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GOOD DS games for a small child?

mare_imbriummare_imbrium Registered User regular
edited February 2010 in Games and Technology
Hey, I wasn't sure to post this in G&T or H/A, so sorry if I picked the wrong forum.

My son got a TRU giftcard for his birthday and he says he would like to buy a DS game. He's only 4, but he is pretty good a platformer-type games. He likes New Super Mario Bros, the kirby DS games (Canvas Curse, Squeak Squad, and Super Star Ultra) and The Legendary Starfy, and he's played a little bit of Bowser's Inside Story. Can anybody recommend a similar game, maybe a recent one? One that doesn't require a lot of reading? Thanks.

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Posts

  • RentRent I'm always right Fuckin' deal with itRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I was gonna say KH 358/2 but that has a ton of reading

    Um

    Yoshi's Island 2? Yeah, Yoshi's Island 2

    Rent on
  • DrakeDrake Edgelord Trash Below the ecliptic plane.Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Mario 64 DS is a pretty awesome game.

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  • Rex DartRex Dart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure are both fun.

    Sonic Rush has less reading.
    Sonic Rush Adventure has better stage-design.

    Rex Dart on
  • cooljammer00cooljammer00 Hey Small Christmas-Man!Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Pretty good at platformers, eh?

    Henry Hatsworth.

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  • CherrnCherrn Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I would say Rocket Slime. It has all the stuff a kid would like, but it does require reading skills. I will say, though, it's probably a good early readers game, since the text isn't very complex, and involves a lot of puns and general humor.

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  • CantidoCantido Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    My little sister LOVES Rhythm Heaven, but she's much older.

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  • RentRent I'm always right Fuckin' deal with itRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Cantido wrote: »
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    My little sister LOVES Rhythm Heaven, but she's much older.

    Well considering Scribblenauts is a bad game...

    Not a good idea, I would say

    Rent on
  • Jam WarriorJam Warrior Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Cantido wrote: »
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    If too much reading is an issue, I'd imagine a writing based game is completely out of contention :P

    Jam Warrior on
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  • RentRent I'm always right Fuckin' deal with itRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Jam Warrior wrote: »
    Cantido wrote: »
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    If too much reading is an issue, I'd imagine a writing based game is completely out of contention :P

    Also, and this is important, it is a very bad game

    Like, wow this might have the worst controls/worst puzzles in any game I've ever played, of all time. OF ALL TIME!

    Rent on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Rent wrote: »
    Jam Warrior wrote: »
    Cantido wrote: »
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    If too much reading is an issue, I'd imagine a writing based game is completely out of contention :P

    Also, and this is important, it is a very bad game

    Like, wow this might have the worst controls/worst puzzles in any game I've ever played, of all time. OF ALL TIME!

    Nah, it's a fine game, and the only reason you shouldn't get it for him is because it is a reading/writing game that encourages good vocabulary. Maybe if someone is willing to play it with him and tell him how to spell the objects he wants...actually, that might be pretty good for developing spelling for a child, if the incentive is creating and interacting with whatever he wants.

    UncleSporky on
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  • The DermThe Derm Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    UncleSporky wrote: »
    Maybe if someone is willing to play it with him and tell him how to spell the objects he wants...actually, that might be pretty good for developing spelling for a child, if the incentive is creating and interacting with whatever he wants.


    My 5 year old is all over this game, and it really has helped with spelling and reading comprehension. We have also learned that there are few problems that cannot be solved with the suitable application of T-Rexes.

    If he is a fan of Cars, and there are few young boys who aren't, the Cars Maternational is a decent cart racer with a learning curve suitable for the under 5 set.

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    Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position
    Such a heavy burden now to be the one
    Born to bare and read to all the details of our ending
    To write it down for all the world to see
    But I forgot my pen...
  • LCDXXLCDXX A flask of wood and glass Terre Haute, INRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2010
    New Super Mario Bros.

    My son has been playing this since he was 3 (he turned 5 back in November). No matter what, he always comes back to NSMB. Over and over and over...

