Designing games for younger players is, in my opinion, one of the harder tasks for any developer to take on. As we grow older, it becomes harder for most of us to think like a child. Because of this, developers tend to tone down gameplay so much that it almost becomes insulting to children. While it would be absurd to suggest developing a game whose complexity rivals Metroid or Halo, few developers realize that there are games that older gamers play that are equally accessible to younger gamers. Miss Spider's Harvest Time Hop and Fly is one such title. While the gameplay is kept basic, it still manages to pull out a game that is a little more than your typical kids' title.

Visually, Harvest Time shows that there is indeed life left in the 2D platformer. Everything in the game is rendered in 3D and looks rather impressive. Characters are big, bright and easily recognizable – something that is sure to make any Miss Spider fan happy. The bright characters are set against backgrounds that aim for a sweet spot between realistic and cartoon. Compared to the characters they’re not as bright, but still fit with the game’s overall style.

Sound, on the other hand, isn’t as great – at least to my older ears. The soundtrack is limited to a handful of tunes that are repeated in each game type. Songs are bouncy and fit the game, though parents might want to invest in a set of headphones as they can become annoying after long stints.

Going into the review, I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun with Miss Spider’s Harvest Time Hop and Fly as I did. I was expecting to see yet another blow-off title aimed at kids; what I got was a solid, well put together platformer. As far as the game’s story goes, Miss Spider and friends are out in the garden collecting fruit to store up for the winter. The garden serves as a world map where you control Miss Spider, who acts as a mobile HQ for the rest of her insect friends. Levels are denoted as spots on the map that Miss Spider can travel between. At the start of the game, she can only travel to certain sections of the garden, though later sections are unlocked as the gang’s fruit collection grows.

Each level comes in one of four flavors. Two of these level types, a platforming area and a side-scrolling flying area, are standard gameplay types while two others, a sky-surfing area and fruit-collecting side-scroller, make special use of the DS’s unique functions. The only major problem I found with the game as a whole was that the two more unique gameplay types were limited to only a few levels while the more standard ones (the platformer and flying level) are used way too often. Because of this, the game feels a little too repetitive a little too soon; something that may not sit well with kids with short attention spans (in other words, most kids). Although the gameplay is solid, it doesn’t take many chances; later levels are hard only because more “stuff” is on the screen rather than trying to introduce little step-ups in design to keep things fresh.

Once a level is completed in Adventure mode, it is unlocked in “Bug-a-Bonus” mode where you can play through it as many times as you’d like without having to navigate through the garden. As much as I enjoyed the game, I didn’t find myself wanting to return to many levels, though the game’s target audience might think otherwise (provided the gameplay doesn’t wear thin). Completing levels a second time in “Bug-a-Bonus” mode unlocks pictures that can be viewed in the Gallery. Again, I didn’t find myself wanting to get all of the pictures, though Junior Completists might want to.

Difficulty is where most games geared to kids fall apart. As a developer, you don’t want to make the game super-challenging, yet you don’t want it to be so easy that someone can run through it in a matter of minutes. How difficult a time a child will have with Miss Spider’s Harvest Time Hop and Fly will depend greatly on their gaming experience. Those just starting out will have a harder time than those who may have already developed some basic skills (in other words, if your kid is blowing through New Super Mario Bros. they probably won’t have too much of a problem with Harvest Time).

One of the not-so-great things about Harvest Time is that while you aren’t punished too severely for failing to complete a level (you can’t actually “die” in the game), it doesn’t do that great a job of motivating you to keep on pushing though the game. Levels do begin to blend together after a while and lack variation; without the small wrinkles added to gameplay in later levels, it might become too easy for even the most inexperienced players.

I really liked how Harvest Time handled the DS. Rather than forcing the touch functionality in every level, it is used only where it is needed. In the touch-function levels, players have no direct control over their characters. Instead, they must watch the path the characters are walking on and either circle fruit so it can be picked or tap obstacles so they don’t get in the way. As basic as this scheme seems, it can become rather harrowing, especially in later levels where there isn’t much spacing between obstacles and fruit.

Harvest Time also uses the DS’s built-in microphone in certain sky-surfing levels. The goal here is to blow into the mic, producing a gust of air that will send the on screen character flying into the air. Once in the air, your job is to press left and right to gently guide his descent while avoiding obstacles.

Miss Spider’s Harvest Time Hop and Fly is a great purchase for younger players. It may not hold their attention for extended periods of time, but the gameplay is solid and good enough to keep them entertained (and quiet).