Game Summary:

Rain or shine, the fun doesn't have to stop! EA Playground captures the exuberance and nostalgia of your neighborhood playground, turning your gaming space into an arena of interactive fun with immersive activities designed for kids. EA Playground smartly delivers all your playground favorites on the Nintendo Wii. Every game is easy to pick-up-and-play and uniquely capitalizes on the control mechanics of the Nintendo Wii. Swing the Wii remote to excel in tetherball or battle your friends and family in dodgeball. Every game brings its own twist to the controls for the ultimate party game. Explore the world and meet some wacky in-game characters that will challenge you to playground activities. Take them on and beat them at their own game. Play hard and prove you have what it takes to rule the playground.

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Game Review:

EA’s Playground is a very cute, family friendly and approachable mini-game collection.
This is a feel good game!

Playground offers 7 different activities that can be enjoyed by up to 4 Players. The game only uses 2 buttons (A and B), in addition to the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii –Remote. The game does not require or use the Nunchuck attachment. Most – if not all, of the mini-games have only a 2-5 minute learning curve and are suitable for players as young as 6 years of age. The Schoolyard setting and the colorful graphics match the games overall presentation perfectly. If you and your family enjoy the look and feel of this game as much as we did, then you might also want to take a look at EA’s My Sims for the Wii.

EA’s Playground also offers a Single Player mode, in addition to the multiplayer gaming. We highly recommend designating someone in your family to play thru the single player mode, not only because it is fun, but also due to the fact that successful completion unlocks additional Slot-Car tracks, Dart areas, Dodgeball Stadiums and more. The Single Player Mode uses a clever item and upgrade management system. The games currency is “Marbles”, which can be won by playing games, giving “High-fives and by simply searching all four game areas. Marbles can then be traded for Stickers, which not only make for fun in-game collectibles, but also unlock event specific upgrades and boosts.

We really cannot find much wrong with EA’s Playground except that the game is over to quickly. Your family will play thru all 7 minigames in 1-2 afternoons. The games are fun, but might not have enough depth to make you come back again and again. However, considering that you can easily spend $40 bucks by taking the family to the movie theater for 2 hours, you will get much longer and most importantly more social entertainment by investing in EA’s Playground.