Review, buy Ages 9-11: Her Interactive 67861-00051, Dorling Kindersley, VU Games, Dorling Kindersley, Her Interactive, Her Interactive, VU Games, Dorling Kindersley, Dorling Kindersley, Her Interactive, Dorling Kindersley, Her Interactive, Buena Vista, Dorling Kindersley, Focus Multimedia Ltd, Dorling Kindersley, Softkey, Focus Multimedia Ltd, Dorling Kindersley, Focus Multimedia Ltd

Learning Ladder Year 4 is a fantastic CD-ROM aimed at Year 4 children. It is structured so that children listen to a lesson and then carry out exercises that help to consolidate the literacy and numeracy they are learning as part of the school curriculum. Exercises can be done at five different levels of difficulty, so that children are challenged and continue to make progress. For every 400 points that a child scores, they are rewarded with new pictures to use with the printing machine. As they gather more pictures they can enjoy making their own cards, invitations and labels, which can be printed out. Children can also have lots of fun navigating around Science City and learning lots of facts along the way. For example, they can have a go at the science quiz and find out about roots, leaves and flowers. The progress tracker clearly shows how each child is getting on with a system of green and red lights. This would quickly show parents where more help is needed. -Amanda York A good all-round educational CD-Rom - The CD-Rom covers basics of literacy, numeracy and science in a bright and colourful way. [+]

Become a History Explorer is an excellent CD-ROM in this series, which will turn any child into a budding historian. It's aimed at children aged 6-10 years old and encourages them to find out about eight exciting periods in history, through games, quizzes and information screens. Children will love the challenge of collecting the pieces of the time trail, so that they can rescue the history professor who has been trapped in time by the time fugitive. Children must travel in the time machine and explore each historical world in order to find all the pieces and become a history explorer. There is an excellent journal in which children can record their travels. This would help to consolidate what they have learnt about each period in history. Having answered questions along the way children are rewarded with stickers, which are kept in their journal. There are also activities to do, for example, design a coat of arms, which can be saved in the journals, along with photos and other souvenirs. There is also an excellent index menu that allows children to view information screens on a very wide range of topics. This would be particularly good to use if children were having trouble answering any of the quiz questions. [+]

Step into the stylish shoes of teen supersleuth Nancy Drew to crack the case of the Message in a Haunted Mansion. As Nancy, you'll hang your hat in San Francisco where you've been invited to help a family friend renovate a historic Victorian home. Some strange things have been happening in the old house-could it be spirits from the past? Or just shifty characters on the make? Use your magnifying glass to search the place from top to bottom for clues. You'll find trap doors, personal papers, keys, tools-all sorts of spots and items to explore or hang onto for later use. You never know when you might need a paint scraper or crowbar to help you out of a bind. To fill in some of the gaps, talk to characters in the game and choose your responses to their questions based on what you want to know. Play Message in a Haunted Mansion in one of two modes: new or younger players can sign in as junior detectives for more simplified play, while old pros can log in as senior detectives for serious sleuthing. Once you're in, you may never want to leave-the graphic detail of the Victorian-mansion setting is stellar. The Chinese-influenced décor is authentically and exquisitely reproduced, and many elements can be highlighted to better focus on the level of detail. Also realistic are often-overlooked touches that add a true-to-life ring, such as photos of family and friends on the wall, and sunglasses kept in the kitchen drawer. [+]

The sound effects further add to the sense of realism and heighten the air of suspense. You'll hear doors and cabinets creak open and shut, haunting cries, and loose chandeliers swaying overhead. This title in the popular Nancy Drew interactive series is successful not just for its design and production, but for its thoughtful features that keep players hooked, even as things start to feel hopeless. When you're in a bind, you can call home for old friends Bess and George to help. And if you make a game-ending decision, simply pick up right where you left off before the terminal mistake by utilising the Second Chance feature. There's even a self-updating journal in Nancy's suitcase that records clues as you find them, to help you keep track of all the facts you unearth. And, of course, you can save your game after each session-no backtracking through clues you've already found, or conversations you've already had. Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion takes some time to instal but once you're in the game and can see the wealth of what awaits, you'll realise that it's worth a lengthy installation. A nice improvement over previous games is the inclusion of a tutorial to explain gameplay to new users. (Ages 10 and older) -Leah Ball.

