children's computer game review

Rating: 

Review Sections: Product Overview  Technically Speaking  Skills Covered  Educational Value  Entertainment Value  Design  Replayability  Dollar Value    

Product Overview
Hoyle Puzzle Games is a new and welcome addition to the excellent series of Hoyle software collections. Featuring fifteen games for puzzle lovers with plenty of variations and difficulty levels, this program will entertain both children from ages 8 and up and their parents.

Besides offering a variety of word, arcade-style, maze, and slider puzzle games, a previously released bonus game is included: The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions—a great value for those who don't already own this exceptional game. (See our review of The Incredible Machine Even More Contraptions).

Players sign in to the game and customize their gaming identity with the fun Facemaker option. Each game allows players to choose options like game settings, difficulty levels, variations, and background music. The program comes with a fair-sized rule book and in-game help. Text-based rules and strategies for each game are included.

The program's word game collection includes Anagrams, Hangman, and Crosswords. Anagrams features a scrambled six-letter word at the top of the screen, and the goal is to not only unscramble the word, but to build as many three- to six-letter words as possible with the given letters—all against a timer. The Crosswords activity features over 1,200 Dell Magazine puzzles, Webster's New World College Dictionary, and multiplayer options. Players can choose different sizes of crossword puzzles at three different difficulty settings. Three different ways to play Hangman are also offered.

The solitaire games offered in this collection feature "beat the clock" gameplay. Players try to best their own high scores in Best 21, Fast 21, Pick 2, 3 Towers, and Sum 11. More fast-paced arcade action can be found in games like Time Breaker and Placer Racer. The program offers five different ways to play with Mahjong Tiles and two maze games—Maze Racer and Maze Raider.

Note that some of the games featured in this collection will be familiar to owners of other Hoyle collections.

Bonus games—versions of Placer Racer and Mahjong Tiles—are included for Palm OS handhelds.

Technically Speaking
Minimum system requirements are Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, Pentium II 233 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 330 MB hard drive space, and 4X CD-ROM. Mac users require a PowerMac G3, iMac or better, System 8.6 or higher, 64 MB RAM, 330 MB hard drive space, and 4X CD-ROM.

Skills Covered
Strategy, following rules, vocabulary.

Educational Value
This program allows kids to "pass time" while they exercise their brains. The puzzles and activities included in this set exercise strategic thinking skills and, in the case of the Word games, expand vocabulary.

Entertainment Value
With this collection, children always have a willing opponent and they never lose game pieces. An unusual variety of game styles and options means there is something for everyone in this program. Children who love to tinker and figure out how things work will especially enjoy the Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions game.

Design
Players can select a game from the main screen menu, or go directly to a game using the program’s handy toolbar. Many options are available for customizing individual games. The program can be played with or without the CD in the drive, although players will be sacrificing character speech with the latter option. Included in the box is a small book that presents game rules, history, and strategies. Players can also refer to the in-game help screens, but be aware that game rules are text-based.

Replayability
In many ways, this compilation of games seems to be a "greatest hits" package. Replay value is high not only because the games are likable, but the program offers such a nice variety of games with virtually limitless replay opportunities.

Dollar Value
This CD-ROM carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 US.

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