Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt / Black Review

Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt / Black
From Nintendo

Customer Reviews

A great way to keep your brain busy!
I use it with the Brain Age game and is a great way to make me think! instead of riching out for the calculator all the time!
A great way to keep yourself busy when you have to wait at any place, like airports for example. Small enough to carry in your purse.

Best Game Syetem Ever!
This wonderful DS is the best thing I have bought in a long time and just knocked my socks off. It plays flawlessly and looks trendy and flashy. There are 100's of DS games available. I got this for my daughter and she is kind enough to let me play sometimes. She is in love with Sims, Brain Age 2, Napoleon Dynamite and the Imagine series for girls to learn about roles. This is worth every dime, is so portable and has so many game options that any age person can find a game to enjoy. It runs a really long time on a charge too.

great game!
I bought this for my kids (and myself) as a christmas present so they haven't opened it yet but I played around a bit (to make sure it works-right) and I love it! Excellent product and great seller. thanks amazon!

Technical Specs:

• Size (closed): 133 millimeters (5.2 inches) wide, 73.9 millimeters (2.9 inches) long, 21.5 millimeters (0.85 inches) tall.
• Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, transmissive TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors.
• Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen.
• Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS game card.
• Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons. The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 2 millimeters thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.
• Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy Advance game paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone. A removable cover for the Game Boy Advance game pak slot provides added protection from dust and other foreign materials.
• Other Features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users within local range of one another to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration.
• CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7.
• Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software.
• Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering five to 19 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter.
• Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian.

Mario Party DS Review

Mario Party DS
From Nintendo

Customer Reviews

Great fun for kids
I bought this game for my daughter (9 years old), and it is by far her favorite Mario Brothers game. She lost it a while ago, and rather than get a new game, she insisted on replacing it. I'd say this is her top Nintendo DS game overall.

Great, especially if you have more than one kid with a DS
Nintendo games are probably the best games for the DS. The main reason is that they almost always let you play multiplayer (using more than one DS) with only one copy of the game. That is ceratinly one of the highlights of Mario Party. My kids love it, and we only need one copy for use with both DSes.

BEST GAME
This is the best game ever!
You get shrunk by Browser and you have to play on a giant board!
You can be Mario,Peach,Luigi,Wario,Waluigi,Yoshi,or Toad.You try to get as many stars as you can in 10 turns.Then you get bonus stars for who lands on the most green spaces,who wins the most mini games,who lands on the most friendship spaces,and more!!!!!!!I think this game is great for 6 and up(my sister is 6 and I am 8).If I were you, I would go buy "Mario Party"!

Features:

• 70 minigames and five themed game boards
• DS allows touch control, microphone control and dual screen challenges
• Users can play as one of eight characters: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, Wario and Waluigi
• Much of the game can be shared wirelessly with friends by using only one game card

Nintendo DS Lite Metallic Rose Review

Nintendo DS Lite Metallic Rose
From Nintendo

Customer Reviews

A great way to keep your brain busy!
I use it with the Brain Age game and is a great way to make me think! instead of riching out for the calculator all the time!
A great way to keep yourself busy when you have to wait at any place, like airports for example. Small enough to carry in your purse.

Best Game Syetem Ever!
This wonderful DS is the best thing I have bought in a long time and just knocked my socks off. It plays flawlessly and looks trendy and flashy. There are 100's of DS games available. I got this for my daughter and she is kind enough to let me play sometimes. She is in love with Sims, Brain Age 2, Napoleon Dynamite and the Imagine series for girls to learn about roles. This is worth every dime, is so portable and has so many game options that any age person can find a game to enjoy. It runs a really long time on a charge too.

great game!
I bought this for my kids (and myself) as a christmas present so they haven't opened it yet but I played around a bit (to make sure it works-right) and I love it! Excellent product and great seller. thanks amazon!

Features

• DS Lite doesn't just play DS games – it also features an additional port for Game Boy Advance Game Paks
• Get up to 19 hours continuous gameplay on one charge
• Ready to take on the world? With Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat with friends while you play and compete with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game
• Twin ultra bright LCD screens that combine crisp, punchy colors, along with touch-screen technology on the lower screen
• Powerful dual processors bring 3D graphics to life with lightning-fast rendering

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dino Runner Triceratops

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dino Runner Triceratops w/ Raphael
From Playmates

Customer Reviews

Tons of Fun...
My husband and I love this toy as much as our boys do. It is a big plus that it doesn't take batteries. And my boys love making the dinosaur walk. They spend hours each day playing with this toy. It is very durable. My husband accidently sat our couch on top of it and it didn't break!! The legs fell off but they snapped right back on. It is a great toy for dinosaur fans or Ninja Turtle fans.

