Be prepared to watch your own living pets wither when kids are faced with the fun and games of the Dogz 4 CD-ROM. The real thing can't stand a chance against this litter of ever-frolicsome puppy dogs (and one pig?) that willingly allow themselves to be dressed up in little Santa suits and transported to a northern snow scene to go sledging. (Flesh-and-blood Fido, meanwhile, hasn't received fresh water in days. ) Although when are they going to introduce a little reality, such as the sterile vet clinic, the overcrowded dog run, or the rainy 11pm walk? Ecstatic wish fulfilment comes in many forms on this CD-ROM. Besides the joyful canine playtime, chock-a-block with props and exotic travel opportunities, there are cool, well-conceived moments in each of the scenes, such as the seeds and bulbs in the flower-garden area that sprout instantly when watered. This is the kind of pure pleasure that kids don't tire of quickly. Rudimentary voice recognition, the big new feature of version 4, succeeds only halfway. It takes time to physically set up, it takes time to learn to speak correctly; then after all that, it just doesn't seem to hold universal appeal. More assuredly fun are the five new play scenes-European circus, Canadian snow scene, Wild West ghost town, Arabian palace and South Seas island-and their requisite costumes and props. True educational opportunities are available with the Play Scene Editor. [+]

Carmen Sandiego is back for another CD-ROM adventure. In Carmen Sandiego Treasures of Knowledgeit's your job is to help a couple of detectives track down ace thief Carmen Sandiego who has purloined a rare edition of a book, the Travels of Marco Polo, to add to her stock of stolen stuff. Carmen moves fast, and you'll have to follow her around the world if you want to catch her. If you're old enough to remember the Atari ST then you might recognise Carmen Sandiego from the first incarnation of this software. This new version is different in lots of ways, but the idea of travelling the world while playing an adventure game and learning about the globe as you go remains intact. So does the need to keep your wits about you, work out puzzles, find clues and follow the trail to your quarry. Using a "point-and-click" approach, you have the use of a few high-tech gadgets-the Global Transportation System takes you quickly to different countries, the WorldWide Data Resource is a database of information on countries, the Digital Clue Storage Device keeps tabs on clues and other items and the ACME Field Guide provides information on the various gadgets and devices you'll use in different missions. Between them these do a fair bit of work for you, leaving you to travel around, gather clues, learn about the world, and, of course, capture Carmen Sandiego. And if you get stuck, you can call into head office and ask "the chief" for some advice. Carmen Sandiego Treasures of Knowledge is entertaining and educational in equal measure. [+]

Welcome to the Danger Zone. Jurassic Park has been rocked by a violent earthquake which has nearly destroyed all supplies of precious dinosaur DNA. Dinosaurs might become extinct unless you take swift action in this fast-paced CD-ROM adventure. Begin by adopting a secret identity and choosing which dinosaur you're going to get DNA from. You're shown video clips of what has happened on the island and then you're flown out there in a helicopter. The whole island is presented to you like a traditional games board and you move around in a jeep by simply pressing your spacebar. In each space, an arcade-style mini-game is launched. You are invited to pit dinosaurs against each other or there could be a race against the clock to build an electron-beam fence between you and a rampaging Raptor. There are clear explanations to each of the mini challenges and the graphics are impressive. At times you have to monitor radar screens to follow a dinosaur's field of vision. [+]

Zoombinis Maths Journey features uncommonly fun reasoning games that require serious problem solving and maths work. This CD-ROM employs basic fundamentals of mathematical thinking while keeping children thoroughly entertained throughout. Not too long ago, Zoombinis enjoyed the good life. Though they all looked slightly different-different eyes, noses, hair, feet-such differences meant nothing to the Zoombinis. And so they lived happily on Zoombini Isle, making small, useful products, which were prized the world over. So begins this unsuspectingly addictive CD-ROM, yet the perils that face this cheerful society are not as fearsome as the amount of time you'll potentially spend on this pursuit. Beware the chubby, chattering Zoombinis if you don't want to get hooked to your computer for at least 90 minutes a session. Adored by educators and parents alike, Zoombinis Maths Journey challenges children to employ such basic fundamentals of mathematical thinking as organising information, reasoning of evidence, finding and making patterns, and systematic testing of hypotheses. The journey follows four puzzle-filled trails, each exploring related mathematical ideas. The fundamental data and variables for all this work are the variations in the Zoombinis' features. [+]