 Finally, a comprehensive language game experience on the DS. |
| Review Date: November 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: The Attenuator, |
While some other "nongames" provide limited access to linguistics-based challenges, this is the first I've seen to really capture the joy of engaging with language. I am seriously impressed with this title, and I've been recommending it to parents and colleagues alike.
The good stuff:
- All six training games are engaging, and they never get old, since the words are always changing.
- Even the games that focus on spelling are simultaneously engaging you with definitions.
- The training games feel intuitive with the DS stylus, moreso than I imagine the Wii Remote might feel.
- The games are physically fun to play. Move, arrange, rotate, or draw objects. It's more than just writing.
- The game has intelligently tracked my vocabulary level; I constantly feel challenged, but not overwhelmed.
- The unlocks come frequently, but the pacing is deliberately gradual to retain words in active memory.
- A great experience for 10-30 minutes a day.
What to watch out for:
- As far as I can tell, there is no left-handed support for the one training game where you hold the DS vertically. This is actually a pretty unforgivable oversight. If you are left-handed, you may want to think twice about this purchase.
- Remember that you can turn off the music in the settings screen, and that you will probably want to.
Another review mentioned the lack of pronunciation guide as a problem. I agree that it's a missed opportunity, but it's not a dealbreaker. The lack of southpaw support might be, though, if you happen to be left-handed.
NOTE: comments below indicate varying levels of comfort/success with left-handedness. Your mileage may vary! Someone I know personally had great difficulty attempting one of the six modes left-handed. That's the only reason I mention it at all. |
Vocabulary and Spelling -- a great learning tool for kids and adults
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| Review Date: November 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: eichned, Texas |
| My Word Coach DS (we liked the Wii version so much that we also bought the DS game - the DS stylus makes it easier to write, but my son likes the Wii's fun factor, and the Wii remote seems to keep him more involved in the learning process) - Do you have a kid who hasn't read enough to build a large vocabulary and strong spelling skills OR a kid who finds words fascinating? This game works for both, and provides lots of word practice with a series of different games -- my kid seemed almost surprised at the end of his first series that he had learned so much. There's lots of reading (definitions, etc.) which I think would make it tricky for kids much younger than ten. The game has progress graphs and high score history for encouragement and provides a word review after play. There are vocabulary games (e.g. Split Decision where you match the word on the screen to its correct definition) and spelling games (what could be more fun than grafitti-style spray painting to fill in the missing letter or correct a wrong letter?), with six training games in all and a couple of 'recreational' DS games. There are lots of options to keep a player's interst as the game gets harder -- for instance, both definitions may be wrong in Split Decision. My soon-to-be eleven year old plays until the professor tells him to stop for the day (after he's mastered a profile-determined word list). There's a slight learning curve, but he figured it out on his own without getting frustrated. He intuitively began picking up on clues such as how to guess a word from the definition. My son says it's "lots of fun -- almost, but not quite, like a regular game." I predict libraries and after-school programs will be holding lots of competitions with this game. |
Great vocabulary builder!
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| Review Date: November 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Graphic Novel / Manga Reader, Land of the Palm Trees (USA) |
To the person above that said that left-handers couldn't do this game is wrong. I am left handed and when I read the review that left handers may not enjoy this game at all, I thought oh no. I purchased this game anyway because I have Spelling Challenge DS and loved it and was excited to see that they made another word game!
Left handers out there, no worries. The game does not decrease your fun at all.
The vocabulary game is so much fun that I, an adult gamer, am certainly learning many new words! This game is fun if you love vocabulary and spelling! Great for teens and up!
Games include:
Fill in the blanks,
Match the meanings to the word given
Word stack (find words as letters drop down before they hit the top)
Unscramble words
Spell the mystery word faster than your computer opponent
As you play, you unlock more games!
Who would have thought spelling & vocabulary is fun! |
a fun and educational tool - great for homeschoolers or braniacs
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| Review Date: January 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Katie C. Nelson, USA |
I homeschool my son and he LOVES video games so I am always thrilled to find an educational game for his DS system. Sometimes when I need to go out and run errands he brings his Nintendo DS along and having a game like this can extend his learning time for the day in a fun and creative way.
Truthfully, he would still pick up a Mario or Sonic game over this if he had his choice (what kid wouldn't?) but if I ask him to pick a learning game, he will gladly choose this one. He loves words and has quite an extensive vocabulary already so this game is a natural fit. The easy level was way too easy for him, but the more difficult levels offer some good challenges. He likes the format and the way you can unlock more challenging games.
This game would be perfect for anyone looking to build their vocabulary and word skills.
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Fun word games and a slick interface
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| Review Date: December 28, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Debra Hamel, TwitterLit.com |
My Word Coach for Nintendo DS invites users to improve their vocabulary through daily training exercises on six main games:
1. Missing Letters -- in which you fill in the correct letter in a given word
2. Split Decision -- in which you select the correct definition for a given word from two alternatives
3. Pasta Letters -- in which you rearrange letters to spell the word indicated by a given definition
4. Block Letters -- in which you spell words on a word list by selecting blocks (falling Tetris-like) on the screen
5. Word Shuffle -- in which you match up words with their definitions
6. Safecracker -- in which you spell a word indicated by a given definition
The games are timed, and your score on a game is a function of the number of correct answers supplied and time taken on the game. (There are in addition three practice games, but scores achieved on them do not count toward your daily grade, on which see below.) These games are not all available to first-time players. New games and higher levels of games are unlocked as one plays.
The game directs users to play a little bit every day, until the player reaches his or her daily quota of correct responses (say, 90 correct answers, which might take 20 or 30 minutes to reach, depending on how well one does on the games). When your daily quote is reached, the system assigns the player a grade, the player's "Expression Potential" or EP (some number out of a possible 100), which is supposed to measure the player's "ability to command and use the English language." Since the scores in many of the games depend on one's familiarity with the vocabulary used, I suppose your EP will roughly reflect your actual vocabulary. At any rate, after each day's quote is reached your EP is reassessed. (While you can continue to play the game for as long as you like during a single day--which will unlock games and levels for you--the correct answers supplied beyond your daily quota will not count toward a new EP assessment.)
Playing My Word Coach was my first extensive experience using a Nintendo DS. I am very impressed with the Nintendo as well as with the game's slick interface. Writing with the stylus on the machine's bottom screen is very smooth, and the letter recognition is quite good. Rarely one of my letters was not accepted, but the game gives you several chances to make corrections before marking your response as incorrect.
Finally, will the game indeed help improve your vocabulary? I wouldn't be surprised if it does. The games are fun, so players will want to come back. They're graded, so that one has a tangible goal to strive for. (You can also compare your high scores to those of other players in your household.) The game definitely does introduce unfamiliar words, and in many games the introduction of these words is tied to their definitions--which is to say that they appear in context. (There is also a glossary of words encountered that one can consult.) Plus, words are repeated and will show up across different games.
But even if the game does not in fact improve your "Expression Potential" I would still be impressed by it: it's slick, it's fun, and it keeps your mind active. Which can't be a bad thing.
-- Debra Hamel |
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