Go There Square: A Stella and Sam Adventure — iPad App Review
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Go There Square: A Stella and Sam Adventure from zinc Roe Games brings TV-quality production values to its distinct and charming illustrations. (Canadian readers may recognize Stella and Sam from their Disney Channel TV show). Based on picture books created by Marie-Louise Gay, Go There Square is part ebook, part learning game, and completely irresistible to preschoolers.
The game unfolds as an animated tale of Stella and Sam, a brother and sister duo. It is the fourth in a series about this pair and their dog, Fred. Go There Square tells of Stella and Sam’s magical summertime adventure, which is directed by the whims (it seems, at least to the younger Sam) of the go-there square (a.k.a. paper fortune teller or “cootie catcher”). As Stella commands, “Let the powers of the go-there-square guide us to the magical place!” children join Stella and Sam as they make their way across hill and dale.
Each step of Stella and Sam’s three-part journey is punctuated by a game. Children can catch dandelion fluffs, pop bubbles, and build a bridge of daisies to help a family of ants cross Puddle Lake.
Throughout the app the dialogue is always appropriate for very young children, yet it is never mind-numbing. Perhaps because Stella’s gentle manner is unwavering, and Sam’s questioning is never cloying, a parent will not cringe if she has to listen to it repeatedly.
Go There Square: A Stella and Sam Adventure is available for download in the App Store for $2.99.
What I liked: I loved the animation, which really felt as if the children’s books on which Stella and Sam are based had come to life. Stella and Sam make a pleasing pair. Stella provides gentle reassurance to Sam’s endless curiosity and search for magic.
What I didn’t like: The first two game segments took a very long time to finish. I didn’t realize they even had endings until I completed the third segment, then I went back and tried them again. The game’s run time seemed a bit short.
To buy or not to buy: Any parent whose preschooler is clamoring for iPad games should give Go There Square a try. The app is innovative, educational, and will provide the youngest iPad users with a fun experience. Many children over age 5 are likely to find Stella and Sam too simplistic.
- App Name: Go There Square: A Stella and Sam Adventure
- Version Reviewed: 1.0
- Category: Games
- Developer: zinc Roe Productions, Inc.
- Price: $2.99
- Score:
