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Star Wars Math: Jabba's Game GalaxyReviewed by Kim MoonPublished by Lucas Learning
PC version requires: Mac version requires: Description:
In "Jabba's Game Plaza," we can play Holochex, a variation of checkers with some out-of-this-world game pieces. (I never could beat Jabba the Hutt; we usually ended in a draw.) In "Dueling Dice," we are pitted against the wily Sebulba in something slightly similar to Blackjack. We take turns rolling the dice, adding that number of droids to our respective platforms, in the hopes of coming as close to 30 as possible. If we neglect to "stand" early enough and a roll takes us over a total of thirty droids, they all spill off and Sebulba wins. (A "snake eyes" on the dice also gives a win to Sebulba.) We join Teemto for "Digitto," where we use "digit droids" as we pit our wits against the belching alien as we attempt to make the highest number, lowest number, or match a given number, assigned by chance. (This game is wonderful practice in place value!) Ratts Tyerell is an encouraging opponent in "Ratts' Race," where players have to answer questions to obtain puzzle pieces as we work our way around the game path using our hilarious pathwalkers. When our puzzle is filled, we are allowed to enter the inner path on our quest for the Naboo Globe of Peace. Thankfully, the Chabus are there to help us check our work before submitting our answers, providing onscreen (and "alive") manipulatives for those that need them. Watto's Shop and the Ship Hangar round out the map of this planet, and we visit them to buy parts and then take off in our refurbished ship. (Watto requires exact change, which offers practice in money management.) Once we've collected plenty of space junk, we may return and sell it to Watto for even more credits, cleaning up the planet and making a profit at the same time! Features:
Technical Aspects:Installation was a breeze; I put the CD in, and it did all the work. The graphics, while not being exactly like the movie, were hilarious and engaging. All of the game pieces move!Report and Conclusions:I feel obligated to tell you that we are Star Wars lovers in this house, so we may not be the most objective judges. The game is very well done, and offers enough variety to keep players coming back for more. I do think, however, that the suggested age range (6-9) may be more limited than necessary. Many six-year-olds would have trouble keeping up, while many eleven or twelve-year-olds would be interested because of the strategy requirements and difficulty levels provided. If your child adores Star Wars or needs math practice, this game is well worth a look! |  |
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With the typical Star Wars flair for the dramatic, Star Wars Math: Jabba's Game Galaxy opens with our ship being smashed in a crash landing. Just like in the Phantom Menace, we are at the mercy of the cunning Watto the Toydarian, who explains what we need to do to rebuild our ship. By playing the math games, we can collect credits to buy parts to rebuild our ship so that we can complete our important mission. We are provided a map and are allowed to play the games in any order and for whatever length of time we please.
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