Matchbox Caterpillar Adventures in Time

Reviewed by Joy Geizer
Published by Mattel Interactive

Age Group: Age 4 to 8, Age 8 and Up
Type: Social Studies, More Fun
Price: Unavailable

Requires: Win 95/98, P166, 32 MB Ram, 50MB HD, 4x CD ROM, direct x 7 or higher, 16 bit sound card, 640x480 256 colors, 1MB video

Description:

Mattel Interactive's Matchbox Caterpillar Adventures in Time game is a lesson in history as well as in construction. The children get the choice of 5 time periods to visit and explore, including Egypt, China, Rome, Camelot, and The Moon. In each time they are required to complete tasks such as build, repair, or clean up using various Caterpillar machines. The player can run over question marks to hear interesting facts and collect points.

This game is also compatible with the CAT controller that came out a few years ago with the Construction Zone CD. The machinery is moved by the mouse, and you can right click to change machines. The game begins in easy mode and you can later change to normal level which doesn't show the "helping hands" and has a few more things that the player is responsible to do.

Features:

  • Also compatible with CAT controller
  • Create and print 3D models!
  • Uncover hidden clues
  • Mouse, arrow keys, or joystick (even force feedback joysticks!) can be used to move machinery

Technical Aspects:

The game installed with no problem and the system met and surpassed many of the minimum requirements. However, the video was not very smooth and was a bit choppy on our 1MB video card during the intro, but ran fine during the game. The first time I played it through there was no sound. I then realized that there is a command centre where the music and sound fx can be turned off. This is good if you have played it through a few times, but you need to hear the instructions the first time around to know what to do.

Report and Conclusions:

Although not historically correct in terms of the children learning about the kinds of tools and machinery that would have been used to build pyramids, they do give the children insight into how helpful those kinds of machinery are to build those kinds of structures. Everyone in the family loved this piece (especially my 7 year old nephew). I was amazed at the facts that the children learned while playing this game, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been made more structurally sound by digging out the ground from under the tower. My son did not get frustrated with the equipment in this piece as he does with another well-known construction game. Although he is 4 years old, he was able to comprehend and make his way through the game. What a great way to mix two very interesting subjects: history and construction!




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