LeapFrog Leapster 2 Learning Game System - Green | 
 enlarge | Brand: LeapFrog
Category: Toy
List Price: $69.99
Buy New: $64.49
You Save: $5.50 (8%)
New (22) from $64.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 401
Batteries Included: No
Age: 4 - 8 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 2.5 x 10.3 x 13
MPN: 21155
Model: 21155
UPC: 708431211551
EAN: 0708431211551
Release Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | The preschool gaming handheld that connects to the LeapFrog Learning Path, an online experience that lets you see what your child is learning. | | • | Play and learn school skills on the go or connect online for extra activities and rewards. | | • | Library of over 30 exciting learning games featuring characters kids love. | | • | Included and additional games teach skills in a range of subjects, such as language arts, reading, mathematics and science. | | • | Parents can connect online to the LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is learning. Kids connect online for extra activities and rewards. |
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Product Description
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.
Amazon.com Review
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Better than ever! July 7, 2008
57 out of 63 found this review helpful
We owned a Leapter L-Max that quit working due to an "accident." Because our 3 year old has loved and used that machine several times a day we had to replace it. He had learned so much from the previous Leapster and the reviews of the V-Smile were poor, so we decided to go with another Leapster. While we did go back and forth about whether we wanted another L-Max for the TV play capability or whether we wanted the online funcitonality of this new Leapster 2. We had to put some thought into which feature, the TV or online, we would use most. We decided that we would really like the ability to track learning progress on line and that for $10 less, we would rather have that function. We also decided to look for a Leapster TV system, which we found on clearance, to replace the TV play capability of the old L-Max, so he could still use all the games on the TV and yet have 2 seperate toys and develop the motor skills of the 2 systems instead of one. This new Leapster is SO cute. The colors are great, the shape is better than the old ones, in my opinion. The stylus pen is secured by a thin fabric like cord rather than a heavy electronics cord, so it is easier to maneuver and it doesn't seem like it will break as easily. The sound is better and the screen is just as nice, if not better. We are very happy with this purchase, and our son likes it too. We have not tried the other games yet, but his old ones work just fine, as they are supposed to. I would defintitely recommend this model. I will also update the review when I have used the online functions.
Definite improvements over original Leapster September 12, 2008
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
We just got this new version of the Leapster to replace the old Leapster which had started malfunctioning due to grime. The durability of the old Leapster was mediocre, since grime caused it to significantly malfunction after 8 months of daily use. Be sure to get a protective case for when the Leapster is not in use -- that's the lesson we learned the hard way. However, I suggest buying a cheaper case than the one sold for the Leapster (for example: I bought one for half the price that I found in the camera and computer accessories section at Walmart, that was marketed for small portable hard drives, and had the same dimensions as the Leapster).
Leapster 2 is a good new edition. One can download additional free games from the Internet for it for example (a couple of games are now finally available for download, so the initial deployment issue has been resolved). You need to buy an SD card for this to work. Even though the manufacturer recommends 256 MB SD card or less, we bought one with 1 GB and it works well (256 MB cards are harder to get nowadays).
We like that the built-in games stay available in Leapster 2, even when a game cartridge is inserted (an improvement over the original Leapster). The design of the hardware is sleeker looking, as well.
Overall, a very good product, and one of our son's favorite toys by far (he plays it daily in the car, and during wait-times, such as when waiting for the food to arrive at a restaurant). Our son is 2 years and 8 months by the way, and he had the original Leapster since he was 2 years old. He is a smart boy, but I assume not a genius, so the manufacturer's minimum recommended age is quite a bit off.
Great educational toy October 22, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The leapster 2 is fantastic, great quality, my son has dropped it several times and nothing has happend to it. He loves the new games that came out to go with it and even the ones that are already on the system.
Its very educational too, he's learned to write all of the letters in he alphabet and do addition and subtraction. It really makes learning fun. Better than a game boy.
Fun to play and educational September 15, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Son likes it and can use it without trouble. Cute games and I doubt he will even notice that it is educational. Only problem we have run into is that I cant get the SD card to be recognized which prevents us from downloading additional games online.
Great educational toy!! August 24, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is such a great toy. My daughter is 7 and my son is 5. They just love their Leapsters and play them all the time. They are educational and you can by a variety of cartridges for them so they don't get bored. I highly recommend this toy for kids from about 4 1/2 to 10!
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