part of a song when your child presses a key or let your child experiment with scales and individual notes. The keyboard’s "singing" stars light up as music plays to further delight budding musicians. The Classical Chorus Gym requires three "C" batteries for operation. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Features

• Infant toy combines music with sit- or stand-and-play activity
• 3 ways for Baby to play
• Parents can set to provide up to 10 minutes of music
• Plastic legs fold down for sit-and-play mode

Reviews (189)

Great for all ages!
I love this toy!Someone bought it for us when our baby was born.She's been using it since she was about 2 months old and had enough control of her arms and legs to bat at the toys that hang down.She is now 6 months and sitting up so I converted it so the sitting stage and she still plays with it all the time.When she was learning to sit up it was great too because she would keep her balance by hanging onto the keys and "playing" music.My nephew is 18 months and he still plays with his everyday.This is the only toy that has consistently captured her attention and she will play with this toy for at least 20 minutes at a time.

could be better designed
My main problem with this toy is it confuses my four month old.He hits a key, and a star above the key lights up.So he hits the star, and nothing happens.It's a small thing, but this toy would be so much better if either the keys lit up, or if he could hit the star and have it make a noise too.
I love how easy it is to set this up.The legs come off and on very quickly.My son can't sit up on his own yet, so I take the legs off the keyboard, prop him up against me, and have him play.And I really like the large variety of music.I think this is a pretty good toy, and definitely worth $30.

Must have!!!!
I love love love this toy!!! My daughter had used it from the day she was born. Now she uses it to pull up and stand. She has never once tipped over when trying. This is one of the few toys that she can stand and play with since that is big in the house now. This toy has gotten more use than any other. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic   

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (24)

Paint Chipped
I only had the wagon a month and all the stain and paint started to chip off. It is a durable wagon, but was not happy with chipping.

Best buy for 2 kids close in age!!
My mom bought this as a present for my then four year old daughter, but I began using it for her younger brothers aged NB and 18 months and bought her a smaller version to haul her dolls. It fit an infant car seat and toddler perfect, is versitable enough to last and on long outings allowed the older room to move unlike a tandum stroller. That was ten years ago. Now I've started a "second family" with a large 21month old son and another son due in 5 weeks. This item was a natural choice, due to my childs size (32pounds). Most tandum strollers allow only 40pounds per seat, so he would quickly out-grow it. With the wagon he can be in it longer and when both boys outgrow it they can use it to haul all their treasures. It also lasts almost forever (we lost our last one in a fire a year and a half ago after having it for 8 years). It was a little weathered but still sturdy (we did have to replace two brackets on one side due to stunt riding!). I can enthusiasticly say this was the best child purchase I've ever made!!!

Great Design, Very Poor Materials and Paint
Hard to believe we are all reviewing the same wagon. While the design is very good, the materials and finish are awful. The wood used in its contruction is too thin - a piece on the bottom was cracked out of the box. The side panels feel as if they are made from balsa wood - I am concerned they will not hold up over time. Two of the panels are also very loose in their mounting brackets. The paint shows drip marks, missing spots, and globs on both the red panels and black metal. The red paint rubs off on our child's hands and clothes. I could have done a better job with a can of spray paint. I am seriously thinking of using the metal hardware as a base for a wagon that I build out of more substantial materials. We also have the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon and the materials and finish on that one are much better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Wagons    3. Wood    4. Preschool    5. Push and Pull Toys    6. Outdoor Play    7. Baby and Infant    8. Toddler    9. Activity    10. Ride Ons   

Reviews (8)

Built Much Differently Than Other Jumpers...
I originally wrote a review about this giving it 5 stars, but since my son has learned to jump using his Graco Bumper Jumper at my house, he can't figure out how to jump on this one at his dad's house and ends up getting very frustrated.The toy bar is great.He loves it and likes looking at his reflection.
It's built backwards, if you will.Most jumpers have springs that coil together as the child jumps up, and stretch as the child comes back to the ground, allowing him to be pulled back into the air- allowing him to jump and giving him the assistance needed to jump off the ground.This jumper is built backwards.I'm not sure if it's my jumper or Evenflo built this one funny.As the child is placed into the jumper, the coils come together.The top of the sheath (this holds the straps) over the coils is on top of the coils, which allows the jumper to be built the way it is.So picture this... the child is trying to jump, when usually, he can be pulled into the air.For the child to get started jumping on the Evenflo, in theory, he has to pull himself *down* to get the spring action to jump up.For a baby, this just doesn't work.
I'm giving it two stars because the toy bar is great and my son eventually figured it out.He still LOVES the Graco Bumper Jumper much better, and it even has the pads to prevent him from hurting his fingers.Please consider the Graco instead.Your child will thank you!

Not for very young babies, but perfect for "sitters!"
We bought this for use at Grandma & Grandpas house when my 7.5 mon old and I planned an extended trip to see them. We have the FP Jumperoo at the house, and while my daughter liked it, there was NO comparing her reaction to this jumper! She LOVED it. Especially since it gave her the ability to move in a gentle swaying motion, turn in circles and of course, bounce.
For those who gave this a less-than-stellar review, I'd recommend:
A) using this on an older baby, not a 4-5 mon old. (Keep in mind that the instructions recommed that the baby should be able to sit unassisted!) and
B) use in a DOUBLE witdth doorway! There is NO WAY this could be safe in a single doorway. Baby's fingers and head would be dangerously exposed to the door frame.

Dangerous!
This product was not worth the money!!I put my 4 month in it and he tilted to one side and he couldn't even jump or move in it. Ours came put together wrong, but there isn't anything we can do to rectify their manufacturing mishap.My son is a large 4 month old so I know it isn't because he isn't big enough to bounce in it.I would not buy it.It is going back to the store and we are going to buy the old fashion johnny jump up. :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Bouncer Seats    3. Doorway Jumpers   

Reviews (2)

What a play yard
We got this play yard as a gift and it was easy to assemble.My husband put it together without instructions.The wheels make it easy to move from one room to the next.We spend a lot of time outdoors and can't wait to use it!

Love It!
I love this playpen.The wheels and carrying case are great (TIP - empty out the accessories from the carrying bag pouch and use it for bedding,toys,etc for overnight trips).We take it to the beach and use the canopy.My daughter loves it. When she was younger she liked the music and as she got bigger she liked to play with the different buttons.The only down side is that it is a little heavier than others but with the wheels & carry bag it doesn't really matter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Playards    3. Furniture