Mom Reviews: PokePark 2 for Nintendo Wii

It's been a while since I posted a product review, so I'm going to lead off with one that I had already prepared for PokePark 2 for the Nintendo Wii. This review was originally featured here at Epinions as well, click for the full version! The version below is edited for the sake of brevity, if you really need more details please stop and read the full 500+ word version above!

Parents of little ones who are into Pokemon have probably heard such requests as, “I wish I could really have a pet Pikachu” or “Hey, Mom, can we go to the Pokemon theme park in Japan?” As a mom of such a child, I can say that the new PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond game for the Nintendo Wii makes a valiant attempt at filling the void between traditional Pokemon video games and a child’s desire to interact more with the adorable little creatures. For the basis of this review, I have to assume that you have some familiarity with Pokemon in general, lest you wouldn’t likely be reading this. I’m also going to assume based on personal experience, that you have a child at home clamoring for this game.

The premise is fairly simple: you get to play as either Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawatt, or Tepig - a pleasant change from the original PokePark which allowed you to only play as Pikachu. As a Pokemon, you will need to befriend other Pokemon in the world, approximately 100 of them, by winning short battles, race events, or completing simple quests for them. There are also “Attractions”, playing off of the amusement park theme, which include simple games such as Pokemon trivia, Whack-A-Mole style carnival fun, and hide-and-seek. As you complete these games, you also unlock them in multiplayer mode, which will allow friends, or mom and dad, to jump in for a few minutes in games designed for two to four players. Overall, the game is a collection of minigames, wrapped in a pretty Pokemon-world called Wish Park.

Your character is given a “Pokepark Pad”, or diary of sorts, to keep track of who you’re helping and where you need to go next. The more of these missions you complete, the more Pokemon you will unlock upon your journey.

Thankfully, the controls are simple, as the game only requires the basic Wii remote, and most functions are completed with only the “A” button, which allows even the youngest of players or those not so gaming-inclined, to join in the fun. A relatively basic reading ability is required to play, as you will need to follow some directions that guide you on your journey. However, if your child is already reading well enough to play other games from the Pokemon franchise, it should pose no challenges.

The graphics are well done, with bright, colorful, engaging worlds and accurate rendering of the Pokemon that your kids know and love. And, thankfully, the music and sound effects are mild and pleasant - unlike many other children’s games where I just want to hit the mute button after about ten minutes.

Now for the down side: This game is only going to appeal to the very youngest of Pokemon fans. The game rides the line constantly of being almost too easy and is overall very short, as you can complete the bulk of the game in under 8 hours. As a parent of a 7 year old, it’s at just the right speed, with certain minigames requiring a little practice to win, but never getting so frustratingly difficult to turn him off from the game entirely. However, if you’re an adult Poke-addict or the parent of an older Pokemon fan, you’ll likely be disappointed. From a parent point of view, this game is probably best left to the 10-and-under crowd. A bit more entertainment can be drawn from the game with the feature of taking pictures along your adventure - something my son greatly enjoyed, as it allowed him to catch quick snapshots that he could show me and his friends later.

Simplicity aside, I still maintain that this is a winning purchase for the younger set. It is one of the only games that allows you to take on the role of an actual Pokemon, which based on my experience is what many kids enjoy the most. And for the older kids and parents, the game allows you to jump in for a few minutes of playing together through the use of the multiplayer minigames, so that you can still get some “gaming together” time.

Overall, this may be considered a pricy buy at $50, but the amount of enjoyment my son gets out of it, and the fact that he continues to return to it although he’s already finished the core game, makes it worthwhile. I would definitely recommend a rental first, or borrow it from a friend, if you have children on the older side as mentioned above. But in the end, this is definitely a worthy journey at a different perspective through the world of Pokemon.

Mom Reviews: Disney Pixar Color Changers Tex Dinoco

Apparently, once you start buying these Disney Cars toys, it becomes a sort of addiction. Sure, one water-color changing car is fun, but why not a whole raceway’s worth? Such as become the case with my son - we went from one starter car, Mater, whom I previously reviewed here, to about ten so far. In a moment of parenting weakness, they’ve become somewhat of an end-of-the-week bribe for my son who is struggling with starting Kindergarten and being away from home for nine hours a day. Hey, you gotta do what works sometimes! Tex Dinoco is our newest addition.

Recently, Mattel Toys released a line of these cool color changing cars based on the most popular characters of the series. When exposed to cold water and then warm water, they change colors.  After much searching, we were able to find Tex Dinoco, one of the more elusive and obscure cars from the movie. Boost, Sarge, and DJ also seem to be some of the hardest models to find.

As far as color changing goes, these are fairly simple to work with. You can use warm or cold water, of course, but also any other heat or cold source will work. My son has taken to putting his cars in the freezer when they aren’t changing color fast enough for his liking, and heat as simple as rubbing them in your hands for a moment will change them as well. There are only two colors possible - the “cold” one and the “hot” one, which on Tex Dinoco are brown and mustard yellow, respectively. There is no “neutral” color for room temperature - they will tend to stay in the “warm” color until exposed to cold again. A nice feature is that they are almost 100% plastic as far as I can tell without opening them.  The only metal on these cars are the two screws in the bottom that hold the base and body together, which leaves little to no room for rust over time from being exposed to water.

