Amazon.com Review

Get behind the controls of U.R.V., the Ultimate Robotic Vehicle, in Rescue Heroes: Tremor Trouble. An earthquake has hit the amusement park, and animals and people are in need of quick assistance. Players ages 4 to 7 can stop a runaway roller coaster, save animals from a flooding river, retrieve a downed submarine, and restart stalled high-wire trolley cars in this four-part adventure!

Even with three levels of difficulty, the activities in Tremor Trouble are simple, and children will have no trouble completing the game's tasks. The activities are basic skill builders. To put together the animal bridge, players must match up logs of varying lengths; to restart the stalled trolley, they match up gears of varying colors within its motor. One pleasing aspect of the game is that each of these four activities comes in two parts: the educational matching drill and an arcade game. To save the roller coaster, for example, U.R.V. must first put out the fires threatening to burn its structure. Only then can players sort out the machine pieces needed to rebuild the damaged ride.

It is a shame that, despite the fact that its animal-rescue component is certain to appeal to female gamers as well as to boys, Rescue Heroes Wendy Waters and Ariel Flyer don't appear in Tremor Trouble. What's more, the game's learning component is very basic, unlikely to seriously challenge players more than once or twice. These complaints aside, Tremor Trouble is bright and cheerful, and parents will appreciate the nonviolent structure of its storyline even as their kids delight in the fast-paced adventure format of its activities. The easy-to-follow instructions and tons of hearty encouragement served up by the Rescue Heroes team are sure to build player confidence... all while offering plenty of fun. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (26)

mediocre software for avid Rescue Heroes fans only
Meteors have hit the planet, resulting in a series of widely scattered emergencies that require the Rescue Heroes to intervene -- and they need your help!!

The graphics are good, the intro is exciting .... but after that the game is totally mediocre. Four activities have three levels of difficulty, but they are quite tedious no matter what level you play. (1) Move around a water maze to rescue people in a flooded movie studio, and shoot a life preserver over a moving line of floating objects. (2) Navigate a maze on a rock face as you rescue stranded climbers while avoiding vicious eagles and snakes. (3) Aim a hose at brush fires so you can find and rescue animals on an African preserve. (4) Snowboard down a ski slope without hitting the shrubbery so you can dig people out from under an avalanche.

The hype is here, but the games are very boring. Your child has little flexibility or independence when performing tasks, and those tasks probably use only 2% of your child's brain power. For example, in order to dig people out of the avalanche, you click on the snow cave over and over, it doesn't matter where, until the person trapped within tells you how great you are -- and every time it's the same person in the snow cave. Each game is rather mindless in this way. There is little reasoning required and no skills acquired.

This is lame software that has neither educational value nor excitement. When there are so many worthwhile children's software titles out there, don't waste your money or your child's time on this lazy stuff. It may be worthwhile for the truly avid Rescue Heroes fan, but even that is doubtful. This was our first Rescue Heroes title. It is also our last.

Lava Landslide
I gave this game to my son as an early birthday present. He's almost four and loves the Rescue Heroes. The reviews I read were mixed so I decided to buy it anyway. I'm really glad I did. Sure it's challenging, but it's a good excuse for the parents to get involved. First I did the hard parts for him, to show him what needed to be done. Then I guided him through them and finally he ended up doing it all by himself. He was so proud when he accomplished the hard tasks that he couldn't do at first!

Unlike most computer games this one requires the use of the arrow keys instead of the mouse. Well, it's always nice to learn new skills.
I can't wait to give my son the two other RH games I baught for his birthday. I have no doubt he'll love them too.

Inaginext Pirate Raider
I gave it a 1 because they did not have a 0, to give. I bought this game for my son and I try to install it and it tells me that it has encountered an error. I go to the web site and it tells me what to do with that error, but after I do what it told me it does the same error thing again. My son and I both got so frustrated and finally gave up. I am returning it to the place where I purchased it for a full refund. Good luck for those of you that also bought this Horrible Game.

Frustrating game for my almost 5 yr. old
I agree with other reviews that the mouse clicking is very difficult. It's difficult to maneuver the men around. My son tried for a few minutes, became so frustrated, I finished the one mission, but couldn't get him to do any more. Would recommend the I Spy software - ages 6-10, but he loves it! Don't have to know how to read.

Yeah Pirate Raider!
My 7-year-old LOVES this game. He'd play from sun up to sun down if I let him. I hear him cheering and clapping in the other room and he's having so much fun!
I'm VERY anti-violence, so when he got this game I was concerned. I was pleased to discover that although the ships sometimes fire on each other, no people are ever involved. This makes it so much more abstract and less about killing. When you capture forts, you fire on canons only and never see people. When you capture other ships, your knife is used only to chop up fruit that's thrown at you by skeletons. Once you capture their gold, you're on your way to fulfill another mission.
Frankly, this game is so much fun I have to admit to playing it myself! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With this deluxe two-CD-ROM software set from JumpStart, kids learn essential kindergarten skills and then take off to faraway worlds of fun in an adventure around the world. AdJust-for-You Learning Technology automatically adjusts to your child's pace. Kids learn prereading, the alphabet, letter combinations, counting, quantities, similarities and differences, sequencing, problem solving, shapes, colors, phonics, word recognition, time concepts, world geography, and cultures of the world.In disc one, join Mr. Hopsalot, the rabbit, as he invites your child to explore an interactive kindergarten classroom, where fun, music, and games are the reward for curiosity. Disc two lets children climb aboard the next boat, plane, train, or zeppelin and take off to faraway worlds of fun on the all-new Around the World CD-ROM. Kids can play four different games and visit 12 different cities, where they'll learn phrases in different languages, hear music of other lands, and collect souvenirs. Access is provided to four bonus downloads over the Internet. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another solid effort from Knowledge Adventure
This is the second title we purchased from Knowledge Adventure. The first, JumpStart Spanish was a good investment, and loved by our boy.

