Active Life: Magical Carnival

Review

Common Sense Media says

Active gaming in a collection of fun fantasy settings.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Active Life Magical Carnival is a collection of fantasy-themed mini-games that are intended to keep kids up and active while playing. The game uses both the standard Wii remotes and a special floor mat that track their foot movements. One or two mini-games feature mild, very unrealistic cartoon violence. The games are set in themed worlds including circus, pirates, and wizards.

  • Positive messages2
    Despite these activities being unrealistic, fantasy-based challenges, the game's overarching theme is still one about being active and leading a physically fit lifestyle.
  • Positive role models1
    There aren't characters here, but the game has a generally positive tone. Nothing is too harsh; no negative words thrown around.
  • Ease of play3
    As long as you keep yourself centered on the floor pad, the controls generally work well.
  • Violence & scariness1
    There is one sword-fighting mini-game in which you duel a pirate by mimicking the steps and hand motions depicted in the corner of the screen. It's more about posing than real fighting, since the motions aren't realistic in terms of swordplay. Another mini-game requires you to zap ghosts and suck them into a vacuum.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism2
    You need to play the game with the Active Life floor pad, which you can get packaged with the game disc for the higher listed price. If you have a previous Active Life game, you can always use the floor pad from that game and save $20.
  • Privacy & safety0
    Not applicable.
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What's it about?

ACTIVE LIFE MAGICAL CARNIVAL invites families to step into a fantasy theme park full of motion-controlled mini-games. You will tame lions and walk tightropes under a circus big top; you'll ride broomsticks and chase ghosts in a wizard's castle; you'll climb masts and duel buccaneers on a pirate ship; and more. Games are played with both the Wii remote and the Active Life floor pad.

Is it any good?

 

Active Life Magical Carnival, like the rest of the Active Life series, makes excellent use of its distinct, two-person floor pad. Having to step, jump, run, and hop throughout a game definitely increases the overall physicality of it. And most of the time, the actions fit well with the game's designated activity (pedaling, lunging, etc.). There are times, mostly when steering vehicles (including broomsticks), when leaning would have felt more natural, as opposed to stepping. But if the game used, say, the Wii balance board instead, then you wouldn't be able to jump on it. So nothing is perfect, but the developers here have done a great job with the hardware they chose to use. Plus, it's fun to see the kind of active gaming moves usually reserved for sports titles applied to a fantasy-adventure setting.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about active gaming. Is it a legitimate way to stay fit? In what ways can you supplement active gaming in order to lead a more physically fit lifestyle?

  • How does it feel to play competitively with friends or family members? Are you able to be a good sport? Or does it sometimes cause arguments or resentments?

This review was written by Christopher Healy

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This review was written by Christopher Healy
Topics:magic and fantasy
Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Exergaming
Developer:Namco Bandai
Release date:November 1, 2011
Price:$29.99–$49.99
ESRB rating:E for Cartoon Violence
This review was written by Christopher Healy
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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