Rockett's Secret Invitation

PC version requires:
Win95, 486-66, 16M RAM, 15M hard drive, CDx2

Mac version requires:
68040/33MHZ, 8MB RAM, 10MB HD, System 7.1, 2x CD-ROM, 256 colors

Description:

This is Rockett's third adventure at Whistling Pines, Jr. High. In the first one, Rockett's New School, Rockett navigates her way through her first day at a new school, and in the second title, Rockett's Tricky Decision, Rockett must decide which Halloween party to attend. Now she is faced with the choice of either joining the CSG's (an exclusive clique), or refusing the Secret Invitation.

Whether or not to join the CSG's is not as simple as it may seem, as the reason for the invitation is based on the CSG's believing that Rockett is a Sagittarius, when in fact her birthday is in the summer. This false assumption came about because of something that happened in the first game, and Rockett must decide whether to 'fess up or not. There is another complicating factor, but we will leave that for the player to discover. Even though the situations in Secret Invitation arise because of past happenings in the first game, playing the first game is not a prerequisite for this one; the player can discover all the information necessary by looking in Rockett's diary.

Again, kids can find out all the secrets of the fellow students of WPJH by visiting the lockers in the hallway, plus the Teacher's Lounge, and the school newspaper. A new item is the Truth Glasses, which pop up at certain points of the game. When they appear, kids need to go find them in the hallway, then place them over the students to spy out there secret thoughts at the moment.

Features:

• Rockett!
• Change the path of the game
• Find out secrets in the lockers
• Typical school social situations

Technical Aspects:

No problems during installation, and everthing ran well. The animation is the same, cartoony, but I did notice a subtle difference in the drawing of the characters, the lines were thinner, making for a slightly different look for Rockett and friends. Her voice is totally different, too.

Report and Conclusions:

Rockett's Secret Invitation is an enjoyable game, wherein girls can have all the fun of deciding Rockett's decisions, and find out all the secrets of fellow students via their lockers. Most girls are preoccupied with the social aspects of middle school, and the subject matter here of cliques is right on target for this age group. However, this title seems to be inundated with more "teen jargon", way more than the earlier titles, in fact almost a parody of teen speech. And Rockett's new voice just doesn't seem to fit her bubbly character very well, in our family's opinion.

Parents need to remember that this "girls game" appeals to certain types of girls; not all girls will automatically like this game. But if you have a girl (8-12) who is socially conscious, likes clothes, and finding out what others REALLLY think about her, then this is the game for them!