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  • RentRent I'm always right Fuckin' deal with itRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    UncleSporky wrote: »
    Rent wrote: »
    Jam Warrior wrote: »
    Cantido wrote: »
    How's Scribblenauts for a kid?

    If too much reading is an issue, I'd imagine a writing based game is completely out of contention :P

    Also, and this is important, it is a very bad game

    Like, wow this might have the worst controls/worst puzzles in any game I've ever played, of all time. OF ALL TIME!

    Nah, it's a fine game, and the only reason you shouldn't get it for him is because it is a reading/writing game that encourages good vocabulary. Maybe if someone is willing to play it with him and tell him how to spell the objects he wants...actually, that might be pretty good for developing spelling for a child, if the incentive is creating and interacting with whatever he wants.

    Lies! LIES!

    I mean, I don't regret purchasing it, but no. It's not a good game. The controls, AI, just awful

    Also is it just me or is there like, no reason at all to do the puzzles? It's like...woohoo. I did a puzzle, either by guessing what specific item class the devs wanted or cheating with jetpack variants. Now to do several hundred more just like it for...no really good reason at all

    Rent on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    This isn't really the thread to rant about it. We realize you don't think it deserves the accolades it gets. It's still a great game for kids, for helping with spelling and vocabulary, and a lot of people still enjoy it. There's no cause to keep arguing.

    UncleSporky on
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  • maximumzeromaximumzero I...wait, what? New Orleans, LARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Rent wrote: »
    I was gonna say KH 358/2 but that has a ton of reading

    Um

    Yoshi's Island 2? Yeah, Yoshi's Island 2

    I'm going to recommend AGAINST Yoshi's Island 2. Not a bad game but the second half can be infuriatingly difficult sometimes.

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  • maximumzeromaximumzero I...wait, what? New Orleans, LARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Ooh, oooh, has he played any of the Pokemans?

    Gold/Silver remakes drop in a month, if he can wait that long.

    maximumzero on
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  • HounHoun Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Both my kids (4 and 7) like Cooking Mama, Mario Kart DS and Drawn to Life. They've also got all the games you listed in the OP.

    Houn on
  • Butler For Life #1Butler For Life #1 Twinning is WinningRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    maximumzero wrote: »
    Ooh, oooh, has he played any of the Pokemans?

    Gold/Silver remakes drop in a month, if he can wait that long.

    Kids love these games. Easy to pick up, and great fun. It's even better if friends or siblings have the game too.

    Butler For Life #1 on
  • BugBoyBugBoy boy.EXE has stopped functioning. only bugs remainRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Butler For Life #1 wrote: »
    Kids love these games. Easy to pick up, and great fun. It's even better if friends or siblings have the game too.
    Keep in mind, however, that pokemon does require some reading. In my experience, children tend to do well with these games anyway, but you should keep that in mind.

    BugBoy on
  • maximumzeromaximumzero I...wait, what? New Orleans, LARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    BugBoy wrote: »
    Butler For Life #1 wrote: »
    Kids love these games. Easy to pick up, and great fun. It's even better if friends or siblings have the game too.
    Keep in mind, however, that pokemon does require some reading. In my experience, children tend to do well with these games anyway, but you should keep that in mind.

    Very true. But I like to think that these kinds of games encourage reading skills.

    And the PokeWalker that it comes packaged with encourages exercise.

    It's a win-win!

    maximumzero on
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  • HounHoun Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I'm not buying my kids any more Pokemon games until they finish Diamond/Pearl. My son is too young to care about RPGs, and my daughter has a storage full of starlies.

    Houn on
  • FontainneFontainne Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    - Rocket Slime is a great game for that age group (minus all of the reading that occurs), both my 5 year old niece and 4 and 7 year old nephews like the game a lot.

    - Any of the Lego games

    Fontainne on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Mario Kart would be a great choice.

    UncleSporky on
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  • Lindsay LohanLindsay Lohan Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    My son is 5 and his recent obsessions are Mario Kart, New Super Mario, and Princess Peach (which is one of my favorites too). He also really likes Yoshi Touch & Go and Pac N Roll.

    Lindsay Lohan on
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