Thomas & Friends The Great Festival Adventure with Free Train Car - PC

My 2 1/2 year old got this for Christmas and I want to make sure anyone that buys it for their toddler realizes that it is definitely "lapware," unless your toddler is already pretty adept at using the mouse. The changing cursor is somewhat confusing and hard for rookies to aim accurately. One difficulty is that it is used differently in the different areas of the game. For example, it steers Terrance the tractor without clicking in the cow chasing area, you don't click Harold to pick up the rocks in the rock fall area, but you do click Harold in the festival games area. This is not a good game to teach mouse use as a result, and does require assistance. I was not terribly excited about the skills taught in the games area, and felt that it was rushing through. For example, in the Cranky the crane area, the first level is supposed to be colors, the second, which looks identical, is color and shape, and the third is more complex wooden box shapes. I have no objection to the game promoting the advancement from easier to harder skills, but most pre-school games give more opportunities for practice before moving on. I also was irritated that the music game was not more obvious in the sounds each instrument played - it takes a keen ear to discern the banjo, for example, over the background music. My son loved the included train car and does enjoy the game - I'm the one with a problem with it. He is also used to being more independent with his games - for example, Fisher Price Toddler, and he can't be as independent with this one, which frustrates both of us.

This game is great to look at--the trains, fields, and other graphics are beutifully rendered, as are a few video "cut-scenes." The games themselves are not very challenging and left my Thomas-crazed four-year old bored after a few times through--but he still plays it once it a while to hear the music and watch the characters. Better for smaller kids.

We bought it yesterday. It was suppose to be a Christmas present but my son would not let go of the box. We put it in and he LOVES it. There are seven games but each game has 3 different ways to play it. I think it was worth it. PLUS there are ALOT of pages to print out for the little ones to color on. If your child is a Thomas fan this is a must! Plus he loved the free train car that came with it.