Toddler Game Suggestions
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I know there are lots of Batman games, but I wouldn't know which are good and which aren't.
Besides Sunsoft's 'Batman: The Video Game' for the NES, which is excellent, but probably a bit too challenging for a toddler, 'The Adventures of Batman & Robin' is always a crowd-pleaser. The SNES and Megadrive/Genesis versions are different games and which is the best is always a lively topic for debate. The SNES version has amazing graphics and is the animated series come to life, whereas the MD/Gen version is a faster paced Contra-like experience. There was also a version released for the Sega/Mega CD that is different still. It's most famous for having new animated cutscenes that were actually produced and voice acted by the same people that did the animated series.
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Fantastic info, thanks @mediamogul
It works out well because Batman: The Animated Series is his favourite show at the moment. He sees the poster up on Kodi and he calls it "Shadow Batman":
I have no idea where he got that name for it.
It used to be either Octonauts or Paw Patrol, then it was one of the 3 Spider-man cartoons (he preferred the one from the 90s), then Batman the Brave and the Bold... Now it's Shadow Batman or nothing.
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He has good tastes! Batman animated was and still one the finest of any super hero cartoon series. Well other than Batman beyond. ;-)
My son who is just about seven started in a similar way with his 1st PC running Linux built from my many spare parts just before he turned three. I loaded it up with emulators and roms I thought might interest him at that age. Many Kirby games from NES, gba, Snes & n64 made him happy, the Mario's titles, duck tales, Mickey Mouse games, etc.. A lot of cheats so he didn't get to frustrated.
One of his favorites was actually a free doom game mod/wad called Chex Quest 3! We called it boogies because the bad aliens look kind of like boogers. Not super violent really, no blood and lots of fun.
Now at almost seven it's minecraft, Roblox, Lego Batman 3, Lego worlds, etc...
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Thanks @xaGe, I'll have to look into them. I've never played a Kirby game, but he's been around long enough he obviously was doing something right.
Oh Ducktales on the Gameboy. Such memories.
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@mattrixk specially on the gba I suggest you look at Kirby nightmare in dream land and Kirby & the amazing mirror.
On Snes look at Kirby super star which has two player coop. You both can play same time.
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PCEngine: Parasol Stars - The Story of Bubble Bobble III (it´s like a bubble bobble 3, but, with no unlimited coins/lives XD; PCEngine version of this game is the best of other consoles, tested)
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SNES: Donkey kong I-II-III?
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PSX: Asteroids 3D (I love it, but it´s better/easier to play it with an arcade joystick or with keyboard); Quake II
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PSP: Flying Hamster ; Angry Birds :p
And what about a Monkey Island remake in a PC?, that game makes you burn out your brain at the same time it´s so fun (but dont let see the walkthrough/guide in internet!); the Amiga version got BIG pixels XD, it´s harder to find some items.
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@flop oh yeah DK Country series is a great suggestion. Forgot all about it..
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Isn't there a Thomas the Train for snes?
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@mattrixk My older son started when he was 4 with Legend of Zelda (NES). I think what caught his attention was the fact that I printed some maps of the "world" and the "dungeons". The kids like this thing of looking at maps and seeing that there is a correlation with what is appearing on the screen.
I got the images and some guides in www.gamefaqs.com and then I helped him giving some directions from time to time.
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There was some similar discussion on this thread:
Best MAME games for kids aged 6 - 10 -
Isn't there a Thomas the Train for snes?
There is Thomas games for both SNES and Genesis/MD and they are actually different games. My son loves watching me play both of them but he wouldn't take the controller. He actually would rather play on my wife's iPad. One time I got him to play Tony Hawk Pro Skater on my GameCube where he held the controller. He was just randomly pressing buttons and laughing when the skater fell on his butt.
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@backstander how old is he?
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@meleu
3 2/3 -
I forget the name of it, but there is a Sesame Street game for the Nintendo Entertainment System which would be excellent for toddlers and features some very clear digitized voices. I think maybe it's called Sesame Street Countdown.
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Thanks everyone for the suggesions.
@xaGe: I'll add those Kirby games to the list.
@flop: How could I have forgotten about Donkey Kong Country? Also, the Monkey Island series is my favourite game series. I have the enhanced editions of 1 and 2 on my Xbox 360. I tried with them when he was little. I thought the artwork would get him, but it's just a lot of walking around and talking with not much happening and it just didn't hold his attention. It might be better now that he's older, so I'll try again.
I think Quake might be a bit too much for a 4 year old though.
@space-cadet: I remember seeing Thomas games, but I've never played them. I'll check them out.
@meleu: That's a great idea with printing out the maps. unfortunately I've never played a Zelda game, so I wouldn't be great at helping him out.
@backstander: I'll check that thread out. I did do a search for similar topics before posting this, but I didn't find any. I guess I wasn't using the correct search terms. Tony Hawks is a great idea, since the rider pretty much just moves under his own power all he has to do is steer.
@drake999: I didn't know there was a sesame street game, but it's not surprising now that I think about it. I'll give it a look.
Again, thank you everyone. This list has given me plenty to get started with.
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@mattrixk said in Toddler Game Suggestions:
unfortunately I've never played a Zelda game, so I wouldn't be great at helping him out.
Neither did I. The guides in gamefaqs.com are very rich and helpful. But the reading is a task for the daddy :-)
BTW: Goofy Troop (SNES) may be a good game to play in coop with your kid. It has some funny puzzles to solve. If that hands-up/hands-down mechanics confuses him maybe it's better to try it later, but you really should try it with him someday. ;-)
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Thanks @meleu. I didn't know about Goof Troop, I'll give it a go.
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Great thread, and one I had wanted to start a few weeks ago.
My 3yo loves watching me play Pacman, Qbert, Frogger and Crazy Taxi. The last one was a mistake, as the video happened to be playing. He also likes it when I read to him the stories from Thomas the Tank Engine on the SNES.
He can't however get to grips with controlling a game yet with a pad, though he gets the concept on am iPad with the touch based games. What controller are you using for him?
Best.
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My son hate games pads other than a Wiimote. He's been a keyboarder from day one.
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