Review Title
A Review of Fun School in Space
Rich Cunningham
In the film Mary Poppins, one line goes: "...in every job to be done,
there is an element of fun. You
find that fun, and snap, the job's a game." The same analogy could be made
for this new game from the Expert
Software people. They have taken some basic, rudimentary school subjects
(math, spelling, geography, etc.) and,
by adding a space ship with a dinosaur, have created a game that is both fun
to play and even more fun to
watch.
The basic plot of the game is for the player to help the dinosaur named
Jasper and his human friends Johnny and
Sally explore several planets in outer space. Each planet contains different
adventures for the trio to solve.
Game play is almost entirely mouse driven, with the use of icons to control
game play. From controlling
factories to guiding the Blobs through tunnels, to racing through a maze to
bring new life to a deserted
planet, the game player will see, hear, and interact with so many fun things
that learning will cease to be a
job or chore, and become a voyage of discovery and learning.
There are 5 planets to visit, each with a different game:
- Mission Earth: as the operator of a taxi, you have to take paying customers
to their destination; this is the geography game.
- Eco-Logic: a recycling game, which empasizes sorting and organizational
skills.
- Mega Maths: in this game, you help Blobs find their way home, which is the
solution to a math problem. Sound confusing? It is until you see it played. Then it is as clear as the
sun. This game emphasizes math skills.
- Space Speak: a spelling, grammar, punctuation, and more game, in the style
of an arcade pinball.
- Alien Art: a drawing program unlike any seen anywhere else.
These games are simple, yet varied to remain challenging. The graphics are
superb, as is the sound quality. The
manual is well written, with each game explained in simple terms, and a
special Parent Check section after
each game to explain what the game is emphasizing, and what the parent should
be aware of from the game. There
was an addendum that was included to point out differences in the product and
the manual. It is a small, but
complete booklet, so as not to get lost in the details of the game.
The only negative comment I can say about the game is that the introductions
are too wordy in their explanation
of the games. While the information is important, it did distract from my 7
and 9 year old's interest in the
game. Since this game is on CD, an audible accompaniment to the on-screen
instructions would be nice. Outside
of that, I can't think of a bad thing to say about the program. This is one
that will be enjoyed over and over
again by children. After all, how many games combine outer space and
dinosaurs?
School House Scorecard
| Product: |
Fun School in Space |
| Company: |
Expert Software
|
| Cost: |
Not Available |
System Requirements:
386SX or higher running Windows 3.x, works with Windows 95;
4 MB of RAM or greater; 5MB of disk space or greater;
256 color SVGA video card; Mouse;
CD-ROM Drive(1x is sufficient); Printer;
8 bit Soundblaster-compatible sound card
Breakdown:
Ease of Use 3
Learning Value 4
Entertainment Value 4
Graphics 4
Sound 3
Overall Score:
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