Fisher-Price Rescue Heroes: Tremor Trouble

Even with three levels of difficulty, the activities in Tremor Trouble are simple, and children will have no trouble completing the game's tasks. The activities are basic skill builders. To put together the animal bridge, players must match up logs of varying lengths; to restart the stalled trolley, they match up gears of varying colors within its motor. One pleasing aspect of the game is that each of these four activities comes in two parts: the educational matching drill and an arcade game. To save the roller coaster, for example, U.R.V. must first put out the fires threatening to burn its structure. Only then can players sort out the machine pieces needed to rebuild the damaged ride.

It is a shame that, despite the fact that its animal-rescue component is certain to appeal to female gamers as well as to boys, Rescue Heroes Wendy Waters and Ariel Flyer don't appear in Tremor Trouble. What's more, the game's learning component is very basic, unlikely to seriously challenge players more than once or twice. These complaints aside, Tremor Trouble is bright and cheerful, and parents will appreciate the nonviolent structure of its storyline even as their kids delight in the fast-paced adventure format of its activities. The easy-to-follow instructions and tons of hearty encouragement served up by the Rescue Heroes team are sure to build player confidence... all while offering plenty of fun. --Alyx Dellamonica

Amazon.com Product Description
Climb into the cockpit of the ultimate robotic vehicle with Fisher-Price's Rescue Heroes. In Tremor Trouble kids join the rescue team, use some amazing, super-strong tools, and perform impossible tasks to rescue those in need. A range of tools are at the command of the Rescue Heroes, including a heat shield that the team can use to protect them from raging fires and a power winch that lets kids move heavy objects--even a submarine--from a distance. There are also solar spotlights that light up dark tunnels, and the Data Pak provides kids with vital mission information, like people's location. Commander Warren Waters appears on the monitor with updates and lets kids know when they've succeeded in their rescue mission.