Game Review: My Little Pony PC Play Pack
Rated by 2 members
What Parents Should Know
The play offered in this software is very simple and
supportive. But the software doesn't have much depth. For
little girls who love little ponies, this is a way to give them
some practice using the computer.
Common Sense Media Review
Preschoolers can play with Little Pony figures using their
computers -- or without them -- with the
My Little Pony PC Play Pack. The pack includes
an exclusive play figure called Sparkleberry Swirl, and the
accompanying software provides a virtual playground where
youngsters help prepare a celebration for her.
Appropriately, the Little Ponies' virtual world is brightly colored and predominately pink. All of the Little Pony characters talk to kids and solicit help with the party preparations. Before Sparkleberry Swirl's party can start, kids need to finish seven tasks that include designing and sending invitations, baking and decorating the cake, dressing up a pony, choreographing a dance for a pony, and helping three other ponies with projects.
The play offered in this software is very simple and supportive. While the narrator is often a bit over the top with her use of endearments such as "darling," young children will find the play environment helps them to build confidence using a computer.
However, the software takes this simplicity too far. The seven tasks don't present enough of a challenge because all kids do is point and click to scroll through choices. For example, with the baking the cake task, kids simply click on items in a cupboard to add them to the batter instead of having to count or discriminate between items. And when players need to find items for the ponies, the items simply appear in front of them instead of asking youngsters to use visual discrimination to pick out the correct ones.
The bottom line: Choose this software for little girls who love The Little Ponies and want to become familiar with pointing and clicking on a computer, but don't expect them to learn much more.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
