The game includes different sorts of songs from several genres. Featured on the game are songs by Paramore, Panic at the Disco, and Billy Idol as well as many other musical artists. The games usually come with a drum kit, guitar, bass, or a microphone for vocals. One to four people can play at a time.  Rock Band 2 was made by Pi Studios and Harmonix companies. Rock Band 2 comes in Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, and also Xbox360 platforms for greater accessibility to different players with different systems.

Rock Band 2 is the sequel to Rock Band, which was released in 2007.  It is also possible to play the sequel version online through the newer game systems, as they have online features and an online community of other game players. New music is always available for downloading, so the playlist never gets old. The game also has several different modes built in for any level of musician.  The tutorial mode tells new players how to use the system; the training mode is the first game play mode, just for newbies.  For more seasoned players, there is also freestyle, practice, beat trainer, drum trainer, and no fail mode for new musicians who need all the encouragement they can get. The world tour dates and battle of the bands functions of the games are very popular features, and the teenage testers loved being able to play against other electronic musicians around the world.  There can be up to four people in the band at once, meaning one person can be the vocalist during the game. The vocalist would have to be the same character every time they play the game due to the way it is set up.

During our Rock Band 2 review testing and observations, things started to get pretty loud- and not just the TV, which was cranked up pretty high.  The kids were really getting excited playing the game.  Even the ones who had some experience playing the game hit the occasional sour note, and this was invariably follow by the “Owww!” sound that kids and teens alike tend to make when they get “killed” on a video game.  There was a little bit of good natured taunting going on when the scores were exchanged, but no one ended up with hurt feelings.  The teenagers seemed to know every one of the available songs by heart, so we take that to mean that the song choices were all pretty current.

At the end of the day, we all agree that Rock Band 2 is a very good video game for older kids and teenagers, and one of the top toys 2008.  It allows them to play along with their favorite songs as member of the band, and also allows them to, in some form, see themselves onstage as a real performer.  This is actually true when the world wide link up battle of the bands game is played.  In all we would say that this is a good choice for parents who are looking for a lively, musical video game set for older kids and teenagers- and maybe even the adult game player in your home.

When we set up our Fisher Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship reviews and testing day, we did the testing as part of a birthday party for one of our reviewer’s children.  Of course, the pirate ship was a gift for the child, so he got to play with it for our silent review during the party, with all his friends, and then he got to take it home with him- a novelty for our reviews.  The set comes with the ship and all the parts, two pirates with hats and swords that are removable and interchangeable, and a treasure chest full of treasure.  The Fisher Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship is pretty large for a toy boat, and there are accessories included like ladders, many sails, nets, a cannon, and all the things you would expect to find on a real pirate ship (besides the rum).

One of the coolest features of the Fisher Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship is the fact that there are action points at strategic spots on the ship’s deck.  At each of five spots, kids can place a pirate onto the target and then turn the pirate to cause different actions- like raising and lowering the sails, dropping the anchor, firing the cannons, and extend the plank.  These features were used over and over again during the testing time, and the kids never seemed to tire of it.  The kids also spent some time having duels between the pirates.

At one point during our Fisher Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship review, the kids asked if they could get a tub of water and use the toy in real water.  We had to say no, sadly, because per the manufacturer’s product information, the toy is not designed to be used in water.  We did come up with a solution though.  We took a large piece of blue flannel and tied it at each corner to the arms of four chairs.  The kids’ imaginations took over quickly from there.  The large piece of flannel became the ocean without any explanation from the adults in the room, and it worked out pretty well because the piece of flannel did move and wave in a manner that was almost like water.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed playing with the Fisher Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship, and we feel confident recommending it to parents as one of the best toys 2008.

The Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle is recommended for ages four and up because there are many small parts. This makes the toy unsuitable for kids less than four years of age. Some of the youngest astronauts in training may need help from a parent when building new space ships even with the picture directions, but they are likely to get the hang of it pretty quickly and will soon be rebuilding on their own. A great feature that makes the Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle one of the best toys 2008 for kids is that it is possible to build more than one spaceship at a time, allowing more than one child to play with the set. This toy offers kids the opportunity to share, which is something that all parents want their kids to learn.

There are thirty- three different pieces included with the Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle set, and some of the parts are pretty small and easy to lose. For this reason, parents should probably keep an eye on kids while playing with this toy, so that none of the parts get lost. It may even be advisable for parents who buy this set to also invest a couple more dollars in a durable plastic box in which to store the pieces that are not in use. If kids are taught to put the pieces they are not using into the box, there should be no heartbreak from missing pieces.

The Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle comes with pieces to create an all terrain vehicle for exploration of other planets, a tiny spacecraft with an alien pilot, and many other pieces that can be combined in a variety of ways. One child with an active imagination can play with this set for hours of pretend play fun, or a group of three or even four children can divide up the set into several space craft and play cooperatively in a group. Kids will have so much fun with the set, it will surely be one of the top toys 2008 on their list of favorites.

One of the features that kids like the most is the moveable space arm attached to the ship. Another feature they are sure to love is the sound effects and lights the spaceship can make. The toy requires three button cell batteries, but the batteries are included and last for a long time. As is the case with many top toys among kids, the Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle is sure to get lots of use. No reason to worry though, because Matchbox makes toys very durable to withstand rough treatment and repeated crashes.

