I'm not a fan of this game, my daughter loses it over it - My Talking Angela

Hello there!

I've been there too - sometimes you just need a minute to yourself, but playing with the little one isn't always an option. That's when I thought, 'Why not use a tablet or phone to keep them occupied?' I mean, that's what they're for, right? Otherwise, what's the point of having a tablet in the house?

So, I downloaded a few games for my daughter's tablet, hoping she'd have something to play when she needed a break. But, let's be real, I don't want her spending all her time on the thing, so I hide it most of the time. It only comes out when it's really needed.

Tonight, I'm reviewing a kids' game from the tablet - it's called My Talking Angela. It's a talking cat game, kind of like Tamagotchi, where the cat repeats back everything you say.

Game Details:

Release Date: December 3, 2014.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone.

Where to Buy:

You can download this app on either an Apple device or Android - it's free, but be careful, because there are in-app purchases that can add up quickly. I'm not against spending money on games if you've got the means, but it's up to each individual.

Once you download the game, it'll show up on your home screen with a notification that it's been installed. Just make sure you've got enough memory on your device.

Visuals:

The game icon on your home screen is a cute little pink box with a white cat inside. It's pretty and feminine-looking.

The game itself is all pastel colors, with pink, white, and hearts everywhere. It's a bit too sweet for my taste, but I guess that's the point.

Registration:

To start playing, you'll need to register with your Google account and choose a name for your virtual cat. There's a default name - Angela - but you can change it to something else if you want.

Interface:

One of the key things I love about this game is that it's all about raising this adorable little cat, Angela, and taking care of her. You feed her, bathe her, put her to bed on time, and even decorate her room with all sorts of fun toys and clothes. And of course, you earn coins by playing the game, which you can use to buy her new furniture and accessories.

I was really impressed by how interactive the game is. Angela talks back to you and even repeats the words you say to her. At first, I thought this feature would be a great way to help my daughter develop her language skills and become more social. And it really does work!

When we first started playing, it was a lot of fun. We'd all take turns talking to Angela and laughing at her silly responses. She's a really cute little cat, by the way - you can even customize her fur color if you want.

At the beginning of the game, you get a little stroller with a baby cat inside. As soon as you open it, the cat jumps out and starts making adorable little noises. It's really sweet. And to get you started, the game also gives you a quick rundown of the basics - you need to feed, bathe, and put Angela to bed on time, and also play with her and give her attention.

Angela.

Angela is just the sweetest little cat. She's white, but you can change her fur color if you want. She's got a tiny little voice and is always so polite and friendly. She even meows when you pet her, which is just the cutest thing.

Levels.

There are tons of levels in this game - I was actually surprised by how many. I played this game years ago when I was younger, and I never even made it to level 70. But now that I'm playing with my daughter, I'm determined to get to the end.

Stickers.

I love the sticker feature in this game. For each level you complete, you get a new set of stickers to collect and add to Angela's album. It's like a little bonus level that's all about collecting and decorating. It's really fun and engaging, and my daughter loves it.

It's funny how sometimes you can find duplicate stickers, and you can sell them on the market to earn some coins. And those coins are way more valuable - you can use them to buy clothes, food, and even new furniture.

Food.

As with any kid, or any growing organism, Angel needs food. You can buy food in the store, and it's actually pretty cool - there are several virtual stores with different types of food. In one, you've got fast food, in another, healthy food like fruits and veggies, in another, cocktails, and in another, kid's food. And you can buy whatever you want and feed it to the kitten.

But all the food is bought with coins. And coins don't just fall from the sky - you have to play with the kitten and earn them first.

Some products the kitten loves, while others it just won't touch. And you'll probably have the same problem - you can't force the kitten to eat if it's already full.The hunger, sleep, and hygiene indicators, as well as the games and dances, are shown at the bottom of the screen.

This is convenient to use - you always know when to feed the kitten or buy it something.

Sleep.

One of the main reasons my daughter gets upset during the game is that it's not just a glitch - it's actually designed to make us, parents or players, spend money on cocktails that give the kitten energy.

Since the game time is so short - literally two games of a few minutes, and the kitten is already tired.

