Xbox Solution:
Jump Around!
One of our favorite genres at Xbox Solution is platform titles. Like all genres, platformers have a rich history that dates back to the early ‘80s when Universal released a title named Space Panic for Colecovision. Some of the more popular platform games you may recognize are Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros,Mega Man, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Platform titles are often kid-friendly and a wonderful way to teach children problem-solving skills. Many platform titles blend rich imaginative worlds and characters with levels that the gamer will navigate through, often jumping from section to section, or platform to platform. The name of the genre obviously comes from the basic idea behind the game; however, platform titles have evolved to create more of a challenge for the player. Recent elements include time travel and multiple teams with different goals, such as beating each level by a certain time or collecting a certain number of objects hidden in various locations.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular platformers for your Xbox!
Blinx™: The Time Sweeper™
Blinx is one Microsoft's original platform releases. In Blinx: The Time Sweeper, you play as the feline Blinx who can control time with his trusty TS1000 Time Sweeper. You must navigate the large levels and find your way from beginning to end using your abilities to slow, rewind, pause, and fast forward time to figure out the numerous puzzles and destroy your enemies. Throughout the game, Blinx finds crystals of various shapes and colors that enable him to control time in different ways; as he gains more crystals, he can control time for a greater length of time. Blinx: The Time Sweeper is rated E for Everyone.
Barbie™ Horse Adventures™ Wild Horse Rescue™
This is another excellent choice for youngsters entering into the world of video games. Join Barbie on an action-packed 3-D horse-riding adventure. Ride through five stunning areas, jump over fallen trees, cross rickety bridges, and avoid other potential hazards throughout your quest. Guide Barbie and her horse over thin cliff edges and logs in rivers, leading Barbie to dismount her horse and explore the trails on foot. You can even help Barbie climb ledges and swing hand-over-hand along low branches. You can customize Barbie by choosing the perfect riding outfit and her Horse by changing the coat, mane, tail, and more. Your child can solve puzzles and avoid obstacles throughout the adventure making it an excellent pick for young children.
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure™
Although designed to be played primarily by kids, Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure still presents a challenge. You skate through the large and imaginative worlds of Toy Story 2, Disney's Tarzan, and Disney's The Lion King along with the most memorable characters from each film. You can skate through real-world locales as well as be magically transported to environments from the films where you can use bamboo rafts, frying pans, and hover-boards, solving puzzles as you go.
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure™
The game has a good look to it. The character models look sharp, the levels are impressively large, and everything is about as bright and colorful as you would expect from a game with the Disney name on it. The soundtrack is filled with tracks heard on Radio Disney. You'll hear songs from Smashmouth, Reel Big Fish, and more. Xbox owners can also load up custom soundtracks. All in all,Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure is a good game for younger players or Disney fans that also enjoy skateboarding games.
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat™
This is a great non-violent introduction to action-adventure games for kids 6-12. Interact with original Dr. Seuss characters from the book as well as the film. The video game tells the story of a young boy named Conrad who has been tricked into opening the cat's big red box of Seussian magic and allowing it to escape into the real world. The cat must help Conrad and his sister Sally return the Seussian magic to the box and retrieve all three pieces of the “Crab Lock” to lock the box for good. Players will also get the unique chance to explore a world beyond the film, as they navigate through rooms of the house that are not seen in the movie. The game features layered gameplay that is easy for kids to pick up and play and complex combinations of simple moves that entertain and challenge seasoned gamers.
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat™
Sonic Heroes™
Sega has created a rich and colorful world based on its hero Sonic and his numerous friends. Sonic Heroes is rated E for Everyone. We do, however, recommend this game for children ages 6 and up as the game mechanics may be too challenging for younger children.
Sonic Heroes™
In this game, Sonic and his friends are trying to stop Dr. Eggman’s new evil plot. To stop Dr. Eggman, the teams must race their way through beautiful 3-D levels, using each team member and his or her special ability carefully. The teams in Sonic Heroes are made up of a flying character, a power character, and a speed character. Mastering each character’s ability will allow Sonic and his friends to stop Dr Eggman and save the day.
Voodoo Vince™
Voodoo Vince is one of the more colorful characters in the platform genre. The game is rated for T for Teen and has you assuming the role of a voodoo doll that has been brought to life and is trying to safe his kidnapped owner. As Vince, you travel throughout the streets and locations of a Louisiana bayou. Vince destroys his enemies by either punching them or by using his voodoo powers to hurt himself and in turn hurt his enemies. The game has many puzzles in the large, richly detailed levels.
Now the choice is yours. By visiting your local videogame store, you may be able to find other titles that fit the genre. Asking a store employee or another gamer is often a good way to find other platform titles. Keep in mind that many titles not classified as platformers have specific qualities that make them a close fit for the genre, such as Acclaim's Vexx, or Oddworld Inhabitant's Oddworld: Munch's Oddyssee. In addition to the games we have mentioned, there are a bundle of others titles available that will help your child learn problem solving and increase eye/hand coordination. Just check out the catalog at Xbox.com or stop by the Kid Corner forums at Xbox Solution.
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