Amateur detectives everywhere, young and old alike will love the Nancy Drew Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake interactive mystery game. Produced by HER Interactive, it invites junior or senior detectives (players choose the level of difficulty) to embark on a mission to become Nancy Drew's eyes and ears, and help solve a mystery. Players are taken to a dreamy summer cabin at Moon Lake and here the nightmare begins. Nancy is informed by the nearby lake's residents that a well-known gangster had lived here long ago with his pet dogs. Howls can be heard. The locals believe the dogs have come back from the grave to protect their master's villainous past. Are the legends true? Or is there a simpler explanation? What about the neighbours-are they telling the truth? What secrets might be lurking in the dark caverns beneath the lake? Don't waste time-you must find the answers before the hounds discover your presence. Installation is quite straightforward, but as the game is aimed at children aged 10 years and above, it may need overseeing by a more competent adult. On completion, players are immediately invited to choose the level of difficulty and it is a particularly good idea to take advantage of the excellent tutorial session. Here you learn how to navigate, and explanations are also given about different mouse, cursor and arrow commands, with tips being offered about "Hot Spots" and how to view objects. [+]

Accompanying the CD-ROM is an excellent pamphlet dealing with all aspects of the game. The language is simple and straightforward and help can be accessed from the menu screen, where useful directions can be found. Before commencing, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the Menu screen, particularly the Game Setup option which, on clicking, allows you to personalise the game in the way you prefer to play, changing options for voice, music, special effects, and closed captioning, which when switched on, makes written descriptions appear in the text window for sounds and noises. This is especially helpful as for some the written word, accompanied by the spoken word, is more helpful when absorbing instructions. -Susan Naylor.

Become a Human Body Explorer is an interesting CD-ROM full of information about the human body. It's aimed at children aged 6-10 years old, but would be best suited to older end of this age range. Seemore Skinless, the helpful skeleton, guides the children through a wide range of games, quizzes and experiments. Children can play four fun interactive games, which involve, for example, collecting body parts by answering questions and learning about the body and choosing how Seemore should spend his day. There is an excellent search feature so that children can access information screens on a very wide range of topics. (Parents of younger children may want to supervise children's use of this, as there is information about reproduction and how our bodies change. ) Children also have the opportunity to create their own Secret File, which contains information about themselves and can become a scrapbook of facts. So once children have visited the information screens, played the games, answered brainteaser questions and found out amazing facts, they will have discovered all they need to know about the human body. Become a Human Body Explorer would be a good buy for parents or teachers of children aged 8-11 years old. It encourages children to explore and find out about the human body in a fun and interesting way. [+]

Fire up The Final Scene and you're greeted with the most gripping opening sequence yet in a Nancy Drew game. As the ageless, mystery-cracking heroine, you accompany your friend Maya to a historic but dilapidated theatre to interview teen heart-throb Brady Armstrong for the opening of his new movie. As Maya disappears into the dressing room for the interview, you hear a scream, but when you charge in to investigate Maya is nowhere to be found. Do you have what it takes to track down Maya's kidnapper before the theatre is demolished? The most notable improvement in the game comes in the form of the distinctive characters. With each new Nancy Drew game, the script and character work get better. The dialogue here has a youthfulness and sense of humour missing from the previous games. The old-theatre setting and the game's theme of magic are admirable, but it would be good if there were more nooks and crannies to explore. A minor nitpick is that the time-frame seems somewhat limiting. Previous Nancy Drew games had an open feel with no sense of urgency and you solved the mystery in your own time. In The Final Scene, the gameplay is divided into three days and you must accomplish specific tasks before you can move on to the next day. [+]

Though this structure lends itself well to the game's plot, it's easy to get stuck on one clue. However, you can always look for help on the message boards at Her Interactive's Web site. Little grumblings aside, The Final Scene really is a fabulous game that goes above and beyond most games out there right now. It's highly recommended for anyone aged 10 or over. -Ara Jane Olufson.

