Is the new Toy Story game for Wii really a good game for young children, or is it too difficult to get the hang of?

Hey there!  I've read a lot of different things about this game, but I can give you the gist of what I've read.  For the most part it seems like a great game, if your kids like (and if you allow them to play) boardwalk, shooter-style games.  Games include throwing items to break plates or hitting targets with eggs.  I don't imagine this in-and-of itself makes for a very difficult learning curve. The graphics are also supposedly really good and the character interaction is fun/funny.  On the other hand, there doesn't seem to be a great plot line and there are some menu issues that can make the game confusing.  It also has a tendency to get glitchy every now and then and mess up scores and gameplay, although I imagine these are rare.  Also, in order to get a lot of bonus points


In general, http://www.Wii.ign.com has this to say about it:



If you've had the good fortune to make a trip to either Disneyland orDisney World in the past few years, you might have come across anattraction there called "Toy Story Midway Mania!" -- it's a combinationride and shooting gallery that has you and a friend sit down in alittle cart, roll through a set of rooms with huge screens displayingtons of targets to blast, and compete against your buddy by going for ahigher score (using the big laser guns mounted on each cart). You alsoget a set of 3D glasses to wear throughout the whole thing. It's quitea fun little experience.


Also, the ESRB rating is E10+, meaning that the game is meant for children ten and older, and may contain mild violence, mild language (doubtful with a Disne/Pixar game) and/or mild suggestive themes.


Overall, I'd say this wouldn't be a bad choice for your kids, since they're not usually die-hard video game critics.  You just need to determine what your game aspects are most important to you! (Or your children ;o) )  If you think your kids will enjoy tossing softballs with Buzz and Woody, go for it! :o) I've attached a few product suggestions to link you to different places where you can purchase the game.  Enjoy!

The new Toy Story game for Wii, Toy Story Mania!, isn't receiving the greatest reviews. The title touts that it uses games from the Toy Story attraction at Disneyland amusement parks, and perhaps some of the activities are more fun to play in person, but they don't transition very well to the video game format.  You're partaking in little more than carnival style mini-games: tossing darts to break objects, throwing rings around various things, smashing a hammer on a bell, guessing which cup contains the coin, etc. As much as I didn't care for Carnival Games on the Wii, I think that it actually handled better than this title.  At least Carnival Games attempted to piece together its events with some type of game progression. Instead, Toy Story Mania!'s story mode lacks a story, and it uses a nonsensical ticket system to handle the unlocking of additional mini-games.
The difficulty level is rated "easy" according to CNET.

This is a very well presented and great looking mini-game collection. I think it would be great for small kids and as a family party game. The problem is that there are many, many, many similar games on the Wii from Mario Party to Super Monkey Ball to Wii Sports. This is among the best in looks and character appeal, but in the middle of the pack when it comes to games. They are fun, simple, and look great. It is a blast to play at first, but I have my doubts about long term playability because you can only play mini-games so much

The game experience is basically like you are playing a carnival staffed and decorated by the Toy Story characters. Games are grouped by themes, such as western for Woody, space for Buzz, tea party for Bo Peep, and army for the Army men.  I think the best way to describe the game structure is to compare it to Mario Party.
The game promotes hand eye coordination at a child's level, is family friendly and non-violent