Disney•Pixar Monsters University LeapPad Game: review and giveaway

The excitement is building for Monsters University! The sequel (or to be more precise, the prequel) to Monsters, Inc. opens in theatres on June 21, and this is one class that everyone wants to sign up for.  Unfortunately only monsters are allowed to enroll in Monsters University -- but there's good news for human children. Leapfrog has not one, but two great ways for kids to learn and play with Mike and Sulley:  the Monsters University game and book.

I've been a huge fan of Leapfrog's edu-tainment philosophy for years -- I can't tell you what a big help the Tag Reader and all its predecessors were in helping my kids learn to read, and learn to love reading -- so they sent me a review copy of both the new Monsters University game and book.  Check out my review of the Monsters University LeapReader book -- and enter to win both the game and the book!  This post contains my review of the Monsters University LeapPad game -- as well as the chance for an extra entry to my Leapfrog Monsters University giveaway!

About Monsters University Game for LeapPad and Leapster Explorer
In Disney•Pixar's Monsters University, winning the Scare Games will take more than a big roar—use your problem-solving skills to help Mike and Sulley! Using clever thinking and stealth maneuvers, make your way through different locations. Are your scare skills up to the challenge?

When you start up the game, a Campus Map helps kids easily navigate between the main game, mini games and extra features.

The main game challenges kids to become the best scarer ever. It has kids navigating their way across campus, through maze-like rooms -- the library, the frat house, the scare simulator, etc... --  in their quest to grab the pennant and collect coins, scare cards and room decor along the way.  There are 24 progressively difficult levels, and each level really puts kids' problem-solving skills to the test.

This is no ordinary maze -- you can't just look at a room and expect to make it across once you figure out the path.  You have to avoid other monsters (your competitors!), which makes it kind of like a Pac-Man game.  Instead of Pac-Man's vitamin pills, kids can utilize a number of strategies to distract or delay their opponents, like spinning globes to blind them or blowing out candles to hide. Kids have to solve logic puzzles and mini-games in order to unlock these shortcuts, so they really have to play and learn from their mistakes in order to progress -- kind of the way real people learn in real life!

There are also a couple of mini-games:  a Monster Matching game patterned after the classic memory game that automatically adjusts to your child's skill level, and a Guess Who game that challenges kids' deductive skills to figure out which monster holds the hidden key.  Both are easy, fast-paced and fun games that any kid will enjoy.


My favorite feature is the monster-maker, which lets kids mix and match monster body parts and come up with their own monsterrific creations.  They can even monsterize (or should I say monsterrorize?) themselves by taking their photo with the LeapPad camera and recording their own monster roars with the LeapPad microphone.

In addition, kids can collect virtual scare cards they can display in a Monsters University Scare Book, as well as virtual t-shirts, pennants and other Monsters U memorabilia they can display in their Fraternity Room!

How cool is that?

The Monsters University game can be purchased as game cartridge or as a downloadable app.  The game will work with both the LeapPad and the Leapster Explorer, but the in-game camera and microphone functions won't work with the Leapster Explorer.



Get free shipping on Leapfrog Monsters University products

Until June 30, get free ground shipping on orders that include any Disney•Pixar Monsters University product!  Use code MONSTERS (Offer valid through 11:59PM PT 6/30/2013).


Win a Leapfrog Monsters University Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive Leapfrog's Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag and Monsters University game for LeapPad/Leapster Explorer!

To enter, read the rules and leave a comment on my Monsters University LeapReader/Tag book post.  For an extra entry, leave a comment on this post and tell me which feature in the game your child would enjoy the most!  Giveaway ends July 2, 2013.


Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing review samples and prizes for this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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