Fun interactive computer game with lots of extras!
929247
I have to admit it was kind of rocky getting started. It took a long time to download to my computer and the controls were hard to get used to...but after all that...this game is really alot of fun! It comes with a real turbo hot wheels car that the handheld console recognizes when you attach it. The car you attach is the car you will be driving. (I guess you can buy the other cars separately.) You race in one of 8 different racing games which you have to unlock. Everytime you finish your race you get points that you accumulate to buy special features for the car. The added bonus is that you can go to the hotwheels website and play over 20 mini games also! Overall this was a big hit for my boys!
614338
This software is NOT Mac compatible, despite saying so.  Two minutes after running it on our Mac, the game froze. Turning the Mac off and then back on didn't quit the game; we had to Force Quit the game, which took some time [option+command+esc].  HOWEVER - we then installed it on our PC and it runs very well.

This game is fun and enjoyable. It probably appeals to kids ages 7 to 12 (give or take), and I certainly enjoy sitting down with a cup of coffee and playing for awhile. When one of kids sit down to play, eventually the other kids look over their shoulder and everyone gets involved in the "I Spy" type sections and puzzle solving.

There are interesting, cluttered-full museum rooms, with detailed graphics, and there's a task for each room - finding a way to escape, collecting items, etc.  The item collection is very similar to an "I Spy" game. Other rooms require problem solving skills. The game reuses rooms for different puzzles, which is fun. Once a player figures out how to navigate the rooms, the task icons alone are helpful, so it works for younger players, although there is a need to read for instructions and clues. The concept of being trapped (and the mom and daughter separated during the earthquake aftermath) might be mildly worrisome for young players. The sound can be a little annoying so we just turn that off.

There's a story narrative that's a flat cartoon with voice narration & dialog boxes, which sets up the earthquake story and gives game instructions. There is a "Skip" logo on these dialog pages which doesn't skip the whole screen but only moves along the dialog.  Players can skip these dialog sections without compromising game play.

There's a map that shows progress through the game, and which rooms have been "escaped", and a % box shows game progress. Returning to a saved game is easy and the game takes you right to the map to see where you left off.

This is a fun (even when the problem solving gets difficult!) game - just don't try and run it on a Mac!
4596743
This game is a lot of fun for the whole family (of over 3s as there are a lot of really small pieces).  This teaches shape recognition and balancing in a fun way.  We also have our daughter count the pieces as we put it away.  The average game is approx 5 minutes and it really is fun to play with our child. I like that all of the pieces tuck back into a little bag and it storeseasily in it's container!  This makes a great eco-friendly gift as well!
4893045
Fun game, great pictures for wizards and jesters.  Just a hint: make copies of the included score card sheet and enlarge them if you want to be able to see your scores!
2534265
All my family and friends (26 to 86 years old) have fun while playing this game -
it's fairly intriguing, reasonably timed, well designed, using nice materials.
I would only suggest two improvements:
a) 4 tile rails on the racks instead of 3, and
b) making orange color closer to yellow for an easier distinguishing from red...
Overall - very happy with the purchase of 2 sets - for myself and for my friends.
1693365
This is full of great graphics and interactive features.
4861741
This is a very fun and interactive game. It's not a sit around the table for hours kind of game. You can get as creative as you want with the obstacle course and use the entire house like we do, or keep it just around one room. It also helps children work on so many skills. They have to figure out how hard to toss the plane, how high, etc. There's an option where you throw with the opposite hand, over your head, backwards, laying down, etc. Then with the choice to change the course each round, you never really do the same thing twice. We decided to also make up our own scenarios as to how to toss the planes, some easier for smaller children and some harder for the bigger ones. The only tiny inconvenience we ran into is that we could use more planes. I guess if we really wanted to we could buy an extra game just for the planes... It would be nice to have the option to buy extra pieces or if it came with a few more already.
Overall, my review is FUN, FUN, FUN!
1208213
I guess I didn't read the fine print because when this arrived it contained 2, not 1 game! Bonus! Totally inexpensive for the one game, very pleased that it was 2.  My kids love these games.  They are fun and very educational.  I have probably every Cluefinders CDrom.  Love them all.  It is so nice when your kid is begging for more computer time so he can play Cluefinders and is happily learning essential math and language art skills as well as geography all at the same time. Works on my Vista which is great because so many of the other educational games don't even though they say they do.
4122243
This is an entertaining and educational adventure for preschool boys and girls.  If your child is new to the computer, this would be a good program for you to help them learn some basic computer skills - very user friendly and interactive.

There are 5 games that will help set a good foundation for learning.  Your child can learn: Problem Solving, Counting and Matching, Colors and Shapes and Computer basics.  The mischievous Swiper entertains as he swipes picnic items.  And there are some cute coloring pictures that can be printed as your child earns them as rewards.

*This review was posted by a member of the Nova Development User Community (NDUC). NDUC members are real people who use Nova Development products and share relevant feedback about the products they use in order to help other users. More information about NDUC, its programs and members is available on the Nova Development website.
2792265
This is an older title, but one of the most fun I've ever played! I had a copy of this game several years ago, and it ran wonderfully on Windows 98. It doesn't work on Windows XP though. :(

My younger sister, who was in elementary school/junior high when we had this game and is now in college, still remembers this game at random times. This ranks in our top 3 games.

Hodj n Podj is basically a collection of classic board games, including my favorite, Mancala. All of the games are thinking games. Kids use their problem solving and logic skills without realizing it. The games are wrapped up in this fantastically random sea-based world, with crazy and wacky characters.

If I were more computer literate, I'd install Windows 98 again just to play this game!
1585387
Granted, my machine is pretty old and can't handle much more complicated than Tropico.  But I still play this game at least once a week.  It is that interesting and addictive!  The music is wonderful, the graphics are not spectacular but are bright and easy to see on my old monitor, and the gameplay is varied and very open.  I like the variety of scenarios as well.  If you have an older computer and need a game, get this one!
324652
A very nice expansion that adds to the fun! I recommend getting this if your all about video game references and all the good geeky stuff that comes with it!
2229871
My kids, aged 7 and 4, are Kim Possible fans, and they both love this game.

Since there is almost no information given in the product description, I will write about how the game is played.  This will give you an idea of what you're buying.
There are two versions of the game you can play: The Basic version for younger children and beginners, and The Advanced version for children wanting more challenge.  In the Basic version, each player is given "A Mission" to complete.  To win the game, you must complete your mission, obtaining four cards  from four different regions of the board, and then capture Dr. Drakken.
The best feature of the game is this: You do not have a single playing piece throughout the game.  The players must use a spinner to determine whether they will be using Kim, Ron, or Rufus on each turn.  On one turn, you might be able to move the Kim Possible piece next to a card you need for your mission.  On your next turn, you might spin Ron and not be able to use the Kim piece -- or perhaps another player will spin Kim and move her away.  Meanwhile, if you spin Dr. Drakken, you can move him to random spots on the board, keeping him away from other players who might be ready to capture him.
In the Advanced version, walls are added to the board, so that you cannot move as freely from region to region.  Also, the cards are not as easy to acquire.  Once you have found a mission card, you must roll a specific number on a die in order to keep it. Kim has the die with the best numbers; Rufus has the weakest die.  In the end, you must roll a 4 to capture Drakken.  (If you are trying to get him with Rufus, good luck!)  Moving more than one piece into the space with your mission card or Drakken improves your chances, since you can add up the dice rolls, but remember, the other players will be "stealing" your players on their turns, possibly moving them away from where you want them.
I have rated the game a 4 on educational value, because the advanced version requires some good strategy.  Overall, I'm glad we got the game; we have a lot of fun playing it.
3816245
All three of my daughters (ages 10-14) love this game!  They would spend hours on the computer creating and engaging in these worlds if we allowed it.  And I appreciate that it is tasteful 95% of the time.
3610135
This is one of our favorite games! The interactive DVD makes it a lot of fun. There are different choices to make which makes the game varied. If you like classic clue you will love this one!
2314927
An interesting and Hilarious game for those that have a wacky side to them!
3939773
Grandkids had a lot of fun with these games.  They help to develop kids computer skills.