JumpStart Kindergarten is another solid effort. Our son thinks that he is playing games, but he is really honing his skills. Basic skills, like counting, phonics, and telling time are included. These skills are critical building blocks for any child's future academic success.

The interface is typical for this type of program. Kids enter a virtual "schoolhouse" and click on items that represent the activities to hone/learn particular skills. For example, users click on a clock to go to the telling time activity.

One thing we appreciate about the game is that it teaches a skill that we may overlook at times. It is very important for the child to listen to instructions prior to undertaking many of the activities. For example, in a game that teaches counting, users find themselves in a garden with Hopsalot, the rabbit who is the guide. Hopsalong tells users that he needs a certain number of a certain item growing in the garden ("I need 7 red roses."). Initially, our son was not paying attention, and he would be caught off guard when the game started. We kept telling him that he had to be quiet and listen to the instructions. He now listens attentively so that he can complete his task correctly.

We will definitely consider purchasing other titles from Knowledge Adventure. We've been pleased with the 2 products we own thus far.

Jump Start Kindergarten
Rather than approach learning as an enjoyable experience, this cd presents a structured environment that screams of lessons not games. This cd is successful however, in presenting a balance between pressure, judgement and success vs. failure. Additionally, the skill level is more for preschoolers. Edmark Millie and Bailey Kindergarten is a much better route to take for your childs enjoyment.

Not as good as the older preschool version
Since my daughter really enjoyed the older preschool version, I was excited about getting this cd rom. The difference is drastic. There isn't a reward system like the older version. Some of the activities aren't clearly explained. The '99 version for preschoolers was much better. My daughter rarely uses this version.

Jump Start Kindergarten
My child loved this cd program. He can't get enough of it.

JumpStart Kindergarten woes
After using the Jumpstart Preschool program very successfully to teach my autistic grandson basic skills, we looked forward to the Kindergarten version. We were not prepared for the radical change in format and teaching style, and the lack of an enjoyable "reward" after successful completion of task. While it may be an enjoyable program for some children, I wouldn't recommend it for any child that requires a lot of stimulation. Two other children (a kindergardener and a slow-learning first grader say it is boring.

The video that came with it, however, gets raves and the attention of all the children. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Shovels to the ready! It's time to help Bob and friends in 12 fun activities. Join Wendy, Bob's business partner, and his energetic machine crew--Scoop, Muck, Roley, Lofty, and Dizzy--in helping Bob design a park that can be viewed in different seasons, repair a skateboard track so that Spud can perform cool tricks, assemble dinosaur bones into a huge skeleton, collect food for animals and help them find their home, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Entertaining game
My 3 year old grandson completed this game to the end by himself and enjoyed it. Just alittle guidance one time and he mastered the game to enjoy the fireworks show at the end. He felt he helped Bob do the park all by himself. He has played it over four times and he knows he can do it by himself without getting bored or unable to do it. It is worth the money to let kids be successful playing the game by themselves and do all the jobs correctly.

Bad graphics, confusing and boring
I am so sorry I bought this game, its such a waste of money for us. My 3 1/2 year old likes Bob and has videos and toys so I thought this would be good for him. But the games are very limited so they get boring quickly, moving around is very confusing and even the graphics are very bad. There's much better stuff out there for the kids. Reader Rabbit is the best we've found so far.

But I disagree with the age range
My son is an expert on this game and he is 3. In today's world, with kids so much more computer-literate, this game is really quite simple. Great for a 2-3 year old that loves Bob.

Unsophisticated
~My three-year-old son loves Bob the builder. That is the reason I bought this game. However, this product is just blow the bar. Poor graphic quality and boring game design. Compared with the kid software made by Disney or other company, this product is not refined enough and gives people home-made feeling. I gave it 3-star instead of 1-star because it is still a Bob the builder and my son likes to play with it. If you want to buy a Bob the builder PC game, this is one of the only two on the market.~~ If you just want to get some really nice pc game for young kid, look for something else.~ ... Read more

Features

• 3 fun Princess games in a free keepsake box
• Design a magical collage with Disney Princess Fashion Boutique
• Dive into an ocean of activities with Ariel's Story Studio
• Create a personal, 3D model in Disney's Magical Dress Up
• For kids age 6 or older

Features

• Join the Ham-hams to find Penelope
• Helps build addition and subtraction skills
• Geometric shape recognition
• Phonics
• Ages 4-7

Reviews (2)

Very cute. A little better than most.
Having a 13 yr old and an 8 yr old who have both grown up in front of the computer, I have owned a lot of "educational" computer software. My 8 yr old daughter is a huge fan of Hamtaro and had this game on her Christmas list. It really is made for younger children, but my daughter has enjoyed playing it. Mostly because she can interact with the Hamtaro characters. She was able to complete the whole game in a couple of hours, but has played it through many times since we got it. Her only complaint is that the characters don't have the same actors' voices as they do in the show... Heck, I couldn't tell the difference!

