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> Results: The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
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In 1962, Stan and Jan Berenstain wrote and illustrated The Great Honey Hunt, and the Berenstain Bears were born. Today, there are hundreds of Berenstain Bear books and a TV show on PBS to delight young readers. And now, the Bears have their own video game on the Game Boy Advance!
Loosely based on the classic book, The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree, Brother Bear, Sister Bear, and Cousin Fred are exploring the woods one night when a thunderstorm approaches. They seek refuge inside the Spooky Old Tree and must use teamwork to avoid creepy bugs and spiders and other nasties while finding a way back home!  The game plays out like a typical 2D platform-action game. Trade off between Brother, Sister, and Fred to solve puzzles and bypass obstacles. Each cub has his or her own special skills. Brother can push crates, Sister can jump long distances, and Fred can climb high with his trusty rope. Help all three bears make it to the end of the level, similar to games like The Lost Vikings. Graphics aren't anything special, but they do the job. For a ﾑspooky' game, the music is surprisingly warm and relaxing. Play control is simple and basic: A to jump, B to attack, and L and R to switch bears.  
This is obviously a kids' game, and it shows. No reading skill is required. Text hints are always followed by pictures, showing young ones hints on how to get past the stage. It's unfortunate that the game uses a password system to save progress, since taking down passwords for a portable system is always cumbersome. But even the passwords are pictures, not words.
Violence is mild and cartoony, and even then it's minimal. The bears just use pine cones and rocks to shoo away creepy crawlies. The cubs share a ﾑcourage meter' which is like their energy. If they get touched by bugs too many times, the bears will sit down and cry and you have to retry the level. Luckily, levels are short and easy, plus extra tries are plentiful. There are a couple of boss chases and freefall levels down the tree that might be a little bit frustrating for very young gamers and they may need a little help getting past them. But most of the game is easy enough that anyone with a small amount of gaming skill can beat the game in a little over an hour. The game uses teamwork to solve puzzles, but every obstacle has a sign with a particular bear's face on it so little ones know which cub to use, plus the bears remind players which buttons to push with constant thought bubbles above their heads. Best of all, each copy of the game comes with a Berenstain Bears mini book: The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat! So for a low price, your little cubs get a game made just for them and a story to read! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree |
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