Developer Double Fine Productions has its first handle on licensed property with Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, and the outcome is an excellent, well-crafted video game that will leave both children and adults with a smile on their face.
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 List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $41.48 
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Sesame Street will always have a place in the hearts of adults and kids alike. First premiering in the United States in 1969, the series has taken on a life of its own and crossed over all forms of cultural media and entertainment systems. The core principle of the show is to promote learning, healthy habits, and good conduct in children.
Building on the Sesame Street success, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is an interactive game on the Kinect which involves staple characters Elmo and Cookie Monster as they guide players on a storybook adventure. The game begins with an intro sequence where Elmo and Cookie Monster bump into each other on Sesame Street. A pile of books Elmo was carrying falls in a heap, and thus the virtual storybook is found. Elmo and Cookie Monster enter the storybook world and go on an exciting journey with the player.
The game is divided into chapters and usually involves helping a variety of monsters solve certain predicaments. For example, the monster Marco is distraught that no one has attended his birthday party, and it’s up to Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the player to think of ways to help the poor fellow. The solutions are usually acted out through various minigames. The minigames are simple enough for young players to perform and can be extremely enjoyable for children of the right age. They involve performing moves such as ducking, tilting side-to-side, flapping arms up and down, and so on. There are also other activities such as a unique dance game where players copy the moves of the Sesame Street characters onscreen to the best of their abilities.
The graphics are extremely pleasing and colorful, usually utilizing wide, expansive backdrops that give young players the feel of having more freedom in the game. From lush, colorful pathways in the woods to the dark recesses of a forest, the Kinect Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster game does not scrimp on the details. The cast of characters are also voiced appropriately and are instantly recognizable. Furthermore, most characters from the series such as Grover and Oscar the Grouch make guest appearances.
To make the experience fuller and richer, parents can play alongside their kids in two-player, cooperative action. Also, this ensures that parents can safely supervise their children while helping instill the positive messages of courage, empathy, kindness, and optimism that the game delivers in spades.
In terms of difficulty, the game is extremely simple and almost impossible to fail at. While this may be a huge bonus for younger gamers, older children may soon be bored with this release. The age of the child should be carefully assessed before purchasing this game, with those at age 6 or below being the ideal demographic.
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster can be played on the Xbox 360 console and requires the Kinect sensor. The game has a drop-in drop-out cooperative support for up to two players.
The Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster Kinect game is an excellent title that offers great visuals, awesome audio, fun minigames, and an intriguing storyline that will have young players making friends with Elmo, the Sesame Street gang, and some adorable monsters. The game also does a fine job of instilling good moral character and right conduct in children. Parents or older siblings will need to be right alongside their tot and monitor the child’s progress; this game was not meant to be a virtual babysitter. However, the experience is well worth it for adults, even if the game is too easy, as bonding with the child is extremely satisfying. All in all, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a great game to add to your child’s collection.