Tex Dinoco is one of the better of all the color changing cars we have tried. He changes from a deep yellow to a very dark brown. You can even use a paintbrush or cotton swab dipped in water to give him details like racing stripes or polka dots - my son’s favorite choice.

All of Tex Dinoco‘s, as well as the other cars in the series, key features such as the headlights, eyes, and decals are all painted on or are molded plastic and seem to be durable enough to withstand even rougher than average child play. Tex features a white top and white side accents - similar to an old wood-paneled station wagon - that lends to his “retro country” style.

The downside to these cars, of course, is that your child will likely want to constantly have water on hand to make the color change. I’ve started setting aside some “water time” for my son, with two containers of warm and icy water, for him to specifically play with them - otherwise, I hear the sink running at rather inconvenient times. They aren’t particularly ideal for bath time as well, unless you set aside a separate container for the cold water change.

This series of Cars toys is a little pricier than the normal ones at about $6.99 each. The regular plastic or die cast ones are typically about $3.49. We have been able to find them at WalMart, Target, and Toys R Us so far. Overall, I find that my son really enjoys them enough to make them a good value.


You can also see my review at Epinions.

Mom Reviews: Disney Pixar Color Changers Mater

What little boy (or girl) doesn’t love playing with cars, or playing with water? Disney / Pixar’s new Color Changer Cars - based off the hit movie - is a hit for playing with both at the same time.

Recently, Mattel Toys released a line of these cool color changing cars based on the most popular characters of the series. When exposed to cold water and then warm water, they change colors. We first picked one of the most popular characters - Tow Mater, the tow truck.

As far as color changing goes, these are fairly simple to work with. You can use warm or cold water, of course, but also any other heat or cold source will work. My son has taken to putting his cars in the freezer when they aren’t changing color fast enough for his liking, and heat as simple as rubbing them in your hands for a moment will change them as well. There are only two colors possible - the “cold” one and the “hot” one, which on Mater are green and turquoise, respectively. There is no “neutral” color for room temperature - they will tend to stay in the “warm” color until exposed to cold again. A nice feature is that they are 100% plastic as far as I can tell without opening them up - which means no rusting even after the constant in-and-out of water.

One of the disappointing features of Mater, to my son, was the color shade change. The normal color is turquoise, and you can hardly tell the difference to the bluish-green when he “changes” color. This happens with the other Cars from this series that are the same color combination as well. A dark green or just another color altogether would have been a better choice.

All of Mater’s other key features - like the headlights, eyes, and decals - are all painted on or are molded plastic and have been very durable on this particular car. Mater has taken a lot of falls and general kid abuse and he still looks great… for a tow truck, that is.

The downside to these cars, of course, is that your child will likely want to constantly have water on hand to make the color change. I’ve started setting aside some “water time” for my son, with two containers of warm and icy water, for him to specifically play with them - otherwise, I hear the sink running at rather inconvenient times. They aren’t particularly ideal for bath time as well, unless you set aside a separate container for the cold water change.

This series of Cars toys is a little pricier than the normal ones at about $6.99 each. The regular plastic or die cast ones are typically about $3.49. We have been able to find them at WalMart, Target, and Toys R Us so far. Overall, I find that my son really enjoys them enough to make them a good value.

You can also read our full review at Epinions!

Mom Reviews: First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl With Lid

Finding adequate tableware for a two year old boy who now wants to do everything himself is a headache in and of itself. I admire my son’s desire to feed himself with a fork and spoon and use his own “big boy” plate. Our kitchen, however, was starting to resemble an elementary school cafeteria after a food fight after every meal, as my son would inevitably throw his plate across the room as soon as he declared himself “all done” with his food. With the intention of saving the paint on the kitchen walls - and my sanity - I picked up two First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowls while shopping.

What it is...
The First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl with Lid is basically exactly what it sounds like - a bowl, a suction cup, and a lid. The bowl is hard plastic and is proportioned just right for a toddler-sized meal, about the same size as a standard soup or cereal bowl. Attached to the bottom of the bowl is a large rubbery suction cup, and also included is a hard plastic lid that snaps securely to the top of the bowl for travel. The set comes in a variety of color combinations - I have a red/blue and green/yellow. Many others are available, including more feminine combinations if you have a little princess rather than a little prince. There are two small handles on either side of the bowl which help when you are trying to get the suction cup to grip the surface.

The bowl...
As I mentioned earlier, the bowl is just the right size for toddler meals. While it doesn’t have a divider, it does have a little ridge in the center to somewhat divide the foods. The bowl comfortably holds several cut up chicken nuggets with carrot dices and applesauce - a favorite combination in our house - with no problem, and the little ridge keeps the applesauce from seeping under the chicken. The bowl is a very sturdy hard plastic and is dishwasher safe. It has been used for many other things by my adventurous two year old, including a mini stepstool, a hat, a drum, and a frisbee and it has held up wonderfully.

