LeapFrog® Leapster® 2 Learning Game System - Green

With this smart handheld system, children learn valuable school skills through a variety of animated games and activities. Kids use the interactive touch screen and stylus throughout 30 educational games featuring characters they love. The Leapster2 System also offers several options for creative play. Little learners can easily connect online for extra activities and rewards. And best of all, parents can use the Leapster2 to connect to the LeapFrog Learning Path, an online, interactive tool in which parents can get updates and see firsthand what their children are learning.

Leapster2 System comes with built-in starter games; additional software sold separately. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 13"W x 10.5"H.

Put innovative creativity and fun at your kids' fingertips -- and watch them learn in the process -- with the The LeapFrog Leapster 2 Learning Game System. This battery-operated handheld game system goes where your children go, and brings plenty of learning fun along. It comes with two pre-installed educational games, and many more are available: purchase an optional SD card separately for access to additional online games and to take advantage of other online features; or you can purchase game cartridges to add to your Leapster 2 repository. The included games have skill levels suitable for children ages 4 to 8.

Children will love playing the educational games. View larger.

Insert different game cartridges (sold separately) for endless fun. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Battery-powered console goes where your child goes, offers versatile, educational fun. The Bad: An SD card, which must be purchased separately, is required to take advantage of many Leapster 2 features. In a Nutshell: Handheld game console offers fun, educational games that accommodate your child's learning curve. At a Glance Ages: 4 to 8 Requires: Four AA batteries

The console has a comfortable, curved shape, although it may be a tad large and heavy for smaller hands. It features a full-color touch screen and sound that's a far cry better than the beeps of old-school handheld consoles. (Parents will appreciate the volume control and a jack for headphones!) Control and manipulate the console with the included stylus and with the videogame-style D pad and other buttons.

We found the initial set-up to be relatively easy: install the four required AA batteries, and navigate through the self-explanatory screens to create user profiles for up to 3 children (which come in handy for accessing online features). After this quick set-up, a menu screen will appear, where you can choose to play the pre-loaded games, go online, or insert a game cartridge.

Fun and Learning
Leapster 2 games are designed to grow with your child ages 4 through 8. The console is pre-loaded with two games: The "Dragons to the Rescue! Learning Game," is a "video game" type activity with four different levels, the first helping kids identify letters and numbers, the most advanced giving them spelling and multiplication practice, all while navigating a dragon past monstrous storm clouds and scrambling to collect magic crystals. The "Creativity Castle Art Studio" is a rather low-tech art program. Players can select a background scene to "color" using the stylus and "decorate" with fun animated stamps. While it does foster creativity, this program is somewhat clumsy -- your Paint program on your PC does a much better job. But "Dragons" was fun enough to keep even an adult tester enjoyably diverted.

Unfortunately, an SD card is required for taking advantage of much of what the Leapster 2 has to offer -- which is a drawback, because it must be purchased separately. Without the SD card, which offers more memory, you cannot save artwork, download new games, or take advantage of the online "Learning Path," which will be available August 2008. (This online program allows you to register and upload your children's Leapster 2 profiles to show you their learning activities and their progress.)

In the meantime, without the SD card, you can still purchase game cartridges. And you still can plug your console -- with the included USB cable -- into your PC for your children to view and print "rewards" for completing different game levels (for Dragons to the Rescue, they're certificates of achievement) or to print pictures to color with actual crayons (to encourage some "old-fashioned" creativity!) You must first install the Leapster 2 software on your computer, which comes on the included CD-ROM.

What's in the Box
Leapster 2 Game System, USB cable, CD-ROM

PC Requirements

All Leapster games work with all Leapster systems.
PC Requirements

Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system
Pentium III 500 MHz processor
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 or higher
CD reader

Mac Requirements

Mac OS X 10.4+
PPC G4 or any Intel-based Apple computer
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Safari application
CD reader

Excellent choice for your 4 to 9 year old child. Batteries don't last long in this but overall a very educational, fun way to to entertain kids.

I purchased Leapster 2 after a lot of research and indesicion on which product to buy. My 5 year old son was not too awful excited when he opened it - but once he started playing, he was hooked. I purchased several cartridges with the Leapster - and these are by far more appealing to him than the game that comes with the Leapster, and the free downloadable games. I have had no problems with SD cards or the Learning path. The only problem here was that I purchased a "classic" Sonic X game instead of a "new" one (if it comes in a cardboard box it is classic). THis means I get info on playing time, but I do not get specifics on skills mastered - and wouldn't you know, out of the 5 cartridges he has, Sonic is by far his favorite.
We have had to put a time limit on his playing - he would keep playing all day. I'm glad he is learning - and can do everything on his own, without any adult help.

My 4 and 6 year old girls had the original and loved it! Now they have Leapster 2 and love it even more! I love the fact that they trimmed it down it makes it easier for them to hold. 2GB SD works great! Took a while to link profile online due to heavy x-mas traffic but works as described! Thank you leapster for making great products!

I purchased this for my 2 yr old g-son because he always wants his sister's game-boy while in the car. He's happy, my g-daughter is happy and my daughter is extremely happy - which makes me very happy.

Its December 28th and I am currently heading to the store to exchange our Leapster 2 that my daughter got for christmas for the SECOND time! She got the first one from santa and it didn't work, she was so disappointed! We tried all of the trouble shooting tips and just couldn't get it to turn on. It turned on at first then froze up, made a funny sound then powered down. It would not turn on no matter what we tried after that, so I exchanged it. For the past 2 days my daughter has been playing her leapster2 non stop, so I thought okay, it was just the first one that was flawed. Nope, now this morning it won't turn on at all. I replaced the batteries, nothing. I wiped the place where the batteries go off, nothing. Tried all the other trouble shooting tips, nothing works. Now I have to go stand in line AGAIN at customer service to replace the same toy. If it breaks again, I will defiantly just return it all together and buy my daugter something else (hopefully something better)
Last Christmas she got a clickstart, made by the same company. It had to be returned also. Even our new one freezes up all the time and runs out of batteries just about every time its played. Apparently, spending $60 on these toys doesn't mean you are getting good value.

I don't reccomend this leapster2 to anyone unless you want problems. Just go buy a gameboy advance or DS. It may not be educational, but atleast they don't break.