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[mrklaw]

OK, time for a refresh.

My little boy is coming up on his 4th birthday. He doesn't really play games, but likes giving my nintendog a shower, and playing the minigames in Mario DS. But thats about it.

any suggestions as to the best age to start playing properly, and what to start off on? Even thinking about things like Mario world I just remember needing fast reflexes.

I'd want to start with something contemplative, where there aren't any lightning fast reflexes needed, or nasty time limits.

Suggestions? - console doesn't matter, old or new.

 

[Ranger X]

Does he like Nemo?
Finding Nemo is a simple and attractive game for kids. It's not bad at all either.

 

[Do The Mario]

Anything on the gamecube, it has the kids guarantee.

 

[Tarazet]

The original Sonic is a great game for a beginning gamer. It takes a little bit of skill but not as much as Mario. A console Sonic collection would be my pick.

 

[Rocket9]

Mario Kart nevers fails

 

[ToxicAdam]

Why not the games you loved as a kid? NES?

 

[mrklaw]

yeah, he loves nemo. Any format? Is it good on DS/GBA?

My childhood was on the Electron and C64 - not practical to find again and get reliable tapes. After that it was an Amiga - again, unreliable discs. Then I'm on SNES. Which I loved, and have in the loft. But I don't remember the games being easy. and I was in my teens at the time.


Sonic wound me up - always hitting stuff and losing your rings. And Mario Kart needs fast reactions - isn't that more for 8+?

 

[nubbe]

My little brother who is 5 years has a Gamecube and a bunch of Disney and various “kid” games.
Essentially, anything with a 3D world gets him lost and upset, so you have to sit with him and play.
What you want are “railroad” games, so I would almost recommend anything 2D and don't underestimate their ability to master the Mario games at that tender age.

He loves Mario KartD, it is almost the only thing he plays. But who doesn't?

I would say that a GBA with old school NES ports/remakes is the best option for a young kid.
Those games are straightforward and really fun.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Does he like Nemo?
Finding Nemo is a simple and attractive game for kids. It's not bad at all either.

Nemo is too hard for a 4 year old IMO. At least the Xbox version I had seen and played.

 

[FinFan]

Nemo is too hard for a 4 year old IMO. At least the Xbox version I had seen and played.

I agree and one level has you being chased my a great white shark trying to eat you. Stay away from the Sharktale game for the same reason.

My boy is 2 and a half and blows me away with his gaming. He loves Disney Skate Adventure, The Incredibles, Sonic Heros, Pac Man World and most recently Madagascar.

I would recomend all of them.

 

[Gattsu25]

Mario 64 or Sunshine
Wind Waker
Klonoa 2 (PS2), Ape Escape 1 (PSX) or 2 (PS2)
Animal Crossing

 

[monchi-kun]

Mario 64 or Sunshine

kids will have trouble with the camera...especially on Mario Sunchine

 

[Tiktaalik]

It's probably a bit too hard for him, but maybe a bit later you should introduce him to Mickey Mouse's Magical Quest for SNES. It's a fun, easy platformer.

 

[belgurdo]

Anything on the gamecube, it has the kids guarantee.

Hell yeah, kids'll love RE4 and Eternal Darkness. They're tailor made for them

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Mario 64 or Sunshine
Wind Waker

I would think those 2 would be too difficult for a 4 year old.

 

[Oracle Dragon]

Why not give him no games at all. That way he will go outside, and do active things, thinking all the time video games are things you play on boring rainy days. That way he will grow up to be normal, unlike the rest of us.

Of course, if your not into the whole "normal" thing, I do believe there was a thread here a little while ago where we were making fun of some "bad art" covers for PS2 games. Turns out the company that makes them makes (pretty much) exclusivly PS2 games for ages 3 and up. They had a HUGE selection, Im sure you would be able to find something in there he would like.

Yeah here you go the PHEONIX GAMES GROUP . I don't know if any of those are availiable in NA, or even if they are any good. But you might see something there that interests you enough to look into it. They are all games for 3 and up, at any rate.

 

[levious]

I would think those 2 would be too difficult for a 4 year old.

Too difficult to beat maybe, but not to play through a few levels here and there and have fun.

Don't assume what your kid can and cannot play, let him mess around with what you have. Both my sons by ages 3/4 were playing through the easier levels of games like Mario and Sonic. My older son just turned 8, and whenever it was that Astro Boy came out in Japan, he was able to beat that game.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Too difficult to beat maybe, but not to play through a few levels here and there and have fun.

Don't assume what your kid can and cannot play, let him mess around with what you have. Both my sons by ages 3/4 were playing through the easier levels of games like Mario and Sonic. My older son just turned 8, and whenever it was that Astro Boy came out in Japan, he was able to beat that game.

Well yeah of course. A kid can mess around with anything. My 2 year old messes around with Spider-Man 2, but he can't really "do anything".

 

[impirius]

As long as you're around to help with some of the difficult parts, Lego Star Wars might be good. Unlimited lives!

 

[blahness]

for GC i can recommend:

Tonka: Rescue Patrol
Wario Ware (my 4 yr old loves anything wario ware and is actually pretty good at most of the games)
any spongebob/fairly oddparents game should work as well
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat


for the DS:
Electroplankton
wario ware touched
mario 64 ds
kirby canvas curse

 

[mrklaw]

I agree and one level has you being chased my a great white shark trying to eat you. Stay away from the Sharktale game for the same reason.

My boy is 2 and a half and blows me away with his gaming. He loves Disney Skate Adventure, The Incredibles, Sonic Heros, Pac Man World and most recently Madagascar.

I would recomend all of them.

What platform?


Oh, and Oracle Dragon - thanks, the thread wouldn't be complete without someone posting about being 'normal'. I'm not looking to lock the guy in a box with a console. He's shown interest via Mario DS minigames, and I'd like to try a few things more tuned to his abilities (mostly avoiding frustration), and see how he likes them.

He still does lots of the running around things.

 

[Ash Housewares]

As long as you're around to help with some of the difficult parts, Lego Star Wars might be good. Unlimited lives!

my cousin's 4 year old plays Lego Star Wars, it's a great pick, it's easy, it's Star Wars, and it has co-op so you can play with him

 

[Syb]

Super Mario Bros. (NES)

I remember giving that game alot of loving when I was around 4-6.

 

[Piepz]

Anything on the gamecube, it has the kids guarantee.

Die.

 

[fse]

This site might help.

http://www.gamerdad.com/

 

[Error]

Mario Party 6 is good bet my sister is 5 year old and loves Mario Party 6 specially when I play with her

 

[FinFan]

What platform?

Sorry, Xbox.

Make sure the games have non-manual cameras, or he might get frustrated and not know where to go.

 

[Dave Long]

This site might help.

http://www.gamerdad.com/

Thanks for that. We try our best.

 

[Speevy]

Any platformer that's also multiplatform. My nephew liked the Spongebob games. Also, you'll find that kids like Zelda, believe it or not.

 

[Gchaime]

Any platformer that's also multiplatform. My nephew liked the Spongebob games. Also, you'll find that kids like Zelda, believe it or not.

I liked zelda when i was a kid. Infact i think 50% of the people on this board are here and still like videogames because the they liked zelda when they were a kid.