Learning Ladder Year 6 is another excellent CD-ROM from Dorling Kindersley. It's aimed at children aged 10-11 and structured so that children listen to a lesson and then carry out exercises that help to consolidate the literacy and numeracy they are learning as part of the school curriculum. This CD-ROM would be invaluable for any child in Year 6 who is preparing for their SATs. Exercises can be done at five different levels of difficulty, so that children are challenged and continue to make progress. For every 400 points that a child scores, they are rewarded with new pictures to use with the printing machine. As they gather more pictures they can enjoy designing their own cards, invitations and labels, which can be printed out. Children can also have lots of fun navigating around Science City and learning lots of facts along the way. For example, they can find out about animals, food chains and gravity. The progress tracker clearly shows how each child is getting on with a system of green and red lights. This would quickly show parents where more help is needed. [+]

Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower is a captivating game-the fourth adventure in the Nancy Drew series from Her Interactive finds Nancy on holiday at an old ski lodge. But, as usual, trouble is afoot. The library has been vandalised and a violent storm means that everyone has been snowed in. You must play as Nancy to unravel the mystery. Similar to the other Nancy Drew adventures, you get to step into Nancy's shoes and explore the old lodge to uncover clues through objects you pick up along the way and conversations with the other guests. Things heat up when Nancy learns that the lodge contains an old tower that has been sealed off. You quickly learn that the tower was brought over from France, and was Marie Antoinette's hiding place in her final months before her beheading during the French Revolution. Could Marie's famed treasure be hidden in the tower? Is that why the library was vandalised? And why is everyone acting so suspiciously? This game gives young girls an outstanding female role model, the likes of which haven't been encountered in any other kids' games to date. Playing in senior detective mode is challenging-even for adults. It moves quickly and is satisfying enough to keep anyone playing for long stretches. [+]

Other outstanding things about Treasure in the Royal Tower include gorgeously designed backgrounds and 3-D environments, smooth gameplay, interesting and amusing characters and the ability to use the Second Chance feature to go back before you made a fatal mistake. If you're stuck you can ask the knowledgeable audience on the message board of the Her Interactive Web site for hints or clues that might help you out of a jam. -Ara Jane Olufson.

Make way for Babyz! Adopt an adorable virtual kid in this amazing, playful CD-ROM simulation of child rearing from the company that brought you Catz and Dogz. Each Babyz (that's singular, too) is darling and unique-choose one of 15 to adopt or, if none of them is just right, check out their Web site with plenty more to pick from, changing every day. You can have up to three in one house, and then the fun begins. Name your Babyz, clothe them, give them toys, feed them, watch them play in the backyard, or just give them a tickle when they look bored. The software runs both like a normally selected program and as a screensaver-if you're not careful, the Babyz will take over your screen when you're not looking! The graphics are playful and imaginative, the costumes are cute, and the house itself is full of stuff for the Babyz to explore. The package comes with voice-recognition software so you can even talk to your Babyz-or teach them to speak. Short, simple words will start yammering back at you before long, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without a babbling Babyz in your computer. -Rob Lightner.

Armchair adventurers relax. With the Become a World Explorer CD-ROM children can obey the call of the wild and see the world without leaving the comfort of their home. Once loaded, it's possible to whizz around the world in almost 80 ways with this fun and feature-packed CD-ROM learning adventure. As soon as you've filled in the virtual passport, you're off. The first stop on any interactive globe-trotting adventure is Sam's bedroom-it's perfect for click-happy kids with animations that come to life when you hit the objects scattered around. For beginner backpackers, a talking train gives a guided tour of how to find your way around the world, and what a choice there is. You'll find video clips, an interactive index, a country finder with each nation's flag and a wide range of fun games that test skills such as general knowledge and compass directions. A ringing phone launches more adventurous travellers straight into the globetrotting game that displays the strongest aspects of the software. Clues based on geographical sights and sounds lead players on an interactive journey around the world. Along the way, the players' knowledge of capitals, continents and customs are tested in a totally involving way with three difficulty levels encouraging repeat visits. [+]

