LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game: Scholastic Animal Genius Reviews

• if you're only going to have one leapster game ~ this is the one!

  
  By A1FGXH6I59IU2Z on 2006-09-03
  my 4yr old son loves 'go diego go' (about an 'animal scientist' who lives in the rainforest), but all the related games have seemed disappointingly cheesey ~ this one, though, makes him feel like he =is= diego!
  
  this sort of game is why i bought the leapster in the first place! the graphics are amazing ~ rather realistic & not cartoony. you start off picking a habitat (woodlands, rainforest, ocean, grasslands, or artic) & then have to 'win' 5 animals to fill it up by playing the 4 different games (maze munch - negotiate a maze to get food for your animal; feature finder - classify & sort animals by physical features; matchomatic - match the animal with it's feature (eyes, skin, food, etc); scratch & see - figure out which animal is hiding by scratching off as little of it's cover as possible) after you've gotten enough points, you take a quiz on that particular animal & then get to see it in it's habitat. also, "animal alert" happens periodically where an animal is in the wrong habitat & you have to find it. i wish there was more consistency in the animals (i.e. games for grassland animals focussed on animals that actually live in the grasslands) & maybe a bit more flexible formula but all in all a =great= game that's very educational & not patronizing. also, excellant integration of using both the stylus & arrow keys. like all leapster titles there are different levels of play.
  
  ~*~without a doubt our absolute favorite title thus far & i really hope they make more like these!~*~
  
  

• Best Leapster Game Ever!

  
  By A181EOSGWW8YWT on 2006-08-30
  My son(6) and my daughter(3.5) really like this game. We own over fourteen leapster games and this one is their favorite. It has four types of games: "Maze Munch", "scratch and see", "Feature finder" and "Matchomatics". It also has fact quiz for each animal that you are going to win. It is so cute when my three and half year old ask her dad:"Do zebras live in the arctic?" Then she would answer it herself:"No. It's too cold for zebra. Zebras live in grassland". Kids are learning while playing. I can not ask for anything better. It also keeps their attention for hours.
  
  
  

• Fun and o'so educational!

  
  By A2U4QN7NESIFRB on 2006-11-09
  This was the #1 game my son played on his Leapster learning system. "Was" being the right term. He got a little freaked out by the "ANIMAL ALERT- ANIMAL-ALERT" warning missile launch (those who have the game will understand). And now won't play the game. Funny though that he loved the animal alert but it's sudden and unexpected and must have come on when he was feeling a bit sensitive. He'll eventually play with it again, and like a lost then found toy, it'll be new again. Beside all that this game combines learning about animals and their habitats into a fun game that helps kids learn about animals. The scratch away animal is also a lot of fun, my son loves to fill the screen on the Mr. Pencil game and this gives it a bit of an educational "kick".
  Overall definitely a must have game for the Leapster Learning System.
  
  
  

• Love the Leapster - Animal Genius for preschoolers though

  
  By A3LNLDIFLOQZW8 on 2006-12-28
  You know I really was excited to purchase this for a XMAS present for my daughter who just turned 6 however I find that this game is so easy and not challenging that other games may have - scatch feature to show which animal, collect animals and put them where they belong grasslands, artic etc., but in the end I find this game so easy that my 3 year daughter who picks up her leapster L Max and takes her sistes cartridge "Animal Genius" can play up to par with her older sister - this is truly for a preschooler older than that may bore them.
  
  

• Recommend for PRESCHOOLERS

  
  By A3U9TJYOUOWL3T on 2006-12-28
  This game is way to easy to engage any child over 5. Because the age range indicated on the box is 5-8, I thought my 7 year old son would love this game because he loves animals. It is just WAY to easy, thus making the game boring. A younger child would probably love it.
  
  
• Definitely the favorite....we just need a sequel now!!!
  By A333F5KHJMZHB5 on 2007-02-05
  This is definitely my 5 yo's favorite Leapster game. She also has Sponge Bob, the Leapster game that comes with the older Leapster and the Disney Princess game. She likes them all, but I was definitely amazed at the amount of time she spends with this one....and I am amazed at how much she has learned! She literally plays for hours.
  
