Review: Care Bears-Unlock the Magic
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t particularly excited about reviewing a Care Bears video game. However, with an eight-year-old daughter who, while not necessarily into Care Bears, could serve as my test subject, I had a perfect opportunity to see if the game appealed to younger players.
I’m old enough to remember when Care Bears first became a global phenomenon, though I haven’t followed their adventures closely since. This game presents a series of mini games where you guide a Care Bear across a board, collecting stars by completing various challenges. Gathering enough stars moves a cloud out of the way, allowing you to continue.
At first, the concept seemed engaging as there were plenty of mini games to try, and passing through the cloud suggested more would unlock. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The mini games themselves aren’t particularly challenging and rely on familiar gaming formulas, so originality is lacking. However, I realise I’m viewing this through the lens of a 48-year-old gamer with decades of experience therefore there aren’t many surprises left for me. For an eight-year-old, though, the mini-games felt fresh, fun, and engaging.
The gameplay is rooted in established mechanics:
- Konga – A variation of Snake, where you collect Care Bears to extend your conga line while avoiding collisions.
- Pass the Ball – A take on Arkanoid.
- Care Bubbles – Similar to Bust-A-Move.
- Cloud Racer – A driving game where you chase and collect hearts before time runs out.
- Cross the Rainbow – Inspired by Crossy Road.
- Ball to the Hole – A puzzle game where you guide a ball into a hole.
- Lost Whiffle – Guide a Care Bear to rescue a Whiffle while dodging obstacles.
- Bouncy Heart – A variation of Flappy Bird.
As I progressed through the map, I expected new mini games to unlock, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, the same games repeated with minor tweaks such as extra obstacles in Konga or more bubbles to clear in Care Bubbles. While these variations add small challenges, the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive.
From my perspective, the appeal wore off quickly. My daughter, on the other hand, genuinely enjoyed playing and wanted to continue. While Care Bears: Unlock the Magic may not offer much for seasoned gamers, it seems to hold some charm for younger players.
Review by Chris.
