Bastion
LQ: 9.15
Recommended Age: 10+
Skills Used: Planning, Working Memory, Mathematics, Reading
In Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players take on the role of a winged “city guardian” and start the game protecting a village from various monsters. Battles are turn-based, meaning that players pick actions from a menu, like casting spells or attacking with weaponry. Eventually, players leave the village on a quest to find a magical fruit that has the power to grant wishes. During their journey, they will battle countless monsters and enemies and meet many new characters along the way, some of which will join them on their quest. The game features fantasy cartoon violence, some mildly suggestive themes and a moderate level of difficulty. Reading and math skills are needed to understand character stats and the game’s story. Due the mild violence, themes and academic requirements, this game is recommended for kids ages 10 and up.
Understanding our own actions, thoughts and feelings.
Players often encounter battles that are very difficult, which they may not win their first time around, thus having to restart and try the fight again. This process helps kids exercise metacognitive skills, evaluating their own performance and figuring out what they did well and where they went wrong in their thinking. Players need to be able to realize which tactics where worthwhile and should be used again, identifying successful strategies during battle. More importantly, players must examine which tactics should be abandoned or altered in order to achieve better results. For example, maybe they could have used a healing item earlier on in the fight, or attacked with a better spell. In order to win, players will have to first figure out why they lost.
Arranging and coordinating materials in order to complete a task. Organizing ideas.
Players will collect a vast array of weapons, armor, accessories and other items during their quest. Many of these items have special properties and effects that offer offensive or defensive bonuses to players' characters. Also, older gear becomes less useful as players progress through the game, as better equipment must be acquired to deal with enemies that become increasingly stronger and more resilient. Players must take care in choosing the best and most useful equipment with which to outfit their characters, sometimes purchasing new gear to ensure their team of fighters is properly prepared for battle. Keeping a well-stocked inventory of items is also important, as various items can heal and cure players, while some offer offensive uses during battle. Players that fail to organize a well-equipped team will struggle to keep up with the game's ever-increasing difficulty.
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