Nintendo games for a 4 year old

[tryingtimes]

Hi all
I've recently dug out my US GC as Freeloader for the Wii wasn't really working properly. so we now have US GC, UK GC, Wii and DS (the others are all in the loft).
It's mainly my 4 year old son who plays on them as I'm too busy with work - whenever I get chance it's Zelda TP for me.

He can't read so all games with reading are out.
He like the freeroaming bits on action games.
For example - he can't race Waverace, but he likes riding around the levels.
Similar with Mario Kart - he's quite happy just driving around looking for shortcuts, but only races his friends.

Super Monkey Ball got far too hard too quickly. He likes the billiards minigame though.

On Mario Sunshine he likes playing in the lobby section, but doesn't like any bits where he's under pressure from monsters, enemies, etc.
So time-pressures and enemies are out.

He's great at Wii Bowling

Any ideas for back-catalogue games which he might like?
I'm considering Nintendogs, but other ideas are welcome.

Cheers
tt

[coluigi]

Animal Crossing sounds perfect.

[tryingtimes]

I assumed you had to read a lot for that? Is that not the case?

[coluigi]

Well there is a lot of reading I guess but as there's no real objectives it's pretty much just open-ended roaming. Though for the first few days you might wanna help him.

[tryingtimes]

I see - I'll take a closer look.
One of the objectives is to have some time when he's not bothering us every 3 seconds (for maybe an hour a day), so with Animal Crossing I can imagine him asking me what all the characters are saying everytime he meets one.

Any other ideas? I was thinking maybe one of the Donkey Kong Bongo games, but they are hard to find cheapish. It's definitely on my list though.

[BrianC]

I'd say that you'd have to play animal crossing with him, there is just too much reading on it if you ask me.

Any of the bongo games would be ok, obviously they require good timing.

Viewtiful Joe would be ok as well as would Super Monkey Ball, neither are easy but you don't need to read in order to play them.

Super Smash Bros. Melee or Mario Smash Football would also get my vote. The Spyro or Crash Bandicoot games are also good fun and easy to play, he will need help time to time.

[tryingtimes]

How tricky is Mario Smash Football. I've considered it before, but I didn't know what skill level it was pitched at.

[BrianC]

Its pretty easy once you get the hang of it, probably better two player to start with, but 11-9 are common scores for it once you get going.

[Andrew_arkless]

When my son was 4 he liked simpsons road rage, F-zero & the sonic games.

I wouldn't recommend nitendogs, my 6 year old just about manages it.

[sparced]

Mario Strikers has 7+ on the box I think. I can't imagine a four year old playing games, sometimes I struggle and I'm 20 years older.

[Sonic67]

'Resident Evil' it's got some dogs in it - very cute.