The suction cup...
The suction cup on the bottom of the bowl holds it reasonably in place. I usually have to wet it slightly to get the initial grip onto the high chair tray, but it holds well. On an extremely stubborn day, my son has been able to yank it from the tray, but it takes him long enough to do so that I usually catch him before it goes flying. If the surface underneath is wet, he is also sometimes able to scoot the bowl around without losing the suction as well. Overall, it does its’ job. It holds up well from the dishwasher as well, and the rubber has not dried out at all, even after several months of frequent use and washing.

The lid...
The lid is made of an identical hard plastic as the bowl and snaps securely to the top for travelling. While I do not recommend travelling with a full bowl of food, as tupperware holds up much better, the seal is tight and it has not leaked, even when accidentally tipped sideways in the diaper bag. Affixing the lid to the bowl also makes for a good toddler-sized drum, should you need emergency entertainment.

Overall...
This bowl has been a lifesaver on many occassions. It is an absolute necessity for restaurants, where plastic dishware is often nonexistant - nothing says “Time to leave the restaurant!” like a couple of broken salad plates. Cleanup is a snap - when travelling the parts can be wiped clean with baby wipes, and all parts are easily cleanable by hand or dishwasher. I would be happier with a slightly stronger suction cup, but this one does get the job done 90% of the time, which is good enough for me. The price is reasonable at an average of $1.99-$2.50 depending on where you buy them, which is cheap enough in case you accidentally leave one somewhere. I feel that I have more than gotten my money’s worth out of them, and I never leave home without it.

Price $1.99 to $2.50 (varies by store)
Available at.. Target, Wal-Mart, Babies R Us, many others

Mom Reviews: Sketchers Shape Ups - Save or Splurge?

MomReviews are seriously my favorite types of posts! A long time ago, I wrote product reviews for another site and loved doing it. Maybe because I tend to be a little opinionated?

ANYWAY - up for review today are the new hot thing from the Sketchers shoe brand: their Shape Ups line. Sketchers touts these shoes as "helping you get in shape without ever setting foot in a gym". Well, I had the pleasure of trying these out for 30 days now, and I'm sure you're all waiting on edge to hear my thoughts - because a life without having to go to the gym seems like a heck of a good idea to me!

About these shoes:
Sketchers says that these shoes will help promote weight loss, tone your muscles, reduce cellulite, reduce stress on knee and ankle joints, and improve your posture. Some other brands call this style of shoe a "rocker" - I priced them out not long ago and most companies were charging $300 or more for this "technology" in their shoes! So I was surprised -and maybe a little skeptical- that Sketchers Shape Ups are only a bit over $100. For me, that's expensive for shoes. My sneakers usually cost about $50 or less and I was reluctant to double my shoe budget. However, I had a nasty knee injury last year and I find it hard to find shoes that I can wear all day without my knee acting up. They pretty much lured me in with "weight loss" and "reduce stress on knees".

How these shoes work:
From the Sketchers site, because honestly, they can explain the technical aspect better than I can! We have turned hard surfaces into comfortable ground through revolutionary technology designed into the framework of the shoe. The core of this technology is in the dynamic rolling bottom, the soft foam insert under the heel, and the dual-density midsole. These three elements work together to give you the feeling of walking on sand or luxurious pile carpet – regardless of the actual surface. Walking on softer, uneven surfaces forces you to engage muscles not normally used when walking on hard ground. Not only does this strengthen your muscles, but it also increases blood flow and reduces the impact on your joints and lower back. I find this to be VERY true. You know that feeling in your legs that you get from walking on the beach due to the lack of resistance from sand? The way you really have to push from your toes to keep momentum? Well, these shoes use those muscles! I definitely felt it in my muscles for the first two weeks - it was like I had never used them before now. I had some sore buns for a few days!

It takes a bit to get used to wearing these. They're a bit wider than your average sneaker, so they will fit best if you wear a normal or wide width. Sorry narrow ladies - these probably will not be a good choice for you! I honestly can't speak for weight loss because I kind of fell off the wagon with my workout routine. I CAN say though that these have greatly improved my posture - I don't slouch anymore. Also, they are great on problematic knees, ankles, and joints - I wear these for my full ten hour work shifts (in retail, on my feet all day) and I still feel great at the end of the day. I also do feel that my calves and rear are starting to become more toned - I promise I'll come back and update after another 60 days with these.

Shape-ups are offered in a few different styles. Three of these are sneakers (I chose the "Strength" model shown above), one is a casual Mary Jane style with a crossover strap, and one is a work style shoe.

So - spend a little on yourself, or save for something else? I vote a big SPLURGE on these shoes! I definitely think they're worth the investment (and I had to buy my own, Sketchers did not comp me or know that I'm writing this review, so I'm totally writing this from the heart). If you can't get to a Sketchers store, you can order them online and they are great about returns for size or fit. If you'd like to find out more than what I could fit here, I've added a link to them in our left sidebar - definitely go and check them out! Your feet (and legs) will love you for it!