Hamtaro: Wake Up Snoozer!

List Price: $19.99 Discount Price: $59.95

Features:

• Join the Ham-hams to find Penelope
• Helps build addition and subtraction skills
• Geometric shape recognition
• Phonics
• Ages 4-7

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine	Pimpjuice Premium Energy Drink, Extra Strength Formula, 8-Ounce Cans (Pack of 24)

Customer Reviews:

Fairly Academic [Posted on 2003-12-12]
Before I review this I must say that I live in Japan and there are no quality educational software programs for sale in Japanese. It's ironic that this popular Japanese cartoon has made an educational game only in English. That being said, I found this game was above average but not spectacular. My four-year-old daughter completed the game in about four hours of play. She loves the Hamutaro character in Japan and was excited to play it. She took two sessions to complete it. This game pushes acaedmics fairly well without being boring. There are some counting exercises, animal matching and sequencing exercises, and beginning reading exercises--just to name a few. I recommend it if your pre-schooler likes Hamutaro.

Very cute. A little better than most. [Posted on 2004-02-07]
Having a 13 yr old and an 8 yr old who have both grown up in front of the computer, I have owned a lot of "educational" computer software. My 8 yr old daughter is a huge fan of Hamtaro and had this game on her Christmas list. It really is made for younger children, but my daughter has enjoyed playing it. Mostly because she can interact with the Hamtaro characters. She was able to complete the whole game in a couple of hours, but has played it through many times since we got it. Her only complaint is that the characters don't have the same actors' voices as they do in the show... Heck, I couldn't tell the difference!

So it is definitely cute, fun, and Ham-Fans will enjoy interacting with the Ham-Ham characters.

Educationally speaking: it is on the same level as most of the BETTER academic software designed for this age group. The instructions are easy to understand and the activities don't become boring 2 seconds into them. Keep in mind that once any of these kinds of 'educational' games are mastered, the child isn't really learning anything more from it. Though with repeat play they are cementing those skills acquired. And this game does seem to have more replay value than most. Considering my daughter is unwilling to let me sell it yet!

I think it is worth the cost of the software, especially compared to the cost of other "less useful" educational games.

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