So it is definitely cute, fun, and Ham-Fans will enjoy interacting with the Ham-Ham characters.

Educationally speaking: it is on the same level as most of the BETTER academic software designed for this age group. The instructions are easy to understand and the activities don't become boring 2 seconds into them. Keep in mind that once any of these kinds of 'educational' games are mastered, the child isn't really learning anything more from it. Though with repeat play they are cementing those skills acquired. And this game does seem to have more replay value than most. Considering my daughter is unwilling to let me sell it yet!

I think it is worth the cost of the software, especially compared to the cost of other "less useful" educational games.

Fairly Academic
Before I review this I must say that I live in Japan and there are no quality educational software programs for sale in Japanese. It's ironic that this popular Japanese cartoon has made an educational game only in English. That being said, I found this game was above average but not spectacular. My four-year-old daughter completed the game in about four hours of play. She loves the Hamutaro character in Japan and was excited to play it. She took two sessions to complete it. This game pushes acaedmics fairly well without being boring. There are some counting exercises, animal matching and sequencing exercises, and beginning reading exercises--just to name a few. I recommend it if your pre-schooler likes Hamutaro. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Reader Rabbit Kindergarten 2002 packs an astonishing number of activities into a two-CD-ROM set, enough to keep nearly any child in the 4 to 6 age range glued to the computer for hours. With glitzy graphics and plenty of songs to sing along with, not to mention a clever plot, this high-quality educational program helps kids practice a range of skills, from counting, reading, and listening comprehension, to recognizing colors and shapes.

The adventure begins when Reader Rabbit and Sam the Lion are stranded in Balloon Town and must rescue the Dreamship, which has been encased in bubble wrap and locked in the Pointy Palace. In order to wake up the sleeping bull that guards the palace, the player must locate five musical instruments. Each time the player completes an activity, an instrument magically appears. For a program aimed at kindergartners, the instruments take a lot of persistence to earn--kids must complete a staggering number of problems at each activity site and this can quickly become very repetitive.

The program itself is well thought out and comes with many user-friendly features. The software automatically adjusts to your level and shows how you're doing at each activity. It's also possible to save games for up to 99 different players, which makes the software suitable for use in a classroom or other group setting.

The CD-ROM set includes three other activities--calendar making, painting, and music playing, all of which are engaging in their own right. It also comes with a collection of more than 100 age-appropriate activities that don't have to do with the computer, as well as Reader Rabbit songs that can be played on an audio CD player.

As with other Reader Rabbit software, the biggest concern with this program is that there are so many things to do, children may eventually have to be dragged away, kicking and screaming, from the computer. Perhaps a laptop is the answer--at least that way they can play outside. --Molly Masland ... Read more

Reviews (17)

good for preschoolers if you want them using the computer!
This program doesn't teach anything special that is not easily taught outside of a computer game. Success at the game will be had most quickly if the child already knows the skills needed to play the game (see below, i.e. already knows their basic shapes). If you want your child using the computer during the preschool years then this is a safe and good bet. If your child doesn't know everything this program covers already then they are sure to learn it quickly if they like the game and are not discouraged. There is much more to phonics than this program covers, of course.

We held off introducing our son to the computer until he was almost 4.5 years old. We strictly limit what he can do on the computer and he does not use it much, sometimes going 2 months or so without using it. We purchased this program when our oldest just turned 5, at which time he already could start up the computer, open a program, change CDs and close the entire system down all by himself. I thought it best to buy an easier Reader Rabbit game and see how he likes it rather than start off with the Kindergarten or the phonics Reader Rabbit. If you have a 3 or a 4 year old (or even a 2 year old) that you want using a computer game then this one is great (see section on phonics for a possible difficult part though).

Being unfamiliar with children's computer games I was surprised that much of this is almost like a video on television, there are songs that seem to be about 3 minutes long and very graphic and long introductions to the program every time it is started and before each game. The characters on screen tell the user what to do. I was disappointed it did not come with written instructions, as when my son needed help there was nothing I could turn to. Goodness knows I am not sitting with him all the time watching him play, so I miss the already-spoken instructions for the overall game. Instructions for the mini-games that they play can be repeated by simply clicking on a certain character on the screen.

I sat down to play it as a new user and we played for over an hour. I was annoyed that the instructions are not clear. Specifically, the program has the user doing a little job to earn a gem called a brillite. They wanted 5 yellow brillites to start. We did all the jobs but there was a missing brillite. There was no instruction as to how to get this missing brillite so we re-explored every area on the program's map and began repeating jobs because we didn't know what else to do. That began earning us different colored brillites. It is a little unclear to me as to how to win this game, they say to gather brillites but we really don't know how many of each and how to exactly get them except play in a random manner repeating the games. I'd much prefer them to say "repeat all the games to earn the blue brillites in order to earn the missing yellow brillite" or some other such informative instruction.

