Reviews

GAMES

Fun games for kids of all ages

Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? (£19.99, PC/Mac)
Vicky the Viking: The Big Trial (£19.99, PC/Mac)
Robinson Crusoe (£14.99, PC/Mac)
Max and The Pirates (£14.99, PC/Mac)

Tivola has consistently won industry and press awards for its children's 'edutainment' titles since it launched in the UK four years ago. Having emerged from the "great European tradition of storytelling", it has consistently produced titles that combine quality graphics, witty animation and user-friendly interfaces, helping youngsters from as young as four have fun in front of a computer screen.

These four titles consist of two new releases, and a couple of repackaged reissues - and the quality remains high.

Peanuts fans of all ages will enjoying Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? Essentially, Linus' security blanket goes missing and you've got to find it. You can choose to play as Charlie Brown or Lucy, aided and abetted by Snoopy, and the game takes you through a range of settings and a mix of educational games designed to improve maths, orientation, memory, logic and problem-solving skills.

Practiced game-players (eg my seven-year-old) will whizz through it in no time at all, but for younger children it will prove a fun and useful purchase. And there's the cute characters for Peanuts fans to enjoy, plus Scultz-style wisdom, too. Excellent.

Vicky the Viking is based on the 80s cult TV cartoon classic. The Big Trial is an clever story of thoughtfulness and ingenuity, where Vicky (and yes, he's a boy, despite the hair) has to prove himself in a range of tests in order to win the right to join his father Halvar, the Chieftain of Flake, on an adventure on the high seas.

There's plenty of fun to be add, although youngsters will need persistence to succeed in some of the trickier trials.

Max and The Pirates is another in Tivola's interactive storybook series based on the happy hound. Max and Uncle Pong (not because he smells, though) are spending their summer holidays on the Jivery Coast. Everything seems fine until Captain Spinnaker appears. He asks Max to join his crew on the Santa Loosetooth to look for parts of the mysterious pirate machine.

It's very good for young children, helping them develop problem-solving skills, improve their reasoning and even try in a different language to their own. Proven and recommended.

Our final title is for older children (8+) and features the splendidly actorly Martin Jarvis as narrator for Robinson Crusoe, based on Daniel Defoe's classic tale. You play Crusoe, basically, and your survival depends on ingenuity and good fortune as you explore the island, meet Man Friday, discover tools to build a raft and watch out for the cannibals!

Good graphics, and hopefully an encouragement to dig out the book itself.

Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network. He lives in Sussex with his wife, three children (14, 12 and 7) and a hamster called Waffles.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		GAMES Fun games for kids of all ages Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? (£19.99, PC/Mac) Vicky the Viking: The Big Trial (£19.99, PC/Mac) Robinson Crusoe (£14.99, PC/Mac) Max and The Pirates (£14.99, PC/Mac) Tivola has consistently won industry and press awards for its children's 'edutainment' titles since it launched in the UK four years ago. Having emerged from the "great European tradition of storytelling", it has consistently produced titles that combine quality graphics, witty animation and user-friendly interfaces, helping youngsters from as young as four have fun in front of a computer screen. These four titles consist of two new releases, and a couple of repackaged reissues - and the quality remains high. Peanuts fans of all ages will enjoying Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? Essentially, Linus' security blanket goes missing and you've got to find it. You can choose to play as Charlie Brown or Lucy, aided and abetted by Snoopy, and the game takes you through a range of settings and a mix of educational games designed to improve maths, orientation, memory, logic and problem-solving skills. Practiced game-players (eg my seven-year-old) will whizz through it in no time at all, but for younger children it will prove a fun and useful purchase. And there's the cute characters for Peanuts fans to enjoy, plus Scultz-style wisdom, too. Excellent. Vicky the Viking is based on the 80s cult TV cartoon classic. The Big Trial is an clever story of thoughtfulness and ingenuity, where Vicky (and yes, he's a boy, despite the hair) has to prove himself in a range of tests in order to win the right to join his father Halvar, the Chieftain of Flake, on an adventure on the high seas. There's plenty of fun to be add, although youngsters will need persistence to succeed in some of the trickier trials. Max and The Pirates is another in Tivola's interactive storybook series based on the happy hound. Max and Uncle Pong (not because he smells, though) are spending their summer holidays on the Jivery Coast. Everything seems fine until Captain Spinnaker appears. He asks Max to join his crew on the Santa Loosetooth to look for parts of the mysterious pirate machine. It's very good for young children, helping them develop problem-solving skills, improve their reasoning and even try in a different language to their own. Proven and recommended. Our final title is for older children (8+) and features the splendidly actorly Martin Jarvis as narrator for Robinson Crusoe, based on Daniel Defoe's classic tale. You play Crusoe, basically, and your survival depends on ingenuity and good fortune as you explore the island, meet Man Friday, discover tools to build a raft and watch out for the cannibals! Good graphics, and hopefully an encouragement to dig out the book itself. Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network. He lives in Sussex with his wife, three children (14, 12 and 7) and a hamster called Waffles. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.