And when the kitten is tired, it won't play anymore.

How do you explain to your daughter that the kitten played for 5 minutes and now needs to sleep for the whole day in its bed? This is a game, guys - it's supposed to be fun, not a constant search for energy for the kitten!

Overall, my daughter gets really upset about this, and I completely understand her - you can't just enter the game for 5 minutes and then be hit with this surprise.It's happened several times that it's led to tears.

Not infrequently, it's led to tantrums.

I'll skip talking about the massive amount of ads in this game since I've got a life hack – I turn off my internet on the device, and the ads don't pop up.

Bathroom.

I think this is the most useful place for me, as a mom. We're here with my daughter, washing our cat, using soap, and rinsing with water, and brushing our teeth. In this app, you have to clean the cat's teeth in two stages – first, you use a special tool to remove any leftover food bits, and then you brush the teeth with a toothbrush until they're sparkling clean.

My daughter's learning the rules of hygiene, like how often to brush her teeth and take a bath.

I've noticed that after this, she enjoys sitting in the bath with soap and even brushes her teeth willingly, just like Angela.

Makeup.

This is an interesting and cute feature for girls.

I think it's both useful and potentially damaging.

And it's also half-paid, which makes the game with my child incredibly difficult.

Yes, any little girl dreams of painting her virtual cat (or doll) and wants colorful lipstick, powder, and so on. Any little girl wants to try out all the colors and see how beautiful it looks in the end, right?

But that's where the problem lies. Half the colors – especially the brighter and more saturated dark shades, like diamonds (which you have to buy with money in the supermarket) – are locked.

I was initially upset, like my daughter, wondering how to unlock all the colors, but in the end, I had to explain to my little child several times that half the colors are locked. Closet.

I really like how the closet is designed, even reminiscent of my favorite game, Sims. Here, you can completely change the appearance of our character, starting from eye color and hairstyle to clothes, glasses, and shoes.

My daughter is absolutely loving this feature. I wish more things weren't pay-to-play, but at least you can earn in-game currency to buy some of the locked content. I have to admit, I'm enjoying trying out outfits for my kitty too. The best part? Trying them on is free! That's a nice touch.

Dances.

Dances have been a great way to unlock new moves and get temporary access to premium cosmetics like lip glosses and powders. We've been able to try out some of the locked items for a few hours. Games.

This is actually a really cool feature for both me and my little one. The games are designed to challenge her logical thinking and motor skills, so she's been busy collecting puzzles, playing educational games, and having a blast. However, we do need to keep an eye on things, as ads and special offers can ruin the experience.

Ads.

As I mentioned earlier, the ads have been a major turn-off for my daughter. It would be so much better if we didn't have to buy items with real money for things that aren't even available in-game currency. And the ads themselves? They're super annoying and can't be skipped. They pop up multiple times a minute, and you have to wait 10-30 seconds for them to finish before you can continue playing.

A little tip about ads.

I've played this game myself, just for fun, and I've been using it to help my daughter get through levels when she's sleeping - I enable ads and earn in-game gems, which we can then spend together on her cat's cosmetics or a new outfit.

Pros and cons of the app.

It's a great way to keep my kid occupied.I love playing it with my daughter.It's a great way to teach my daughter things like oral hygiene.There are lots of educational games to play.The graphics are really cute.The cat in the game is adorable.The game has some really cool effects.There are lots of levels to get through.There are lots of different goals to achieve.Cons:

My daughter gets really upset sometimes because of this game.She's cried because of it.There's just too much advertising - it's overwhelming.Most of the good stuff isn't free.The game can be really frustrating for both my daughter and me.Verdict. Should you download this app or not? Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it - I've had to delete it from my devices more than once because it's just too stressful for both my daughter and me.

It's supposed to be a way to keep her occupied for 20-30 minutes, but instead I end up having to calm her down and explain all about the paid games that she doesn't even need to know about...

Personally, I think it's better to just watch some cartoons - even the ones about Angela or whatever. But this app is definitely not worth it. It's more suited for older kids, and even then, it's not great.

From me, three stars. Thanks for reading!