This is truly geared for preschool age (3 or 4) or for any age that already knows the 6 colors of the rainbow, circle, square, oval, triangle, diamond shapes, if they can count to 10 and follow oral directions. The hardest part of the game, which may be difficult for preschool aged children and may cause frustration, is the phonics portion. An object comes along on a raft and there are 3 sparkle shakers above it and the user must choose which sparkle shaker (with a letter on it) represents the first letter of the object. The first go round has the word written under the object (i.e. violin) but after that round is won the object comes out without a word. Shame on them for showing a giraffe and giving both a g and a j as options! Bad choice for beginners to phonics! The user will be told if they make an incorrect choice and they can narrow it down by process of elimination. The game with the train and matching the object shape is more of a fast paced game to improve hand and eye coordination and fast mouse-usage than a true matching game-if they pick the match right after the fast changes they are doomed. On the box it says this does drawing and coloring but that is a stretch: the kids are told to paint a certain shape a certain color and they simply click once on the proper color and click once on top of the shape and it is instantly colored in. There is nothing about drawing going on there! The only math here is counting up to 10 (it is advertised as having math on it).

There is nothing offensive or questionable about this game, the language is clean, etc.

This is a fun game for preschoolers (I found it too easy for my just turned 5 year old). It is very entertaining in that it has interludes in between games and songs with a few minutes of on screen entertainment. The songs are catchy. The graphics are very good compared to the old days of Space Invaders and such!

Good Program
I purchased this program to help my 3 year old son sharpen and develop his basic preschool skills. I found this program to have a good theme and my son was very interested in the character's various actions, songs and dances used to accompany the instruction. Skill levels can be chosen to pace the progression dependeing on the need of the child. The program is very user friendly to an adults helping their children. Progrmas are easily exited out of and information can be saved to log the progress of the children users. I recommend this software to parents who want to help their preschoolers get a head start on Kindergarten education.

Skip this one
My son (now almost 4) is pretty academically bright and pretty good with a computer mouse. We bought this game for him just before he turned 3 last year. What a disappointment! Now, we are a big computer game family, and our son has played a few other titles which we have loved (Little People Discovery Airport, Ollo Saves the Fair, Putt-Putt, and a few others). We loved Reader Rabbit Toddler and Reader Rabbit Baby, which were designed very well. Unfortunately, Reader Rabbit Preschool did not stack up.

As usual, the game has a creative story behind it, and there is a goal that involves collecting things. These are wonderful motivators. However, the game skill levels seem either much to easy (matching bugs) or pretty advanced (counting out just the right number of bugs to fill a rocket, including addition and subtraction as the game increases in difficulty) for a "typical" preschooler. I should add that I used to teach preschool and kindergarten, so I have an idea of what is developmentally appropriate. This game ranges from boring to frustrating with very little in between. Some activities, such as the "painting" activity at the waterfall, require very very good mouse control, as the shapes tend to be very small, and the child must click in just the right areas.

I highly recommend skipping this game. Our son is now happily playing Reader Rabbit Kindergarten (the Summer Camp one)with very little trouble.

Too much advertisement and lacks parental controls
I had previously purchased Reader Rabbit for baby and toddler and was thrilled with the product. However, I cannot say the same of the Reader Rabbit Preschool. This CD launches with a page that gives my [child] 6 choices of where to go. Only one is the educational program. The others are advertisements for Star Flyers, Clue Finders, Zoombinis, the Oregan Trail, and Carmen Sandiego. Each of these plays a short movie and gives my [child] the option of launching the internet to download more. I certainly do not want my child on the internet, and I did not purchase the CD so that the Learning Company could target my ...child with advertisement. I wanted him to learn something. It quickly became a fight to keep him in the educational portion of the CD. I called Broderbund, and after waiting 25 minutes to speak with a technician, was told that there was nothing that could be done. There are no parental controls. I asked to speak with a supervisor to discuss my concerns, and was told I could go to the web site and e-mail them. I would not recommend this CD.

They've got it almost right
This is the most educational of the programs I've found for the preschool set, but there are still disappointments. I wish they would do more with the alphabet - they need more variety of words, a combination of small letters and capitals. My three-year-old mastered the top level within a few weeks, simply because he memorized the words they were using, and then quickly grew bored. The musical numbers are cloying and irritating. But the rocket counting game is terrific -- a real help teaching small kids the meaning of numbers. Overall, I've yet to find better, but I hope the designers of the Reader Rabbit series keep trying. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Travel the world with Barbie as an expert explorer on a secret mission.This Indiana Jones-style adventure takes you and Barbie to Tibet, Egypt,and the African jungle on a frantic search to find and return four ancientjeweled treasures. Run, swing, jump, and climb with Barbie to avoid dangerousobstacles and deadly pitfalls. Race against a friend to unlock the secrets ofthe Mystic Mirror. Advance through four levels, collect power ups, and gainspecial powers for Barbie. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

impossible
This is the WORST GAME EVER. (...)i couldn,t even make it through the first level of this "ages 6 and up" game. There was this thing called virtual training at the beggining,and it was really fun,but once you started the real thing,it was impossible. In the real thing,there were all kinds of new obstacles,like animals.Plus,you had to remember the different key combinations for running and jumping (ect.),and you had to jump at exactly the right time.there are only two good things i can say about this,virtual training,and it works on windows XP.Don't make the mistake i did in buying this game.

Fun and Challenging
My 6-yr-old daughter loves this game but definitely needs help with a lot of it, even on the easiest level. She was at first disappointed that she couldn't use the mouse but once she got the hang of the necessary keys she was off and running. Rolling, jumping, swinging, climbing, different lands and terrain, things to push and pull, things to avoid or collect... all of it is great fun! A much faster pace than the Secret Agent game, and thankfully none of those silly costume changes between "action" and "stealth" modes. This is a game we'll be able to play for years to come.

