Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
This deliberately paced program takes place in Charlie Brown's world, where kids dress the same day after day and the only character with attitude is a beagle. Players who persist through this CD-ROM's slow start will be rewarded with games and scenarios that emulate what it's like to live in the middle of a "Peanuts" cartoon. This is a good thing for kids who like the strip and the handful of "Peanuts" TV specials in existence. But kids who prefer the more frenetic pace of modern cartoons might find Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? a bit too placid. The mental workout this program provides is excellent. More than any other game manufacturer, Tivola has mastered the art of setting up a problem, then quietly letting the player figure out how to solve it. Linus's blanket is lost, and players can either assume the identity of Charlie Brown or Lucy and find it. Once the problem is presented, players must navigate around Charlie Brown's house and use their powers of observation to get the game moving. This segment can make players feel like they're trapped in "Peanuts" purgatory, as they arrow Charlie Brown from room to room, desperately searching for a means out of the house and into the rest of the game. The on-disc Help file spells out exactly where players must look and what they must collect to move on--resist the temptation to look at the Help file. You will miss the challenge and charm of this game if you lose patience and cheat. As the story line leads from Charlie Brown's house to a library to Schroeder's piano room to a supermarket with many other stops in between, games are unlocked. The nine games are short, smart endeavors. Some of the standouts include a game in which Schroeder plays a short melody on his piano, and kids must click on sequences of actual notes that match the melody. Another great game requires kids to put poor, scrambled Peppermint Patty back together after she is magically rearranged by the Great Houndini. This descrambling has some added twists that push it far beyond typical match-the-parts games. Each of the nine games has two levels of difficulty, and once they are unlocked, they can be instantly accessed for repeat play. On the way to these games are numerous other minigames, opportunities for problem solving, and goodies you can feed Snoopy to keep his Snoopy meter on full. Players can play this game in German as well as English. Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? probably won't hold up to a lot of repeat play by older kids, but the gentle way this program forces players to use their entire brains to find that darn blanket is remarkable. (Ages 4 to 102 according to the manufacturer; we say 4 to 8, although hard-core "Peanuts" fans of any age will also enjoy it.) --Anne Erickson Amazon.com Product Description
Good grief! Linus's security blanket has come up missing, and it's up to players and the Peanuts gang to track it down. Team up with Charlie Brown or Lucy as Snoopy guides kids through the game. Along the way, there are nine hidden games to play at a computer camp or in the school library, or you can catch the magic show of the Great Houndini, who looks an awful lot like Snoopy. The Snoopy meter offers players an added challenge, and kids can print out scenes for coloring fun away from the computer. Designed to delight children of all ages, this unique play story presents lessons with humor and heart. Kids build social and orientation skills, explore math and music, develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, and more. Educational concepts introduced directly into the story line keep the learning fun, while the artwork remains true to Charles M. Schulz, "Peanuts" creator. |
Customer Reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Slow, Frustrating, and Negative for young kids, Apr 5, 2023
I bought this game when my son was 4, because he had mastered most of the preschool games but wasn't ready for games that required reading, math, or quick fingers. I thought it would be a good problem-solving mystery game featuring some of his favorite Peanuts characters. After several attempts to help him get Charlie Brown out of the house, I finally got frustrated myself and put the game away so he wouldn't keep pestering me to figure it out (I was stumped, and didn't realize there was a "help" file). He finally dug it out months later and figured it out himself, but I forbid him from playing as Lucy because of the negative language she used towards the other characters. We finally pitched the game and moved on to Putt-Putt, Freddy Fish, and Pajama Sam. Much more positive role models, challenging but not frustrating problem solving games, fun music, and a more kid-friendly pace. Don't waste your money. This game is an insult to Charles Schulz.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 A good time!, Jan 6, 2023
My son is almost a year old and I bought this software on a whim, to see if I can figure out a kid's game in my old age. Granted he doesn't know what a computer even is yet, but I bought the game (cheaper at Target, BTW) and I plan to give it to him in a few years when he's ready for stuff like this.
I'm not sure about the 4+ age minimum. I took the easy route in this game to see and it seems a lot of things might stump the wee ones. At least they stumped this old mold bag. Maybe kids are smarter at that age today, but it seems to me like some of the puzzles may get frustrating after several attempts. I would put this more in the age range of 6 to 8 for beginners.
Other than that, the game is a blast! Chasing Snoopy down the grocery aisle was the best part.
I wouldn't worry too much about the language issues raised by others here. 'Peanuts' has always been self-depreciating to a point - one has to consider that while the characters in the game do tend to belittle _themselves_ they never call the player "stupid" or "dumb". In fact I found the characters to be very encouraging to the player when a puzzle failed, and downright flattering when the puzzle was completed. I don't see many kids crying at the game because of something Lucy or Charlie Brown said. In fact, I don't see them crying at this game much at all, unless they're too young.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Fun for Grownups, too!, Dec 27, 2022
The 4+ age designation is a little broad. I'd say the game is more fun for players 8 and up. Adults will find themselves stumped at times, too. The negative attitudes displayed by Charlie Brown and Lucy can also be influential on younger kids.
The bilingual function is great for bilingual families or German teachers. It's not your everyday German - it includes lots of slang and everyday-style speech, something most German students don't experience unless they study abroad.
All in all, I was pleased with the software. Especially the length of the gameplay. Not too long, not too short.
SPOILERS: For those who are stuck... In the bus, you must put the hat on Snoopy and the map to Sally's camp on the clip on the dashboard. If Snoopy is out of energy at the camp, he can sleep on his doghouse which is on the poster on the wall! At the supermarket, give Snoopy the grocery list. :) A package can be found above the door in Schroeder's entryway, using a ladder from the closet. If Snoopy is out of energy there, a little brown box/bench near the front door will give Snoopy a backrub. :) Hope this helps!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Fun and Humor at a Great Price!, Mar 12, 2023
I love Peanuts and I just loved this game. The characters were drawn exactly as they are in the comic strips and the game remains true to the Peanuts legacy. I really enjoyed my interactive Peanuts fun - and it's a great price for such a wonderful time!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
 dialog may not be the greatest for younger children, Jan 11, 2023
I purchased this game at Target as a gift for my 5 year old daughter. I noticed that it had won some sort of Parents Choice award and she is a big fan of the Peanuts "specials". The game has a charming detective game at its base which is a bit too difficult for her to figure out. She would be happy to continue trying but I am just going to throw this one in the garbage. My problem with the game is the constant negative talk that Lucy and Charlie Brown spew as they search for the blanket. Lucy is even more bombastic on the software than she is on the specials--constantly calling people stupid and putting them down. Charlie Brown is virtual stream of negative self-talk. I am aware that much of the Peanuts humor relies on negative humor and putdowns but it seems really excessive in this software. Even though I threw the game out and definitely didn't get my moneys worth I gave the it two stars because the basic game seems challenging and fun. Definitely not a good choice if your trying to teach your child to be kind and upbeat. I
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Based on 8 reviews.