Numbers on the Run – “Counting on Zero” for the Leapster and Leapster L-Max is an edutainment game with focus on Counting, Addition, Subtraction and Writing numbers. The game is suited for players ages 4 and up. Depending on your child’s math skills, the game will become too easy for those older than 6. Numbers on the Run features a 3 Level side-scrolling jump and run game and 4 Mini-games, plus one additional Mini-game reserved for those who connect their Leapster L-max to a TV. The side-scrolling levels are broken up into 3 stages with increasing difficulty. Although the learning experience is definitely much more entertaining than books or worksheets, we found the levels and game-play somewhat repetitive. The box-cover claims 3 different “worlds”, but it is really only the background art that changes, aside from minor variations, the platform jumping stays the same throughout all 3 stages and all 3 levels/worlds. The mini games, which will also be encountered during the main game are fun but will not keep your child “glued” to their Leapster.

We found “Numbers on the Run” to be very similar, if not identical in game-play to “Sonic X” for the Leapster. Looks like Leapfrog is “recycling” game-play, which makes the customer end up with the essentially the same game, only with different graphics.

Overall, Numbers on the Run : “Counting on Zero” offers good educational content wrapped into a mediocre jump and run game. Don’t count on this game to be your child’s favorite for too long.