Good and stable
My 4 yr old loves this. This is much stable and when reved up, goes to a far off distance, no matter on carpet or bare floor. Great way to introduce Ninja turtle cahracters to children. This is not just a dumb toy, it walks when you rev it up. The character on the top is dumb though. He doesn't do anything much. ;-)))

A+
I bought it for a 5 year old and he loved it. It was his favorite present at his B-Day

Product Description

Special ripcord action allows this dino to haul over 6'. Paleo Raphael features highly detailed battle armor, a lance and weaponry. He comes complete with Triceratops companion and is ready for some "dino-mite" battle action. Measures over 13" long.

Great Toys For Boys

Hasbro Playskool Wheel Pals Speed 'n Go Funway

Hasbro Playskool Wheel Pals Speed 'n Go Funway
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

Great Concept ...Poorly made
My son received this for his first Birthday. He was still a little young for it but loved watching his big sister (who is 4) play with it and finally learned how to make it spin on his own and did love it BUT it stopped spinning after less than 30 days. My husband took it apart and attempted to fix it but we could not determine the issue...a disappointment and not worth the money!

Perfect for our 2 yr old!
My son had wheel pal cars, so we bought this along with the triple track for his 2nd birthday in August. He loves it. It's the perfect toy for his age. He can operate it himself. He laughs and laughs as the cars go around. As yet, we have not had any problems with it. Hopefully we won't as he would be very disappointed.

Got this last year
We purchased this toy X-mas 2007 for our 16 month old. It is now quickly approaching X-mas 2008 & our 28 month old still plays with this on a regular basis. This is an extremely duarable toy which has stood up to a toddlers beatings as well as keeping him interested. If your child loves cars they will love this.

Features

• This colorful racetrack was designed with your little toddler in mind ¿ with the press of just one button, your child can get the track spinning and hear exciting racing sounds and music
• A whack of the bumper sends one of the two smiling racecars down the ramp and the race is on! And what racetrack would be complete without a Winner's Circle for the champion vehicle to go on display!
• Handy car-storage areas and a built-in handle make it quick and easy to pack everything up and take the racing fun on the road!
• Racetrack comes with 2 racecars, ramp, TONKA flag and instructions
• Preschoolers LOVE this racetrack!

Great Toys For Boys

Playskool Wheel Pals Cushy Cruiser Pickup Review

Playskool Wheel Pals Cushy Cruiser Pickup
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

My baby hated it
My baby hated this toy he became very frustrated with it because when he would try and push it it would fall over can anyone recommend a better toy truck?

soft truck
Was a great purchase, has good sound, cannot hurt the child or your furniture, could be a little easier for the child to make to sound, but overall I was very satified with how much my grandson had fun with it.

neat car
My one year old son likes this toy a lot. It makes car sounds that he now imitates. The car body is soft so if he falls on it or throws it across the room it doesn't cause any damage. The only thing I don't like about it is that if you push on the rear of it, the car flips. He seemed to be annoyed at that at first, but now he's getting the hang of it. This is a good, sturdy toy for kids interested in cars.

Product Description

Let the fun times roll with this soft and squeezable pickup truck that's easy for toddlers to grasp and hold. Press the front bumper and the truck makes beeping and engine sounds! Free-rolling wheels make it easy for toddlers to race off to the fun. Soft, colorful pickup truck is designed especially for toddlers and features fun electronic beeping and engine sounds. Requires 2 "AAA" batteries, included. Measures 6.25"L x 8.5"W x 8.75"H.

Features

• Squeezable pickup truck
• Easy for toddlers to grasp and hold
• Press the front bumper to hear beeping and engine sounds
• Includes 2 "AAA" batteries

Tonka Wheel Drivers Dump Truck

Tonka Wheel Drivers Dump Truck
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

Great first truck
This is a great durable truck and would make a wonderful first truck for a child. There are no sharp edges, it stands the test of time (and being beaten on), and it's fun for little ones. The noise it makes, though, is very loud so be forewarned! The wheels, when pushed, sound like cards on bicycle tires from your childhood.

Tonka
i bought this toy for my son's 2nd birthday and he loves it but i do hate the bumpy sound the wheels make.

Fun but loud
Although this toy is way fun and durable for our son, it's a bit loud. It makes an obnoxious pop pop pop sound as it moves forward which can really get on ones nerves when it's being pushed all around the house all day long. I think we're going to find a way to disable that noise. Yikes!

Features

• Toddlers will enjoy putting the boulders into the truck bed and taking them out again and again
• Older boys will love the easy-move lever for lots of dumping action, and driving their rigs with the working steering wheel that turns the front wheels
• When the rear wheels turn, you can hear rumbling sounds!
• Dump-truck toy features steering action and a dump bed that really tips
• Tonka is a name mom's trust!

