Cheap Jessie's Wild West Rodeo (Software) (Macintosh, Windows) Price

Aimed at children over the age of 5, this new package is a variation on other Disney video games that mostly require kids to steer a vehicle--or in this case, a horse and rider--through an increasingly difficult obstacle course. Even so, it has a freshness that makes it superior to similar arcade games, like those based on Atlantis or The Little Mermaid 2. The graphics are larger and the activities run more smoothly. Jessie and Bullseye are easier to see, too, and overall the game controls are simpler to operate. More importantly, the three rodeo activities have the same charm as the movies on which they are based. The barrel ride, called Barrel Bonanza, offers a two-player mode that pits Jessie against Woody in a wild race to the finish. And the UFOK Corral, where users herd mooing aliens back into their flying saucers amid heckling from the wayward extraterrestrials, is hilarious.

Jessie's Wild West Rodeo is certain to please users, especially girls with horse enthusiasms. Cheerful and entertaining, it strikes a good balance between giving players a challenge and seeing that they have a downright good time. --Alyx Dellamonica