The Giddyup N Go Pony is designed for kids ages three to eight years old, and it can hold up to an incredible 160 pounds.  And unlike some other life- sized pony toys on the market, this one actually moves!  A child sits on his back, puts his feet in the sturdy metal stirrups, and bounced up and down.  This movement causes the pony to move, so your child can really make the pony go!  The pony’s tail swishes back and forth as the pony moves.  The Giddyup N Go Pony has other life- life functions as well.  Push on his left ear and he will make a galloping sound; push on his right ear to make him whinny and snort.

The Giddyup N Go Pony has really caught on as one of the top toys 2008 for kids because they get a great exercise workout while they are having fun riding.  Kids also think this is one of the best toys 2008 they could get because it is so life- like.  And as anyone who rides real horses will tell you, riding a real horse is a great workout too.  Parents love toys that can give their kids some exercise, especially in the computer age where many kids spend all their time with their electronics and get very little physical activity.

What makes the VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera one of the top toys for children three to eight are the details that are geared towards young children.  The camera features larger bumpers on the sides to make it easy for little hands to grip and larger buttons to make it easy for little fingers to operate and helps develop fine motor skills at the same time.  The VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera is also extra tough and durable to withstand drops and other accidents that kids are prone to.

With the VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera, your child will not feel like he or she has received a second rate camera.  It comes with many of the same features as high-dollar digital cameras.  Kids can look through the viewfinder or use the 1.8 inch LCD screen to take up to 120 pictures or to record five minutes of video.  The VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera comes with 16 MB of memory, but there is also a slot for an SD card in case extra memory is needed.    It also comes with cables that can connect the camera to a television to view the pictures or to the computer to upload and edit the pictures.  It does require four AAA batteries that are sold separately.  There are also a couple features that add to this top toy and set it apart from other digital cameras.  Kids can choose from three different preschool level games to play on the computer and can make it their own with the changeable faceplates.

When looking for an electronic toy for your young child, give them the opportunity to record and explore the world as they see it with the VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera.

One of the coolest features of the Tyco Wheelie Cycle is the remote control.  You hold it in both hands like you would handle bars, and to make it go, you twist one of the hand grips.  It also has sensors so when you move the handle bars, the bike moves that way.  This is how you can make it perform stunts, jumps and flips.  This is one of the most advanced, best toys 2008.  Boys will surely play with it at every opportunity. There are many, many Tyco Wheelie Cycle reviews out there.  This may be because it is one of the top toys 2008, so there are a lot of people who own this product.

One Tyco Wheelie Cycle review was by a mom who bought the wheelie cycle as a gift for her six year old son.  She said that she should have thought the decision through a little better because she was aware that the toy was intended for kids eight and up, but she figured two years wouldn’t make that big a difference.  She was wrong, however, and her son became frustrated with the toy and gave up on it within a day.  She planned to put the toy back in the box and save it for him when he was older.  While it seems on the surface like this might be a negative review, the mom had nothing bad to say about the toy itself.  She simply realized how important it is to pay attention to the manufacturers age specifications.  It is perfectly appropriate to buy Tyco Wheelie Cycle for kids whose ages fall within the manufacturer’s recommendations of eight years and up.

Another Tyco Wheelie Cycle review came from a grandpa who bought the toy for his grandson to play with when he came to visit- and he plays with the cycle himself after his grandson goes home.  When adults like to play with a toy every bit as much as the children, we figure that’s a pretty good sign that it is one of the best toys 2008.  He says that you can set up makeshift ramps and set out obstacles for the cycle to run over, and the thing practically never crashes.

Most of the Tyco Wheelie Cycle reviews are very positive, and parents highly recommend this toy as one of the best toys for boys.  With so many reviews available that say the same things, we are inclined to believe that this is a very good toy.  It is made of durable plastic, which is totally necessary because it is designed to be used in a pretty rough and tumble fashion.

With the holiday season fast approaching, parents are scrambling to find the top toys 2008 ahead of the holiday shopping rush.  If you are trying to find this one for a special boy in your life, a good place to start is with an online search.  Sometimes toys are easier to find on the internet than they are in stores.  Just be sure to stock up on batteries while you’re shopping because with the heavy use this toy is likely to get, you will need them.

The highly entertaining U-Dance system comes with some of the latest hits and some old favorites too. There’s everything from Chris Brown’s ‘Run It’ and Rihanna’s ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’, to some tunes the older generations can appreciate, such as MC Hammer’s ‘Can’t Touch This’ and ‘ABC’ by The Jackson Five.

Looking for U-Dance reviews on the web may be your first step in the decision making process. One review that we found made a particularly good suggestion. That was to buy an area rug to put in front of the tower, since their daughter and her friends had come dangerously close to wearing the carpet out in a large patch in front of where the system rests.

A U Dance review written by a teenager said that he originally purchased the game tower because he didn’t have the money to buy any of the more expensive game systems, but once he got it to his room and plugged it in he was glad he bought it. He claimed that the movements were much more fluid and realistic than another game he had tried to play in the arcade at his local mall. The other game had him stomping on arrows in a way that didn’t resemble dancing at all. This interactive system gave him the freedom to swing his feet and pump his legs as he would if he was dancing at a party.