children's software review

Rating: 

 

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

Product Overview

The courageous Powerpuff Girls are fighting crime, and they need some brainy help in order to defeat the "evil genius", Mojo Jojo. The destructive monkey has created clones who are pouring out trash on the streets of Townsville and performing assorted other dastardly deeds. It's the Powerpuff Girls, equipped with their superpowers, to the rescue—but it will be players' brainpower that ultimately saves the day.

It is another regular day in Townsville, and Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles are a little bored—that is, until they hear of the problems their town is facing. This is where players step in: they choose to follow any of the girls to three locations (the Dump, Downtown, or the Sewer System) where they have the chance to collect memory chips from the clones. These chips can be used in a fourth activity that ultimately defeats Mojo Jojo himself.

At the dump, players exercise spelling skills as a means to activate the street cleaner. Children attempt to spell words, delivered by a talking dog, ranging from "bed" to "sting" to "carries", depending on the difficulty level. Help is given when needed, and, on the easier levels, letters and letter blends are sounded out. Players follow Blossom to the top of skyscrapers where they play a game of hopscotch, attempting to trap clones by completing math equations. As levels advance, the number of clones to trap increases and more challenging math equations are delivered. Mapping skills are challenged in the third activity that requires directing Buttercup towards clones. Kids need to create a path along the map grid by selecting the number of miles (where one square equals one mile) and the direction. Multiple steps are required and, as levels advance, children must read clues about the location of the clones. For example, in the screenshot above, the clue reads, "The clone is between the Museum and the Jewelry Store". Children must map out a path for Buttercup by selecting a series of directional phrases such as "2 miles east", "3 miles north", and "2 miles east". Alternatively, they can move their superhero "3 miles northeast" and "1 mile east". This activity presents an excellent challenge.

Kids use the memory chips they have collected at Mojo Jojo's Lair in arguably the most challenging activity of the game. Their job is to unlock code words in order to penetrate the monkey's "psychic force field". At the same time they expose his "embarrassing" secrets (such as the fact that he sweeps dust under his rug). The process involves transforming words by placing them into machines with different variables, such as "vowel sounds", "past tense", and "antonyms". This is a clever activity that is also rather challenging at the higher levels! Younger players will need some help.

As an extra bonus, children earn printable activity sheets. These are educational pages that include such activities as word and math games that kids can complete away from the computer.

We found the game to be very responsive and easy to use, and we were surprised at the level of educational content. Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo's Clone Zone effectively combines educational and entertainment components. It is user-friendly and very appealing.

Technically Speaking
Minimum requirements are Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, Pentium 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM, and 60 MB hard drive space. Mac users require a PowerPC 180 MHz or faster processor, System 8.6 to 9.2 or OS X: 10.1 to 10.1.4, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM, and 60 MB hard drive space.

Skills Covered
Children develop skills in phonics, spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, word endings, past tense, eye-hand coordination, logical thinking, problem solving, listening, memory, sequencing, following directions, addition and subtraction, multiplication, division, geometric shapes, mapping skills, and directions.

Educational Value
In order to save Townsville, children need to complete math equations, spell words, map out paths using geographical directions and clues, read for comprehension, and more. The activities are clever and they adjust to a child's skill level.

Entertainment Value
The game not only features amusing scenarios and fun videos, the activities are challenging and enjoyable. Fans of the show will have a great time using their brains to help the Powerpuff Girls.

Design
An excellent design allows children to play independently. The educational activities feature five difficulty levels, and these levels advance automatically according to players' performance. The levels can also be adjusted manually. Help is provided through the "Power Pro Digital Communicator" and via a projector that replays instructional videos for the activities at any time.

Replayability
Surprisingly fun activities and objectives along with multiple difficulty levels work together to encourage children to return to the program time and time again.

Dollar Value
Suggested retail price is $20 US.

To buy: The Powerpuff Girls Learning Challenge: Mojo Jojo's Clone Zone