Hasbro Tonka Wheel Driver Scoot 'n Scoop 3-in-1 Ride-On

Hasbro Tonka Wheel Driver Scoot 'n Scoop 3-in-1 Ride-On
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

Grows with your child!
I'm all about toys that will last longer than a month. This tonka truck is a big hit with my son. We got it for him when he was 9 mo old and it was worth the money! At first he liked just standing and moving the objects like the key/blinker/horn for the noise. Now he loves practicing to walk with it. Eventually he will be able to ride on it too!
My only annoyance is that when the key is turned you have to wait awhile for the engine noise to stop. You can't just turn the key back to make it stop. It also seems a little loud and there's no volume control. I think it bothers me more than him.
Overall, he's having fun with this toy!

fun toy
We've had this toy for over a year now. My son loves the noises the steering wheel makes and loves that the truck picks up the shapes. However, he likes to push it sometimes and he likes to ride it. In order to move the seat from 'push' to 'sit' mode, it takes an adult (with two coordinated hands!) to change it. I have found this to be the most frustrating part of this toy. There should be a way to change settings without having to push two buttons and pull at the same time. In addition, it would help if there were some sort of braking mechanism. Other than that, my son - now 19 months old - absolutely loves it!

Okay
This toy was okay.

The sounds are VERY loud, so much so that the volume hurts our ears, we put packaging tape over the speakers to try to mute the noise to protect our son's ears. There is no way to turn off the sound except to remove batteries.

The seat is difficult to lift up for an adult; pretty much impossible for a toddler.

It would be nice if the truck came with 9-12 little blocks instead of only three. The storage under the seat would hold a lot more than 3. We've lost one so we're down to two.

Features

• 3-in-1 dump truck helps toddlers in transition from crawling to walking to riding
• Scoops blocks into truck bed
• Plastic pieces rearrange for separate play modes
• Includes detachable wheel, 2 screws, 3 plastic blocks, and instructions
• Recommended for children 9 months to 3 years old

Playskool Wheel Pals Triple Track Tower

Playskool Wheel Pals Triple Track Tower
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

This is way overpriced!
I bought this for my son at Walmart for $15.77. Way to go Amazon living the American dream!! But during the holidays?? How sick can you get?

Kids have more fun pulling it apart
It's not a bad toy for the money. My 2 boys 3 & 1.5 will play with it for a moment (if it's put together) then they'll pull off all the ramps and flags & end connector. When I pick up toys, this toy is always in at least 2 different rooms. But they are interested again when it's back together.

Product Description

With three squeezable Wheel Pals racecars to zoom down three race tracks, there's sure to be an exciting finish every time. Race one, two or all three at once with fun racing sound effects. Give each vehicle a little squeeze and push it across the floor. Each roll-along friend greets your little one with a friendly expression.

Perfectly squeezable and sized just right for your toddler's hands, Wheel Pals encourage on-the-floor fun. The electronic racetrack encourages imaginative, hands-on play with 3 tracks, 3 racecars, finish line with checkered flag, starting gate and instructions. Requires 2 "AA" batteries (included).

Features

• Electronic racetrack tower features exciting car racing sounds and comes with 3 tracks, 3 racecars, finish line with checkered flag, starting gate and instructions.
• Includes 2 AA batteries
• Ages 18 months and up.

Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Movin' Monkeys

Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Movin' Monkeys
From Learning Resources

Customer Reviews

Grandma's favorite
As a grandma of 6 under 5 yr olds, I'm always looking for toys that keep them occupied and happy. Building sets have always been my favorites (Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, K'nex, etc). This looked different, but fun, so I tried it. Boy, am I glad I did! They love it! We did have to put together the whole big picture once, but after that they keep coming up with new ways to put it together to make the gears turn on the pads and in the trees. Although I can't speak about the longevity of the monkey gears since we haven't had it even a month yet, I can say that it is a favorite with me and with the grandchildren.

Should have listened
I know, everyone said that the parent will end up doing all of the work, but I held out hope that somehow my kids would sit down together and build this. But I was wrong. It really is a marvel once it is together, but I have wayyyy too much to do than sit for an hour putting this together, only to have it yanked apart. If you have a dedicated space to keep it together all of the time then that's great, but then again, how long can spinning monkeys hold a kids attention? I think I would have skipped this one.

Monkey Gears
Great toy to help open up the world of "how things work" for younger kids. Inspires imaginative play, problem solving, and cause & effect thought processes.

Product Description

There's nothing like monkeying around to get the creativity flowing! In this jungle-themed set, monkeys fly through the palm trees by their tails, then spin, twist and turn. Colorful set features plastic gears, crank, connectors and base plates for endless building possibilities. Kids develop their own gears jungle or use the easy-to-follow instructions. Includes 136 pieces.