To be continued...
That's how the game ends - "To be Continued..." my daughter was quite disappointed. The game is ok but it is mostly running, jumping and the difficulty comes from timing and precision jumping. It certainly frustrated her and bored me at times. Overall she definitely liked it but she prefers Secret Agent Barbie much more. Graphics are good and engaging. My daughter's favorite part is the movie-type scenes at the beginning. She was really excited at the end when it went in to movie mode "I love it when she does things by herself" but then - to be continued

really, really hard
This game is rated for ages 6 and up, but even at the easiest level, it was so difficult, my 9-year-old was in tears.

Barbie Software Is For all Ages
You may think Barbie is for babies, but her software games are really fun. I know I enjoy playing hem with my daughter. Almost every year for christmas she asks for something Barbie. Mostly her software. Her spftware are foun and exciting and keep you fixed on them. hey never let you get board. The 2 best ones my daughter recomends are Barbie "Secret Agent. In this program you go all over the world to solve acase of stolen material from a fashion show. The other one is Barbie "Snowboarding." It's something that your kids love to dram of doing. So for Christmas this year go out and buy your daughter some Barbie software!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

It's a beloved children's classic in a brand-new format, and kids are sure to love all the new music, games, and creative activities on this CD. Throughout the software, The Cat in the Hat is read aloud by a narrator, and children are presented with two choices: follow along with the story or play with the games and clickables hidden on every page.

Games are designed simply, and preschoolers will be able to master them without much difficulty (older children may find them a bit too easy to bother with repeat play). Throughout the story narration, early readers will benefit from seeing the highlighted words on each page--they're repeated frequently. It's a great way to foster word recognition.

This software also teaches toddlers how to get the hang of using a mouse. They're encouraged to turn "pages" by clicking on the Cat's glove icon; they'll find this action easy and instantly gratifying, since kids can click anywhere in the vicinity and still receive hilarious results.

Who knows, maybe helping the Cat with the Clean-Up Machine will inspire your little ones to put their own toys away! --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Cat in the Hat is Alive!
I recommend this interactive book to anyone with small children. My 4 year old loves the read and play portion of the program. My 2 year old, who doesn't sit still long enough to catch her breath turns on the computer and insists on Cat in the Hat. As she is not quite old enough to handle the mouse on her own, I click the read segment for her. She sits through the entire book laughing at the Cat's silly antics, repeating words, and humming along with the music. It is the best of both worlds, a classic children's story come alive.

My Son Loves It
My 3 1/2 year old son is already a huge fan of Dr. Seuss. I bought the software because he loved the book so much and he was delighted. A child can choose to have the computer read the book to them or they can choose to play along. When they play along, it stops on certain screens and allows the child to click and interact with the characters and text. For example they can help the Cat in the Hat clean up his mess by clicking on the scattered items on the floor. My son is constantly saying "Mommy watch this...". I couldn't pull him away from this game when we first brought it home. He still pulls this game out quite often. The best part is that he still loves all the Dr. Seuss books. The software won't take away from the traditional form of Dr. Seuss.

The Cat in the Hat software
This is a wonderful way to get young kids interested in the computer. The software follows the book almost word for word, plus the words appear on the screen, and are highlighted when said. Your child has the option of allowing the book to be read to them or playing within the pages. My daughter has been using this since she was two and a half. She loves to click on the various items on the screen and see the action. This is her favorite software. It is nonthreatening, and fun, plus kids become more familiar with the words as they appear on the screen. Highly recommend for 2-5. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My 4 year old loves this game.
I bought this game as part of a package that came with a Rescue Heroes game, a Tonka Truck game, and a Lego soccer game (thinking my son would especially love the Rescue Heroes game).My 4 year old had never even heard of Jimmy Neutron.He barely plays the other games, but he absolutely loves this game.He can sit and play it for hours. I like that I can save the game at several different points so that when my son wants to go back and play a different level I just load up what I have already saved. Most of it is not too challenging for him - there are a few parts that he has needed some help. There are lots of new things to explore each time he plays the game.I also like that on most of the levels Jimmy's dog Goddard shows you which way you need to go.My one complaint is that once the program has played the instructions there is no way to go back and review what you are supposed to be doing on that level.A few times my son did not understand the instructions and since I hadn't heard them it was hard for me to figure out what he was supposed to be doing.

Jimmy Neutron vs. Jimmy Negatron
I LOVE Jimmy Neutron vs. Jimmy Negatron SO much!
Especialy The parts where Jimmy chases Jimmy Negatron!

Hours of fun
I bought this for my eight-year-old daughter, and both of us just love playing it.I think the graphics could be better, I would particularly have preferred smoother flowing graphics, but the game itself is great fun.We've played the game over and over, and there are always new little niches to find that we didn't find before.In this game, Jimmy gets to walk, jump, swim, fly, swing, slide, navigate a submarine and a helicopter (thanks Goddard!).The story line is funny, and is very much in keeping with the characters from the show.It's a game my daughter returns to over and over.

Almost excellent!
This game is awesome! It takes a while for the cut scenes to load and some levels were boring but the game is just plain awesome. This game is definetly for 8-12 year olds anyone older could beat the game very easily.

