Review
Carmen reveals her makeover in this new multi-subject quiz game. Her appearance has changed, but the game quality is still quite high. This time, Carmen and her Knowbots are creating havoc by stealing ABC order, swiping radio waves and committing other annoying crimes. Kids must travel to various locations on the globe, match wits with the Knowbots and capture Carmen's corrupt associates. The Knowbots are real know-it-alls, experts in science, math, language arts, music, geography and history. Quiz questions are all multiple choice but take on different formats such as true/false, matching and sequencing. There are many game play options, for instance, the game can be played with one to four players, cooperatively or competitively, and custom questions can be added. In general, this is a likable program and a great vehicle for brushing up on facts and subject area knowledge. It's humorous and also smart- the software remembers what questions you've missed so it can ask them again. Weaknesses of the game include a confusing set of initial directions. You are bombarded with so many instructions at the onset that it's hard to remember what to do and how things work. Also, the program is reading dependent- the multiple choice answers are not read aloud. While this is a good feature for competent readers, it leaves younger kids or struggling readers behind.
Teaches: science, math, art, music, geography, reading, history
Age Range: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue -- From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"
The elusive Carmen Sandiego is back in ThinkQuick Challenge, the latest in the venerable children's software series from The Learning Company. Contrary to expectations, ThinkQuick Challenge, for kids ages 8 to 12, is a mediocre program full of less-than-impressive features and grating sound bites.
The goal of the game is to traverse the world, outsmarting Carmen and her band of accomplices. In an international hot spot of your choosing, you play a quick game, then face Carmen's band of KnowBot robots. You defeat them by answering questions in two subjects from a selection including arts, history, math, and English. When you answer six to ten questions correctly, you gain access to the villain's hideaway, where you must crack a code in order to capture the thief.
Sound fun? It is - for about an hour. It's easy to get sick of the same games and repetitive "hip" dialogue. Even worse, questions you already answered correctly can resurface in the course of a game, and villains you already caught free themselves inexplicably and turn up again.
ThinkQuick does add some spice with multiplayer games, three levels of difficulty, and entertaining graphics but overall, this is one Carmen Sandiego product you may want to elude. -- Cathy Lu
Good News: Multiplayer capability. Lets you adjust difficulty during game. Bad News: Bad News: Questions, dialogue, and activities get repetitive.
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