  She was hoping if she "filled the world" she would get new animals to learn about. I tried to warn her that she probably wouldn't, but she just played and played until the world was filled. Unfortunately, she got to start all over. But honestly, she still loves it. She is constantly quoting me animal facts!
  
  I just wish there were more similar games by Leapster. Maybe an Animal Genius II? I know my daughter would love it!
  
  Great game, highly recommend for any kid who has an interest in animals.
  
  
• Good for ages 5-6
  By A3Q85MU5FA4LLW on 2007-01-09
  I bought this for my 7-year-old, and although he really enjoys playing it, it's too easy for him. The game has lots of animations of the subject animals. Would definitely recommend for your 5-6 year old animal lover.
  
  
• Age limit beyond what's on the box
  By A1PXGH7H6U3M2X on 2007-03-11
  My 3 and 4 year old children love this game. The tasks are simple enough to be possible for the to accomplish, but hard enough to be interesting. My daughter has taken to sharing her animal knowledge with the rest of the family. I am impressed with the level of graphics. My only cautionary note is that the games might be too simple for an older child. The box says 5-8, I am not sure that 8 is realistic.
  
  
  
• 10 Stars! Biology 101
  By A37PQ4SBTC2H23 on 2007-03-13
  From the moment I saw my children playing this game I knew this was an excellent choice. The things it teaches in the context of play will blow your mind. Children learn attributes of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. They classify these creatures by these attributes. They learn about eating habits, natural predators, 6 habitats. They learn to categorize animals by their environment as well. Can't say enough about this game. My 3 & 5 year old love playing this. Also fully recommend PC game Jumpstart Animal Adventures, which piggybacks this one in content but expands the concept. Get them!
  
  
• One of the best Leapster games!
  By A2HM4AN2WEKUSU on 2007-06-05
  My boys are just turning 3 and almost 5, and they both love this game. Actually, they fight over it, which can be frustrating for Mommy, so they are also learning all about Taking Turns! They have both learned so much from this game, and they take what they have learned and incorporate it into their other playing. They will play with their Little People animals and say things like, "Zebras live in the Grassland - watch out for Lions! Lions eat Zebras!" That sounds harsh, but don't worry, no actual eating of Zebras going on in the game. The game does talk a lot about "predators", and the boys are learning a lot about what a predator is, and how nature works. We build upon what they learn in the game by reading more science-oriented books that teach kids about animals.
  
  I will say that the Maze Munch game can be a bit difficult at the higher levels. Sometimes, I can barely escape the Grouper in the Clownfish maze munch! Might be that our arrow botton on the Leapster is a little touchy. It can be hard to get away from that grouper to hide in the sea anemone! The boys get frustrated by it, and want help from me. But maybe it's good to show them that I can't do it either!
  
  I would say this is their favorite Leapster game, and it has been for awhile. They also enjoy Kindergarten, Letters on the Loose, and Numbers on the Run.
  
  
• IMPRESSIVE
  By A3AVG1PO75BOZE on 2007-01-10
  My 4 year old loves animals, so we bought this game with his new Leapster, thinking it would be a great fit for him. I absolutely am so impressed with the way that this game is formatted! The objective is to win animals, but the player has to get a certain number of points to win each animal. There are 4 games to play, each offering advice to your child is he makes a mistake and each offering more chances to succeed if he guesses the wrong answer. It explains why an answer is wrong and offers tidbits of knowledge throughout the game. Its easy to understand and operate, but also offers a unique challenge, getting increasingly more challenging as your child succeeds his way through the game to win more animals. I lovethis and am so happy we decided to buy this for our child. I am waiting for the Animal Genius 2 to come out!!!
  
  
• This is great
  By A1FN2JRSJAWWAB on 2007-01-11
  We got this for our 6 year old daughter along with a Leapster for Christmas. It is easily her favorite gift. I have had to set up limits for her playing time or it would be all she does. We also had a 11 year lod visiting and she enjoyed it too.
  We got other Leapster games as well, but this is far and away the favorite.
  
  
• So Great!!!!
  By A336FE20YZZL3A on 2007-03-10
  We bought this for our 4 year old daughter last week, and I don't think she's played anything else all week! She is a true animal lover and this game is just perfect for her. Its very educational and fun. She loves the real animal photography, no cartoons. I love the little "speed round" that happens after winning a certain amout of points. The kids must answer ten questions about the animal they are learning about. My daughter cannot read yet and she still understands it. I love this game! I wish they had another one!! how aout a sequel???
  
  
• Only one problem
  By ALEYKXPRBZMDJ on 2007-08-19
  As someone has mentioned once your child gets so many animals the higher point games just stop working and you are left with two games instead of four. I am really not impressed with that feature of the game. Like many people have said this game is more for 3-5 not much older than that because it is very simple. My 5 yr old has 3 of the 5 habitats complete in a day. It is a great game for little kids and it holds thier attention for long periods of time.
  
  
• Great for Animal Lovers!
  By A1CP6Q5NFMI4P on 2007-01-11
  My 6 1/2 year daughter loves this game. She got it for Christmas. She played it none stop for over a week...until school started again. Very good game for kids who want to learn more about animals.
  
  
• The 3 yr old loves it too.
  By A1KQOTF1C1D1V on 2007-01-15
  This game doesn't require quick hand - eye coordination. He sits still for half an hour and enjoys it. (So do I.)
  
  
• Kids love it.
  By AQWL956QNRYP3 on 2007-01-21
  My 7 & 5 year old love this game. But the games don't advance properly. Before my 5 year old had "won" all the animals in each area, he advanced beyond the capacity of 3 of the 4 games and the games simply quit running. (my son's smart but not THAT smart) He can sign in as a different user and start all over again, but he can't finish under his original sign in name.
  
  I would not buy this game again unless for a 3-4 year old.
  
  
• Great game and good knowledge
  By A3VE2YA0P0DG1P on 2007-05-13
  Quiet and general overview but get the talking started to animals. Sorry, BS in Animal Science, so brief for my test but my 8yo loves it and plays alot and gets the discussion started to more about animals. Nice change from the character projects and more information to pass on the knowledge.
  
  
• My 4 yr old loves this
  By A2Q548JM9YB4O4 on 2007-05-15
  He was three 3.5 when I purchased this for him. He loves it. He still plays it non-stop. I would recomend this to any child who's into animals.
  
  
• Awesome
  By A3K8UTVUKPRYF2 on 2007-01-04
  My 8 yr old plays it and so do I (Im 31 ;)
  
  
• More than I EVER expected!!
  By A3VUYNE61JA352 on 2007-01-10
  I purchased this game as a last miunte stocking stuffer and I am completely impressed with this product. My 4 1/2 year old daughter is learning more than I ever imagined and I have to admit I am too. This is definitely worth the money.
  
  
• Animal genius - educational fun
  By A14C99ETXP32S0 on 2007-03-09
  My 6 year-old son chose Animal Genius for his Leapster because he loves anything animal related. It is now his favorite Leapster game because of the variety of activities and the fun animal facts that he learns from it. I have heard him teach other people facts that he has learned from playing the game and he especially enjoys the way that the game is set up so that it's a challenge to earn "animals."
  
  
• Don't think twice...this is a great Leapster item
  By A2QX67P2867ZZ1 on 2007-11-25
  Of all my daughters 6 games this is her favorite. She loves the animal facts and games that make this such a great buy. I search Amazon specifically for the Leapster games and am so impressed with what you get for the price.
  
  Just do it. Girl or boy this is a wonderful choice!
  
  
• Educational and Fun for Your Animal Lover
  By A27ALKRE2RBQO3 on 2007-10-16
  My four year old son loves this. It teaches him all about animals through its many different games. What I love is that there are different regions, so the animals change depending on whether that region is where they live. This way, while the types of games stay the same, the animals change and my son doesn't get bored. Definitely the best game we've bought so far and very age appropriate.
  
  
• Fun & Educational - a family favorite Leapster game
  By A2789QV106JAEN on 2008-01-17
  Santa brought this for my (soon to be) 6-year old, and she loves it! It is by far her favorite game. It is educational, fun, and does not fall into a repetitive rut that would make the game boring.
  There are goals set to "win" animals, and quizzes on the animal once you have enough points. This game is set to reward correct answers & doesn't make a big deal if an incorrect answer is selected. Just try again!
  We love this game & would recommend it for any child under the age of 8.
  
  

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