Interactive Storybook DS Series 1
SCORE: 63
I was so very excited to receive Interactive Storybook DS Series 1. I had a lot of high hopes for this video game, and for UFO Interactive. A Nintendo DS video game targeted at three to six year old that tells four storybook tales sounded too good to be true. Plus the hand held video game includes mini games, drawing, and coloring. How could UFO Interactive possibly go wrong? Sadly I would find out the answer to that, but the good news is so will you.
Graphically speaking Interactive Storybook DS is not a lot to look at. There is minor animations that do nothing to enhance the storybook’s in my humble opinion. There is a limited pallet of colors, along with limited tools to use. Paint in the often ridiculed Windows operating system has more and better tools. Animal Crossing Wild World (editor: just a few years old) includes a better drawing program. Eastern religious images like Buddha can be found in this DS video game as well.
The sounds found within Interactive Storybook DS illustrate the biggest problem I found - lack of regionalization. The stories have been regionalized for countries like Japan, but not for America. The names of the three little pigs, and the narrators voice exhibit this perfectly. On top of that the audio section is lacking in quite a few ways. There was also an issue with bad language found within this game.
Most of the stories are so strange that I spent hours trying to discern some moral, usually coming up blank. The paint program is lacking, and I have more fun drawing on an old Etch-a-Sketch personally. This game is not even worth five dollars, so avoid it like the plague.
There is not a lot of game play that is found inside Interactive Storybook DS, however what is there works nicely. The drawing tool works as it should, as does the coloring. Improvements are definitely needed to all of them, and I hope UFO Interactive does that in newer releases. I have a bad feeling they won’t though.
I was honestly expecting
to like Interactive Storybook DS when I first turned it on. The lack of
regionalization for the West (editor: even in our one story), the
language issue, and the eastern religious imagery really drag it down.
They have a lot to clean up in any sequel, and it is my sincere hope
that they do.
- Paul
Graphics: 66%
Sound: 62%
Replay/Extras: 61%
Gameplay: 68%
Family Friendly Factor: 60%
System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: UFO Interactive
Rating: 'E' for Everyone
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