Gentle jungle murmurings overlaid with Robert Guillaume's gleeful voice give the solid, well-conceived typing program, Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa, an unusual degree of appeal and staying power. While the program will have your child smacking bugs, catching grubs and scampering away from dangerous enemies, children are actually practising the same fundamental skill-based keyboard activities as covered by such adult titles as Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Some terrific components of this program include shadows that display which finger should be used to hit each key, a timer that counts the seconds in each two-minute game and the blissful fact that hitting the space bar will fast-forward you past the opening and closing credits. The mysterious, leafy jungle setting is delightfully alive, yet you'll probably need to turn the brightness on your monitor way up to see all the vital buttons hidden in the dark corners of the scene. Be forewarned: to truly conquer touch-typing, you need to drive those keyboard strokes deep into the body's muscular memory. Endless repetition is the only proven method for this. That means that while this program boasts five unique activities (for example, Rafiki gives "lessons" while Timon and Pumbaa play "games"), it is all keyboard practice, again and again. Kids receive encouragement with an enticing visual environment, progress reports, certificates and frequent enthusiastic comments from Guillaume but it is ultimately going to fall upon the parents to see that their children continue with this when the going gets, well, boring. Don't expect your child to see this through without your support. Stay involved and they will. [+]

The Dogz of Dogz 5 are virtual pets and they live on your PC. They can run across your desktop, travel and explore faraway Playscenes, (a Canadian snow scene, a Big Top in a European Circus, a Wild West Town or an Arabian Palace); they can play in their Home Playscenes (Kitchen, Backyard or Salon) and have loads of fun in tailor-made Playscenes. Feed them and love them, breed them and play with them. You can adopt as many Dogz as you want, but you must remember to take care of them all. Did you know that Dogz have a tail to keep them balanced? That they have a keen sense of smell, and that their paws are padded and fuzzy, and that they use them to run, dig and scratch? Did you also know that you can get a good idea of how your pet is feeling if you look into its alert and expressive eyes? Best of all, Dogz love to be fussed and petted. Watch them grow from little baby puppies into adult Dogz. Although aimed at young children, this package will be much more enjoyable for a child who can read and follow instructions, as it is necessary to follow onscreen directions. The program is therefore most suitable for a minimum age of 7-8 years old. The installation takes quite a while (information is on the CD-ROM sleeve) and help may be needed as monitor settings may need to be adjusted and it may also be necessary to ascertain if Acrobat Reader 5. 0 is installed (the user manual cannot be accessed without this software). [+]

It is absolutely essential to study the manual closely before adopting any Dogz and it is a good idea to print it off for easy and quick reference. It is an excellent manual that is well set out, and it explains everything in simple, straightforward language, making it accessible to children. Now for the fun! Choose from one of 15 breeds of Dogz, from Bulldogs to Sheepdogs, from Muts to Chihuahuas, with all their different personalities, likes and dislikes, but don't adopt too many-they must all be cared for. Love them and remember to feed them. Give them water, medicine when they're sick and don't forget to brush them. Exercise and play regularly with your Dogz; reward them for good behaviour and squirt them with water if they misbehave. Train them to do tricks. There are more than 100 toys to play with-lucky Dogz find some and there are more to be earned when you play the five mini games. Collect wonderful gifts with them during their doggy travels, such as exotic jewels. Treat your Dogz well and earn yourself a happy-pet certificate. Choose items of clothing and accessories to dress them; watch your Dogz fall in love and have puppies, and access their family trees as far back as eight generations. A Web Fun Pack is included, which contains Petz clipart, animations and backgrounds, all Internet-ready to enable you to create your own Web pages. Particularly helpful are the tips on day and night cycles, how Petz grow, what happens when you cheat, how you can acquire new toys, and what to do if your pet runs away. Dogz 5 contains new features, but owners of previous Dogz can bring their adopted pets into this new version. Compatible with Catz 5, put the two programs together to create more breeds, fun and Petz. -Susan Naylor.

