A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
A Review of Noah and the Ark
Joel Comm
It's a timeless Bible story. One that finds traces of mythology in cultures other than Judeo-Christian ones. And it's a great lesson in obedience to pass on to our children. It's the story of old man Noah, and his quest to save his family from the world's first flood.
This interactive storybook from Logos Research Systems and Etica Entertainment has one great thing going for it. Unlike so many children's storybooks of today, this one does more than just entertain. It teaches values and truths from the Bible, a claim that few software packages can make.
Created for children ages 3-8, the story is quite simple, with no more than 20 words on one page. Kids are given the option of being read to, or of interacting with each of twelve scenes by clicking on the dozens of hidden hot spots. Naturally, each hot spot rewards the child with an animation, a sound effect, music, or a spoken biblical truth, such as, "God always keeps his promises."
The drawings and animations, however, are not the same quality as leading storybooks, such as those produced by Living Books or Disney Interactive. They are still cute though, and my four year old seemed to enjoy it.
Another disappointment was the lack of games on the CD-Rom. Although presented with twelve unique scenes with which to click for hot spots, the title offers no other interactivity. Such is the price to pay when the leading software developers won't create this type of title. For parents who wish to instill biblical values in their children, Noah and the Ark provides a healthy alternative to secular fare.
School House Scorecard
| Product: |
Noah and the Ark |
| Company: |
Logos Research Systems
|
| Cost: |
Not Available |
System Requirements:
Windows
486DX/33 MHz processor
4 MB RAM (8 MB RAM recommended)
Windows 3.1 or later (Windows 95 compatible)
SVGA color monitor, 256 colors at 640 x 480 resolution
MPC 2-compatible double-speed CD-ROM drive
MPC 2-compatible sound card
Mouse or other Windows-compatible pointing device
Macintosh
Any color Macintosh or Power Mac
System 7.0 or later
8 MB RAM
256 colors at 640 x 480 resolution or higher
Double-speed CD-ROM drive
Breakdown:
Ease of Use 5
Learning Value 4
Entertainment Value 4
Graphics 3
Sound 3
Overall Score:
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