Super Solvers Mission T.H.I.N.K

PC version requires:
486-66, 8M RAM, 15M hard drive, CDx2, Windows

Mac version requires:
68040/33 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 15MB free disk space, 2x CD, System 7.0.1

Description:

Description:

Looking for a game that builds thinking skills but is great fun at the same time? You've found it here! This software title is loaded with puzzles and games designed for children ages 7-12. The fifth adventure in The Learning Company's Super Solvers series, Mission T.H.I.N.K. has Morty Maxwell, the Master of Mischief, taking over the Shady Glen Games Factory. This time he has his "Metal Minions" (who are basically cats made out of recycled steel) to help him. The mission is to beat Morty in all five levels of a Strategy Game in order to win the factory back.

Outwitting the Master of Mischief involves navigating through the factory's warehouse collecting game pieces and solving 5 different types of puzzles. In Viewpoints children must work with 2-D drawings of 3-D objects. In Auto Logic, children build cars that meet certain requirements using logical thinking and the use of "and, or, and no" statements. Plan-a-Path involves mental mapping and planning to get a ball into the hole. Continuing patterns of toys on a conveyor belt in Rush Order can be done at any of 4 speeds, which includes no speed at all. Finally, InVENNtory Alert has children sorting toys into Venn Diagrams. There are over 200 puzzles in all and they automatically get more challenging as the child progresses.

While children are building cars and sorting toys, they are learning very important life skills that can benefit them academically as well as on an everyday level. Mental mapping skills, logical thinking, use of diagrams to organize thoughts, spatial visualization skills -- all of these skills are developed.

Features:

• 200+ puzzles that are customizable
• Plenty of hints and the ability to restart puzzles at any time
• Automatic New Player Hints
• Online help
• On/off listen function
• Strategy Game practice mode, played against a Metal Minion or friend
• The choice of playing with or without the Metal Minions
• A Scoring and Ranking billboard outside of the factory

Technical Aspects:

This game works with Windows 95 Autoplay so that it was very easy to install and run. The graphics are good, and the manual is more than sufficient.

Report And Conclusions:

This software is packed with puzzles to solve and games to play. There seems to be an overall message that problem solving is fun and rewarding. Plenty of hints and the ability to solve problems without pressure or punishment makes for an enjoyable experience -- something that children of this age group, perhaps used to games that don't require too much thinking, need to learn. Children are encouraged to experiment.

One of the best things about this title is the fact that it is quite flexible. It can be customized in so many different ways that you'd be hard-pressed to find a child aged about 7-10 that it didn't suit! It is very forgiving, which is great for replayability, yet it isn't too easy either. However, the levels of difficulty are automatic and cannot be adjusted, so older kids may get bored with the easy levels. Perhaps it is more suited for 7-10 year olds for this reason.

My 7 year old son had a great time in his "mission". He got a wonderful mental workout in all areas of logical thinking and problem-solving and had a blast at the same time. Children are having so much fun, they don't need to know they're taking in a good amount of healthy "brain food". This title is challenging yet not frustrating, and taught my son a lesson in perseverance. All in all, this software is one of our favorites. It is a perfect combination of education and fun!