Learning Ladder Year 5 is another excellent CD-ROM from Dorling Kindersley. It's aimed at children aged 9-10 and structured so that children listen to a lesson and then carry out exercises to help consolidate the literacy and numeracy they are learning at school. Exercises can be done at five different levels of difficulty, so that children are challenged and continue to make progress. For every 400 points a child scores, they are rewarded with new pictures to use with the printing machine. As they gather more pictures they can enjoy designing their own cards, invitations and labels, which can be printed out. Children can also have lots of fun navigating around Science City and learning lots of facts along the way. For example, they can find out about the solar system, forces and reflection. The progress tracker clearly shows how each child is getting on with a system of green and red lights. This would quickly show parents where more help is needed. -Amanda York.

If you're not able to own a real pet, especially a Cat or a Dog then Catz 5 could be the answer! Adopt a virtual pet, let it live in your PC, run across your Desktop, let it visit faraway Playscenes or play at home in the kitchen, backyard or salon, or create your own tailor-made Playscenes. You can feed it, play with it, love it and breed it. Adopt as many as you like, but you must take care of them all-neglected Catz run away and then you're in trouble. Did you know Catz have tails to help them balance? That their fur is soft to keep them warm and encourage owners to pet them? They have large, expressive eyes, twitching whiskers and they have agile paws for jumping, climbing, stalking and running. Catz are little kittens when you first adopt them and then they grow up over time into adult Catz. Although aimed at young children, this package is most beneficial if they can read, in order for them to follow on-screen directions. This program is therefore most suitable for a minimum age of 7-8 years. Installation takes a while, and help may be needed from adults as monitor settings may need to be adjusted, and it's necessary to make sure Acrobat Reader 5. 0 is installed so that the excellent User Guide can be accessed. It is absolutely essential to study this before playing with Catz 5 and it is a good idea to print it out for easy access. [+]

The excellent manual makes it easy for children to understand the package. Now comes the fun! Choose from one of 15 breeds of Catz, from Alley Catz to Tabbies, from Persians to Siamese, with all their different personalities, likes and dislikes-but don't adopt too many, as they all have to be exercised, fed, loved, medicated when sick, brushed, played with, rewarded for good behaviour and squirted with water when they misbehave. Train them to do tricks, and allow them to earn toys as rewards (balls, pillows, stuffed parrots and so on). If you become confused remember to click on the Help Menu Bar. Included is a Web Fun Pack, containing Petz clipart, animations and backgrounds, all Internet-ready to enable you to create your own Web pages. This particular version contains new features, but owners of previous Catz can bring their adopted Petz into Catz 5. This is compatible with Dogz 5, allowing your Dogz and Catz to play together, to create more breeds, win more toys and, ultimately, have more fun. -Susan Naylor.

Review Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand (PC) / Her Interactive 67861-00051:

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Review BestSeller Junior: Barbie Beauty Boutique / VU Games:

Review Become A History Explorer / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion (PC) / Her Interactive:

Review Nancy Drew Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (PC) / Her Interactive:

Review BestSeller Junior: Barbie Horse Adventure / VU Games:

Review Become A Human Body Explorer / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Play and Learn: Science Experiments / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Nancy Drew: The Final Scene (PC) / Her Interactive:

Review Learning Ladder Year 6 / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower (PC) / Her Interactive:

Review Disney Junior Games Peter Pan Never Land Treasure Quest / Buena Vista:

Review Play and Learn: Reading & Counting / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Babyz / Focus Multimedia Ltd:

Review Become A World Explorer / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Disney Learning: Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa / Softkey:

Review Dogz 5 / Focus Multimedia Ltd:

Review Learning Ladder Year 5 / Dorling Kindersley:

Review Catz 5 / Focus Multimedia Ltd: