Battle Run

Kids have limited control over what they can do in races -- and the incentives and rewards for playing can be a bit hazy -- but the frantic, fun pace mostly makes up for that. For the most part, kids can't easily pick up their pace in Battle Run, unless they're able to access a special skill-based item they've earned, such as an SSX Skateboard -- or they can step on an area that looks almost like a moving river, which offers a faster speed until you exit. Kids can tap to jump onto floating ledges and other objects as they try to touch as many stars as possible. The focus on winning by using various warfare items isn't the friendliest approach -- kids can toss weapons behind or in front of them to disarm other runners. While they won't permanently die and are regenerated seconds later, it's still a dark way to slow people down -- and not always a readily available one. Considering kids' pace is fairly set, their attack options offer their best shot at getting ahead. But they can't select which one they'd like to use, though -- an option just appears on the screen, and a cooling off period is required between uses. As a result, kids may just feel like they're running defense, trying to avoid things their opponents are tossing at them.

There are some missed opportunities to allow kids to strategize, since the defensive moves they can make are chosen for them -- and some structural elements seem almost like an afterthought. The point system, which includes both League and Battle Points, can be a little confusing. The payoff isn't always clear, and the amount of sections you need to click on to view that information and perform other tasks, such as purchasing cards to level up characters, can seem a little daunting at first. Generally, though, kids can probably just focus on one race at a time -- and may find enough enjoyment in zipping toward the finish line in Battle Run to overlook any other unclear aspects.