LOVE IT
I got this for my ADHD grandson who is 8 years old. He just loves it. He wants to be smart like Jimmy. This works great on my XP computer but not my windows 98. The game is action packed with no violents. Thanks for a GREAT game. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Can't run software on a computer with 1GB memory
I have the same problem on a computer running Windows 2000 with 1GB memory. The software won't start and gives me the error message "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". I know there is more than 3MB of free virtual memory on my computer. I tried different virtual memory setting and found that setting virtual memory to 128MB would cause the software to run. It is obvious that the software has mis-calculated the available virtual memory. It interprets virtual memory > 1GB as less than 3MB virtual memory. I have sent email to the technical support at Encore and are waiting for their reply. I share the previous reader's opinion that setting the virtual memory to a lower setting is not an acceptable solution.

However, after I started the program, I like the interface and graphic. The software is better than "Mind Power Math Middle School" from the Learning Company. I also like that it has a game where you can test your skill.

I will write an update after I receive a reply from Encore.

Way around memory problem
Haven't tried this software but had same problem with some other software, the error message: "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". The only fix is to change your virtual memory settings to something below 500mb or to exactly 4000mb. Of course, I chose 4000mb since I have a large hard drive and almost 1 gig of memory on this pc.

So the full fix is:
From the Windows XP desktop, select the Start button, right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties from the resulting menu.

Click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Settings button within the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window, click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.

Click the Custom size button...
Change the Initial size (MB) setting to 4000
Change the Maximum size (MB) setting to 4000

Select SET to accept the change, which will close the Virtual Memory window. Select OK to close the Performance Options window. And select OK to exit the System Properties window.

$40 + junk = angry customer
This is a faulty and buggy piece of software. It will not run on my PC (XP Home)without me changing my Virtual Memory from 1000 mb to 200 mb...what an absurdity! The developer offers no solution other than to change my VM everytime I want to use their software.

Well, forget it. They're not the only game in town.

It's Great!!
I have the Elementary Advantage, and I'm about to go into Middle School Advantage. I find these programs are excellent. I am a homeschooling parent, and the Elementary Advantage suite have done a great job in assisting me with teaching my child. I've learned a lot myself. My son is about to enter middle school grades, and as I explore the the Middle School Advantage suite, I marvel at how well its put together. I have not run into answers that are wrong as was the claim of one reviewer. But, that does not bother me because you will find wrong answers in educational books written by the best educators. I focus on the how well I am taught the subject. If I can catch the wrong answers then I was taught well. I paid only $24.99 for each suite. I also have a Dell Dimension 4600, and the programs run fine. For all those having a problem running the program. You better get a Dell, Dude! For the money, IT'S GREAT!

Not Recommended
If this program can confuse X and Y intercepts I can only imagine what else may be wrong with it. I just purchased this for my son today, but will be returning it tomorrow. He has a placement test in 2 weeks and I don't want him to blow it because of this faulty software. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Not impress with its presentation and graphic
I brought this software for my six-grader. I always like the learning company's product but this one does not impress me at all. The graphic is primitive and the presentation is boring. There is no extra practice or test you can do. My son ran through all the CD's but he really does not enjoy it. I just brought Math Advantage 2004. I have problem running the problem on a computer with 1GB of memory. But I install it on another machine and it works. I like the presentation much better and my son seems to like it too. It has an examination area where you can test your understanding and a game area to make it more fun.

My son loves it!
My son is in fifth grade and loves it, he is working on the first disk (4 disk set) and is very excited with the program. I don't remember being excited about learning math when I was his age.
I had a problem when the program was first installed, the splash screen came up and when you clicked on the start button, the window opened up in Internet Explorer and was just a blank screen with a blue background (never loaded the Flash menu). I went to Macromedia's web site and reinstalled Flash Viewer and the program loaded correctly. I am running a PII 450 with Windows XP, I have not had any other concerns with the software and would recommend the program.

Horrible
This package appears ideal: it covers a lot of Middle School math subjects, over 4 CDs. The problem is, the creators of this software (which runs very slowly in your web browser!) have been a little too cute -- instead of just presenting the material, they run you through these elaborate scenarios requiring that you keep track of an entire fictional situation, and in using this with kids, they lose interest immediately because they're expending far too much time and mental energy just trying to figure out either what the question is, or trying to whittle down the real math problem inside of some elaborate story. It's a huge time waster and is monumentally frustrating. For example, one such headache, the 'Estimating Quotients" lessons, revolve around a story about connecting the intercontinental railroad, measuring the railroad ties, space between, etc., etc., with lots of other information that confuses the child. This is the common theme. I run the software, and the kids can't figue out what the h&ll the question is!
It might not be so bad if these 'mathematical problem scenarios' were used after the basics had been covered, but instead are the norm in presenting the material for the first time. The result is that the kids are totally lost and just don't get it.

Also, this software takes an extraodinarilly long time to cover a miniscule amount of mathematics. They could have easily fit the entire course on one CD, with plenty of room to spare, had they simply covered the basics, instead of making everything a 'challenging problem, or game, or complicated scanario. I can see where they might have thought that this would make learning math enjoyable, but in practice the kids are lost half way through each lesson.

This program is revolutionary, avoid its competitor
This is an ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT PROGRAM, so much so that easily threatens the job security of a better than average math teacher.
The presentation relative to the rest of the field is revolutionary. I really don't see how a teacher scribbling on a chalk board or even trying to answer questions in a class room session would be as effective as this program. Every presentation is perfectly clear and the explanations are driven by the amount of information the user needs.

The comments about the graphics are irrelevant, the graphics do exactly what they are supposed to, which in part involves not distracting the user...

The only thing I could recommend to the Learning company about this product is that spice up the packaging a little, because that is all their competitor really has.

EXCELLENT and engaging...after fixing installation problems.
I bought this software because I love The Learning Company's (TLC)software. You won't believe the difficulties that I've gone through in installing this software in my new Computer (Windows ME). I have fixed the problem by going to the Macromedia website and downloaded "Macromedia Flash Player". Afterwards this software (Mind Power Math Middle School) run perfectly. My son enjoyed its delightful graphics and excellent mathematics presentation. It's worth all its troubles, it is just EXCELLENT!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This two-disc set is packed with 15 educational activities covering math, reading, creativity, and more. Arthur's 2nd Grade teaches a full year's worth of second-grade skills and entertains your child in the process.Plus, kids can track their progress with the Goal Checker and enjoy the three new reward activities after successfully completing the learning activities. (Ages 6 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Arthur's Second Grade
This is a good game that will prepare your child for the 2nd grade.

A Good Buy
Arthur's Second Grade is a fun, challenging CD for 1st and 2nd Grade Children. Auto leveling (which challenges the child upon completion of a section of the CD), options to turn on and off the printer and background music, as well as suprises and rewards along the way make the CD experience interesting, stimulating and educational. My only complaint would be that the child's reading skills sections are uneven: sometimes too challenging, while in other places too easy, and that some math techniques could be more clearly explained. However, this CD is well worth the money and should provide hours of educational fun for your child. ... Read more

Features

• Exploring Clifford's fun-filled neighborhood, children discover reading activities
• 7 adjustable levels that continually introduce new letters, sounds, and words
• Over 100 reading lessons; 15 printable activities; interactive and printable bonus books
• Kids practice reading aloud by recording stories in their own voice
• Progress report allows you to track your child's development; for kids ages 4-6

Reviews (1)

excellent
My daughter is almost 5 years old and loves this and all the scholastic games we have purchased since she is 2 years old. Very educational AND FUN and superior to other brands. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Engaging and useful software game
This program is cheerful and fun. My kids love it. The educational content is strong yet it still manages to hold children's interest. Good for children who need to reinforce simple phonics, like beginning sounds, ending sounds, long and short vowel sounds, etc. Inexpensive and very recommended!

poor excuse for a phonics program
This program has nothing that could assist any child learn or review phonics. The so-called game reward is merely more work, and the work has no value ! If you are looking for a program that provides a learning experience, look elsewhere. If you think this will provide some sort of meaningful review of phonics, you will be quite disappointed.
The producers of this program should hang their heads in shame! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Problem solving is at the fore of Curious George Downtown Adventure, a game that pits the inquisitive monkey against his own clumsiness! George has caused a series of minor accidents while shopping downtown with the Man in the Yellow Hat. Among other faux pas, he has trapped a window washer halfway up a building and lost someone's fan in a dumpster. In order to put everything right, George will have to travel all over the city, putting together the gadgets he needs to get the job done!

There are about 60 puzzles in this game, each structured as a challenge of mechanics. George must put together a group of simple devices like trampolines, ladders, and conveyer belts to move him to his current goal. Heavy objects can be dropped onto crates in need of shattering, while ramps and trampolines can get the monkey up to the otherwise inaccessible levels of the puzzle. Completion of some tasks will earn the player more "curiosity tools"--gizmos designed to help with the harder challenges. Be warned, though--sometimes finishing a puzzle just causes George to have another mishap!

Mechanically based puzzle games are nothing new, teaching basic physical concepts like gravity and momentum to children while giving their creativity a workout. In fact, some of these other games are vastly more complex, inventive, and rigorously devoted to the chain of cause and effect than Curious George Downtown Adventure. Even so, this package is competently designed and makes an excellent choice for kids who are newer to this form of gameplay. Its graphic design and interface are appealing, while its challenges increase in difficulty at a gentle pace. The game also offers plenty of help and encouragement for players who get stuck, and most of its puzzles have more than one solution, giving children an opportunity to try out new strategies as George tries to rescue balloons, elephants, and electric fans by the score. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Features

• Help Curious George get out of predicaments by solving puzzles
• Over 60 different puzzle games for kids to solve again and again
• Curiosity Meter rewards kids with banana points
• Four unique locations allow for greater enjoyment and exploration
• Includes bonus Curious George book set

Reviews (8)

Great Game
My 5 year old son loves this game. He has played through it 11 times in the last 6 months. Very original game that requires some planning and thought on where to put different items in order to move George through each situation. Also a help key that gives the answer away if you get frustrated.

A great problem solving game!
I really like this game for my four year old, because it is different. It doesn't teach phonics, math or music, but the more abstract problem solving skills. And, he loves it because it's fun! He has to put together a sequence of events to get to the desired object. Very well designed!

Only one complaint
My 5-year-old son loves this program. However, he is frustrated that he cannot enter one area because we don't have the "booster code." How do you get a booster code? You have to buy another product from the same company. It upsets me that the company cannot rely on the fine quality of their products to sell more, but have to resort to ambushing parents with a marketing gimmick that a 5-year-old is too young to understand.

Once again, voted greatest Uncle of all time
My niece and I have a mutual understanding- monkeys are cool. It started with a monkey puppet "the tickle monkey" and evolved into Curious George toys. For her 3rd birthday I sent her very first software. She was very excited to get started on the computer (at long last since my sister has been fighting her off it) and loves it.
My sister feels this is a great introduction for her to the PC and she loves George's adventures. I'm looking forward to giving it a try myself, but until then I'll have to go on the assurance of a 3 year old that it is a great program.
(Well, her mom loves it too)

Too hard for a 3 year old
This is a well-designed game and my son really likes to watch us play it but he is light years away from being able to do it himself. Frankly, my husband and I had trouble with a lot of the puzzles ourselves and we are both engineers. I was surprised that the previous reviewer said her 4 year old could do it, since I thought it would be pretty hard even for a six year old. Maybe we just haven't had enough practice yet. ... Read more

Features

• Children gain: Confidence, Creativity, and Inspiration

Amazon.com Product Description

This four-program collection nurtures essential early reading skills through warm, whimsical experiences designed just for younger learners. Explore key topics in the pre-grade school reading and writing curriculum through a series of exciting adventures, engaging stories, and irresistible games. Tackle topics like letter names and sounds, short and long vowels, building simple words, predicting story events, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Join the Rescue Heroes team to save the planet! Burning meteorites from space slam into Earth, setting off worldwide disasters. Blast water at raging brushfires, snowboard down hair-raising avalanche-covered slopes, race a water rescue craft through deep floodwaters, and more. Rescuing the world has never been so much fun. Features include four action-packed missions around the globe, seven exciting activities with three levels of gameplay, and game controls that put you in command. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

mediocre software for avid Rescue Heroes fans only
Meteors have hit the planet, resulting in a series of widely scattered emergencies that require the Rescue Heroes to intervene -- and they need your help!!

The graphics are good, the intro is exciting .... but after that the game is totally mediocre. Four activities have three levels of difficulty, but they are quite tedious no matter what level you play. (1) Move around a water maze to rescue people in a flooded movie studio, and shoot a life preserver over a moving line of floating objects. (2) Navigate a maze on a rock face as you rescue stranded climbers while avoiding vicious eagles and snakes. (3) Aim a hose at brush fires so you can find and rescue animals on an African preserve. (4) Snowboard down a ski slope without hitting the shrubbery so you can dig people out from under an avalanche.

The hype is here, but the games are very boring. Your child has little flexibility or independence when performing tasks, and those tasks probably use only 2% of your child's brain power. For example, in order to dig people out of the avalanche, you click on the snow cave over and over, it doesn't matter where, until the person trapped within tells you how great you are -- and every time it's the same person in the snow cave. Each game is rather mindless in this way. There is little reasoning required and no skills acquired.

This is lame software that has neither educational value nor excitement. When there are so many worthwhile children's software titles out there, don't waste your money or your child's time on this lazy stuff. It may be worthwhile for the truly avid Rescue Heroes fan, but even that is doubtful. This was our first Rescue Heroes title. It is also our last.

Lava Landslide
I gave this game to my son as an early birthday present. He's almost four and loves the Rescue Heroes. The reviews I read were mixed so I decided to buy it anyway. I'm really glad I did. Sure it's challenging, but it's a good excuse for the parents to get involved. First I did the hard parts for him, to show him what needed to be done. Then I guided him through them and finally he ended up doing it all by himself. He was so proud when he accomplished the hard tasks that he couldn't do at first!

Unlike most computer games this one requires the use of the arrow keys instead of the mouse. Well, it's always nice to learn new skills.
I can't wait to give my son the two other RH games I baught for his birthday. I have no doubt he'll love them too.

Inaginext Pirate Raider
I gave it a 1 because they did not have a 0, to give. I bought this game for my son and I try to install it and it tells me that it has encountered an error. I go to the web site and it tells me what to do with that error, but after I do what it told me it does the same error thing again. My son and I both got so frustrated and finally gave up. I am returning it to the place where I purchased it for a full refund. Good luck for those of you that also bought this Horrible Game.

Frustrating game for my almost 5 yr. old
I agree with other reviews that the mouse clicking is very difficult. It's difficult to maneuver the men around. My son tried for a few minutes, became so frustrated, I finished the one mission, but couldn't get him to do any more. Would recommend the I Spy software - ages 6-10, but he loves it! Don't have to know how to read.

Yeah Pirate Raider!
My 7-year-old LOVES this game. He'd play from sun up to sun down if I let him. I hear him cheering and clapping in the other room and he's having so much fun!
I'm VERY anti-violence, so when he got this game I was concerned. I was pleased to discover that although the ships sometimes fire on each other, no people are ever involved. This makes it so much more abstract and less about killing. When you capture forts, you fire on canons only and never see people. When you capture other ships, your knife is used only to chop up fruit that's thrown at you by skeletons. Once you capture their gold, you're on your way to fulfill another mission.
Frankly, this game is so much fun I have to admit to playing it myself! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Dive into the deep sea with Blaster and G.C. in search of sunken treasure. Wind your way through crazy coral reef mazes and race sea horses straight to the finish line. Uncover the pirate's treasure and rule the seven seas. Get ready, set, and start clicking. Along the way, kids can learn valuable language arts skills like phonics, spelling, capital and lowercase letters, sentences, and more. ... Read more