![]() ![]() If you remember my review of Timon and Pumbaa’s Jungle Games, you’ll recall that one of my gripes was that, unlike on the PC, there was no vocal support to help you figure out what to do. ![]() Now, for an NES game, this is nothing short of amazing. And not just a looped two-second sample, either – rather a full array of a good half-a-dozen different phrases, all clearly understandable. They also loved the sound effects which – get this – feature actual voice acting from Jerry Nelson, the guy who played the Count on the TV show. As noted, my kids had a lot of fun cooperating to complete the levels (each round had a different kid moving the Count and another making him jump the system worked surprisingly well). Still, being undemanding and simple doesn’t mean it’s not fun. In his back yard, the Count keeps his pack of bouncing numbers. But as far as difficulty goes, that’s pretty much it. As you progress in the game, you start to get more spaces in the “right” box and fewer spaces on the “wrong” box, which means fewer opportunities to make wrong calls before losing. What you do get are balloons that lead to mini-games in the sky, and extra bolts of lightning, which boost up your final tally at level’s end. There’s no time limit for completion, no enemies and not even that platform staple, the pitfall, is present. Repeat as desired, and you’re through to the next level. All you have to do is spot the right number, press A or B, and the Count will jump up and touch it. But since there is no time limit, that ends up not mattering that much.īeing geared towards toddlers and pre-schoolers, this is also, by no means, a taxing game. Equally puzzling is the fact that there’s no way to pause the game – pressing start only gives you a tidbit from the Count. In fact, it is surprising that the programmers gave the Count a “crouch” move which he will never, ever need to use. However, if you do lose, it’s all your damn fault for being dumb, since there are no enemies to encumber your journey through the level. Yes, unlike Barney’s Hide and Seek, Barbie Super Model and other imbecilic kiddie titles, it is actually possible to lose in Sesame Street Countdown. Whenever you find one, you get a lighting-bolt but if you get it wrong, you’re handed a tornado. seven ice-cream cones, or five baseballs). It can be represented in numeral form, or via a group of objects adding up to the desired total (e.g. The Count’s mission is, thereafter, to find the aforementioned number amidst those floating in the sprawling level. The premise of the game is simplicity itself: you play as the Count, and at the beginning of each level, you pick a random number from a spinning wheel. I took the game to school so that we could review numbers, and the kids had a blast. The Sesame Street Countdown classes were one such occasion. I recently took a job as an English teacher for foreign students in an elementary school, and whenever I’m not regretting my decision bitterly, I actually manage to have some fun with the kids. Which is why I took the first of these games, Sesame Street Countdown, straight to its intended audience – my first-grade English class. Plus, you must keep in mind that they are not, in fact, aimed at a jaded, snide, sarcastic twentysomething geek anyway. The fact that the games are actually not bad didn’t dispute this. In fact, there is abundant evidence to support that it’s impossible to slam Sesame Street. “Oh, great, games for babies! This is going to be fun!”, I thought. Which brings us to today’s retro review.Ī while ago, while perusing for something to bash in writing, I came across two Sesame Street titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System. There were books, feature films, t-shirts, stuffed toys and even videogames. As a result, a slew of Sesame Street-related merchandise was released in subsequent years. Of course, station execs were not indifferent to the show’s monumental success. Plus, it was on TV! As a kid, anything that can make you parents let you watch TV is welcome, right? As a result, at least half of the world’s twenty- and thirtysomethings can claim to have first heard the alphabet recited by Kermit the Frog, and the same amount can tell you by heart the lyrics to “One of These Things is Not Like The Others.” The show was great, serving as a surrogate teacher for toddlers the world over, present writer included. Isn’t childhood great?! At home, the Count likes to kick back with his beloved numbers. Oh, and there was also Ernie and Bert, those bed-sharing, griping-like-a-married-couple, rainbow-rights activists. Anyone who has ever been a kid remembers the kiddy show where Big Bird, Grover, Elmo, Kermit, the Count and the Cookie Monster taught us our ABC’s. ![]()
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