Game Title: "My Horse and Me"
Platform: Wii and Nintendo DS
Studio: Atari
Rated: E-for Everyone
Rating: 5/10

THE REVIEW

GAMEPLAY: Two versions of "My Horse & Me" arrived for review and after a few attempts, I let my 7-year-old daughter play — she's the real target age for the game. Although the DS and Wii versions are somewhat similar in design, they are vastly different in game play. My daughter found the Wii version to be extremely hard. So much so that she stopped playing it in favor of the DS version. Part of the problem is that you need the regular Wii controller and the nunchuk to play, which proved to be cumbersome. With both controllers in hand you must maneuver the controls in a way that looks like you are holding the reigns of the horse. You'd lift the right reign to move the horse right and vice versa. But it sounds easier than it is. There were so many times that she would try to jump her horse over a hurdle only to find the horse turning by the slightest change in her wrist and other times the horse wouldn't turn even with the most exaggerated moves of her hand. It's obvious the game was developed to feel real, but the controls need to be tweaked and made easier.

The DS version offers a completely different experience and proves how much fun this game can be for a child. The controls are easy to use and very intuitive for the DS. My daughter expressed, with much joy, that all she had to do was push the button to make her horse jump.

You can take your horse to a competition but also take care of the horse by feeding it and dealing with injuries. It's a very nice sim pet.

GRAPHICS: The graphics are nicely designed. Imagine a cartoon version of Barbie and her horse. That's the best way to describe how the game looks. It provides the perfect level of cuteness for little girls.

AUDIO: The audio is all but non-existent in the DS. The Wii has a little more audio to offer, but it's not much better.

THE WRAP-UP

PARENT'S TAKE: The DS version is a homerun. If the Wii version of "My Horse and Me" had controls that were easier to use it would be a no-brainer. My daughter wasn't the only one who had a hard time; it wasn't easy for me to play the Wii version either.

FINAL WORD: Buy the DS version. With a lot of the focus on taking care of your horse, it's a little girl's dream. The DS version deserves a 7/10 rating while the Wii version comes in below par and brings the overall rating down for the average. It's a shame that the Wii version has to be so difficult because the experience that Wii controls could have offered would have encompassed the sense of riding for a little girl who dreams of owning a horse.