Christmas Wish List 2008

Gears! Gears! Gears!® Beginner's Building Set

Gears! Gears! Gears!® Beginner's Building Set
From Learning Resources

Customer Reviews

Excellent toy
My three year old asked for this toy for her birthday because she likes playing with it so much at school. It's amazing. Hours of fun, both building the gears and using the pieces for any number of other games. It's a terrific toy - providing educational entertainment for multiple aged kids and adults. Highly recommended.

My Grandson loves this toy
I got this for my Grandsons 5th birthday. He had no problem fitting the bits together and devised many ways to make the gears work. The family is able to enjoy playing with this as well. If your child enjoys building things this would be a great gift.

Product Description

The perfect beginning set! Heavy-duty plastic gears spin and twirl together in a colorful display that kids will find fascinating. This 95-piece set includes gears, pillars, crank, connectors and interlocking bases for endless building possibilities. For added fun, combine this set with the Gears Too! Add-On Set (sold separately).

Features

• GEARS! GEARS! GEARS! ® provides many opportunities for young children to experiment with simple mechanics and science
• Bright colors and easy-to-assemble pieces encourage children to create moving masterpieces
• There are so many ways to build, children discover something new every time they play!
• There are many different ways to arrange the bases; rows, pyramids, zigzags and more!
• Includes pillars, connectors and cranks - Allows kids to explore the fascinating action that can be created with gears!

Christmas Wish List 2008

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Counting Maracas

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Counting Maracas
From LeapFrog

Customer Reviews

What's up with only one singing maraca?
My daughters both love to bang the maraca that sings on anything and everything. They love watching it change colors and get excited when it gets through the colors or up to ten. I love how it can be changed from English to Spanish. It's been beaten up countless times and still functions perfectly. I just have one complaint - what is the deal with the non-singing maraca? The kids don't pay a bit of attention to it. In fact, I couldn't even tell you where it is right now! If both of them sang, it would be a perfect toy in my book.

A Little Disappointed
I had high hopes for these, but I am a little disappointed.

Only 1 of the maracas lights up and talks, and the other 1 only 'shakes'.

I expected more from LeapFrog.

Good Solid Toy
My daughter goes off and on with this toy, like any other toy, she likes to shake and hit it, not sure if she cares that it makes the music, she does like the maraca aspect to it. I could do withou the spanish and she flips the switch and then spanish comes out, talk about irritating.

Features

• Shake and move to a learning groove!
• Maracas provide lights, sounds and learning activities.
• Features three ways to play: Counting, Colors and Music Play learning modes.
• Music Play allows baby to explore creativity and open-ended play.
• Introduces colors, vocabulary and counting 1-10 in English and Spanish.

Melissa and Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks

Melissa and Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks
From Melissa and Doug

Customer Reviews

Wonderful toy for my two boys
We bought this toy in 2007 for Christmas when it was on sale. It is very heavy and durable. My two boys who are 2 and 3 really enjoyed it. There are a lot of blocks contained in this toy. The only negative that I could think about this toy is the blocks are heavy. We had a couple of "incidents" where the boys threw a block. You do not want to be on the other end.

We would buy this toy again and would recommend it for other people.

best blocks ever. Atleast compared to what we own
I have 2 other sets of blocks. One of which I assumed was standard unit sized. One of which I ordered online and it was much smaller then my "standard" ones. But whatever. They were fine.
Along comes another kid and we needed another set of blocks to have enough, so I got these to match my other standard blocks. Wrong. These are even bigger then the ones I had.Now I have 3 different sized blocks. But these are wonderful. I dont know what kind of wood they are made from, but they are heavy. Bad if your kid is a thrower I suppose, but we love it. The towers are more stable which makes building easier for the 3 year old... and due to the weight it makes knocking them down with nerf darts more challenging for the older kids. I dont notice any odor, staining or wood filler. The silly little pieces that are of no value but to up the count? Balony. My kid immediately grabbed the half circle, pretended it was a car and drove it all over smooth and bumpy roads ( the other blocks). Kept him busy for an hour, I kid you not.

I love these so much I'm considering another set and packing away my older,smaller,light weight ones.

Wow!
My Husband opened the package and he was amazed! The blocks were even better that he thought they'd be. (he got these for our boys).
He likes the big size of each block, sturdy, and colorless - that way you can easily see what you've built.
Glad we got 2 sets!

Features

• 60-piece standard unit block set allows children to build towers and towns
• Stimulates creativity and hones basic motor skills
• Features natural look; pieces are easy for little fingers to grasp
• Excellent tool for teaching math concepts, organizational skills, sequential skills, and spatial relations
• Includes 60 solid-wood pieces and wooden storage box

Christmas Wish List 2008