Category Archives: Common Sense Media

App Review: JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning 1

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Knowledge Adventure has a strong reputation as a kid’s software creator for a reason. Through the JumpStart brand, the company has honed learning exercises into fun games – and the JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning 1 proudly continues that tradition. The games are challenging, but not too difficult and are full of educational opportunities for young children. While geared toward younger users, a few of the games — especially Bug Catcher — might even appeal to slightly older children.

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App Review: My Very First App

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My Very First App is good at what it does, but unfortunately, it doesn’t do an awful lot. The color identification games it offers are useful and have varying degrees of difficulty, making the app useful for a range of age groups. And Eric Carle’s distinctive artwork is, as always, wonderful to look at, but you’re paying a premium for it here. From a strictly educational standpoint, you can get a more complete set of learning tools for the same amount somewhere else. But if you’re a fan of Carle and willing to pay a bit extra for it, this app will easily satisfy you.

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App review: Gangstar: Miami Vindication

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Gangstar: Miami Vindication desperately wants to be confused with Grand Theft Auto. The game apes many of the best known characteristics of the Rockstar Games title, but fails to get the most important right: Story. GTA typically comes with an engaging plotline, but there’s nothing memorable here. The main character is a compilation of bad-guy clichés, stealing cars, urinating out in the open, and talking tough. It’s far from the worst clone on the market, but if you want to play Grand Theft Auto, just buy the real thing.

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App review: Library Of Congress – Virtual Tour

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Even if you’ve visited the Library Of Congress, this app is an exceptional tool to help you get a better sense of the history and magnificence of the world’s largest library. It’s an invaluable tool for students researching the facility and would even be useful for self-guided tours. Beyond information about the library itself, the app offers several related links for each subject (which go to the LOC web site). These are helpful, but it would have been nice to have this information included (and formatted) as part of the app, rather than an external link, which detracts slightly from the experience.

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App review: tChess Pro

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Chess may be known as the sport of kings, but tChess Pro isn’t first in line for the crown. While the chess engine is a good one against which to practice your skills, a clumsy menu system detracts from the experience. That could drive away fans of the game. Beginners, meanwhile, will probably get frustrated fast, since (despite a tutorial mode) there’s not a lot of handholding. The app’s $4.99 price tag is also a bit high, given its lack of polish. With some interface updates, though, tChess Pro could shine.

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App review: Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin – 3D Interactive Pop-up Book

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Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin – 3D Interactive Pop-up Book brings the digi-novel to children, not only telling the classic story, but adding interactive pop-up elements that children will love to play with. The art is very well-done and the presentation is well-paced. The current version of the app, though, lacks a few features — most notable, it does not read the story aloud. Children or parents will need to do so (and the dense language of the Grimm Brothers may slow some kids down). An update is being worked on, though, that developers say will add narration – and could boost the app’s educational elements.

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App review: Dora the Explorer Coloring Adventures

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Dora the Explorer Coloring Adventures is a fun diversion for kids, but doesn’t have a lot of depth to it. Five scenes are available for children to paint, and there are a number of different stickers, but to restart a painting, you first have to erase all the work that was previously done, which could annoy some kids. (You can, however, save images in the iPad’s photo album.) The app won’t really give kids a true creative outlet, and may not hold their attention for long.

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App review: Symmetry Shuffle

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Symmetry Shuffle is a much harder game than it initially seems to be — but that’s not a negative for die-hard puzzle fans. The game’s premise — moving objects around on screen — is basic, but players quickly learn that there’s strategy involved. There are two modes: Timed and Solve. The former is a stress-filled affair, challenging you to solve puzzles and advance before time runs out. The other is more casual, letting players learn the game and begin to figure out their strategy. In either mode, though, hours can slip by as you try to figure out the best methods to win. It is a great app for challenging kids to use higher level thinking skills.

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App review: WordsWorth

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Not since Bookworm has a word puzzle game been this engrossing. WordsWorth is less cartoony than the PopCap Games classic, but offers more diversity and (seemingly) a deeper vocabulary. Single player is fun, but the ability to play competitively with other players — via WiFi, Bluetooth, or 99 Games’ own online community — adds another layer of fun.

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App review: Maya Pyramid

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On paper, Maya Pyramid sounds like a so-so premise. Match cards up to add to 11, revealing other cards and then repeat. In actuality, it’s a nail-biting good time. The game is fast-paced and exciting and younger players won’t realize they’re building strong math skills in the process. It’s a wonderful example of the “easy to grasp, difficult to master” philosophy that makes for a good game. With a variety of levels and fun, but unnecessary, bonuses (like the game’s background reflecting what time it is when you play), Maya Pyramid is a satisfying time waster that is well worth the money.

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