Oz: The Magical Adventure

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous for my 5-year old
Review: I bought this for my five-year-old son last Christmas, and he's been playing it ever since. It has three difficulty levels that keep it fresh over time. Very nicely done!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous for my 5-year old
Review: I got this to span the gap in my kids ages. WHile officially set for 5-8, my 7yr old got thru the highest level of difficulty in one afternoon and my 3yr old son is now on it after a few weeks. WHile fun for them, it is hardly educational. This is just an elaborate puzzle that walks thru OZ, and in that it is very very good. Alas, however, I wanted something more. I think the DK does a lot of the absolute best sorftware and books for kids and we bought a bunch of it this xmass. Apparently my expectations for the medium are too high.

Recommended as entertainment. I guess it is a good deal, given the outrageous prices we pay for movies these days. But I confess that I think we can do better. Much better.

Rating:
Summary: entertainment that is quickly run through
Review: I got this to span the gap in my kids ages. WHile officially set for 5-8, my 7yr old got thru the highest level of difficulty in one afternoon and my 3yr old son is now on it after a few weeks. WHile fun for them, it is hardly educational. This is just an elaborate puzzle that walks thru OZ, and in that it is very very good. Alas, however, I wanted something more. I think the DK does a lot of the absolute best sorftware and books for kids and we bought a bunch of it this xmass. Apparently my expectations for the medium are too high.

Recommended as entertainment. I guess it is a good deal, given the outrageous prices we pay for movies these days. But I confess that I think we can do better. Much better.

Rating:
Summary: Adventures along the Yellow Brick Road ...
Review: I should admit from the outset that I was really excited to play this disk with my daughter, since she has become a Wizard of Oz fanatic. And it did not disappoint! The graphics, settings, and story clips make this software truly a "magical adventure"!

Your child is sent on a mission, along with scarecrow, tinman, and lion, to rescue Dorothy from the wicked witch. To do this, he will need to earn jewels by completing various activities. These cover a wide range of thinking skills - not the traditional phonics and number-type games, but completing patterns, hooking up pipes so that they form a straight tube, weighing, memory activities, etc.

Along the way your child will visit Munchkinland, Emerald City, and the Witch's Mountain - all loosely based on the movie and book, but enough different that they seem fresh. The animation is breathtaking and seems so real that my daughter will only enter the dark woods scene when I'm in the room! Countless other details (the tinman's proper British accent, the lion's loping movements, etc.) make this almost as entertaining as watching a real movie.

The skills covered are math, logic and reasoning, problem-solving, memory, measurement/fractions, and spatial relationships. As mentioned earlier, these are taught through innovative activities: balancing weights until they equal, mixing juice in proper proportions, etc. There are 3 different skills levels offered so there is plenty of activity available to your child.

My one wish is that this software contained an instruction guide or something similar - there is only an advertising insert, so you are "on your own" as far as figuring out how to navigate your way through the program. However, this is probably more of a problem for me as an adult than for children. They seem to absorb computer games quite easily!

This disk is recommended for ages 5-8. My daughter, who is almost 4, could do the easiest level of play without much assistance. She did need some assistance in navigating the program though - learning how to get from one "land" to another, etc.

After your child has gathered all the jewels, he will return to the witch's mountain and rescue Dorothy. Your child will love actually seeing the witch "melt" when a bucket of virtual water is thrown on her!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to buy this software - you won't be sorry!


Rating:
Summary: Great PC game for ages 5-8!!
Review: My son got this computer game for Christmas, it is wonderful. It is so hard to know with pc games these days, and a REALLY good one seems to be harder and harder to find for 5-8 age group. Both of my boys boys enjoy playing it (ages 5 and 7.5). My son had all three levels mastered in one sitting, and still begs to play it everyday. The easy level is pretty easy and the third level is a great challenge for him. We literally have to limit how long he will play, because he might all day if we let him! So, if you have a kiddo enjoys computer games like mine, check this one out....


Rating:
Summary: Oz, a Magical Educational Adventure!
Review: Oz the Magical Adventure is a wonderful educational trip down the yellow brick road. My mom bought this game for my autistic brother and he loves it. The games are entertaining, the characters are wonderful and the animation is highly enjoyable.
This adventure puts you into the story of "The Wizard of Oz". But something has gone terribly wrong. The Wicked Witch has sent one of her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy and Toto. As Dorothy and Toto are carried away from the yellow brick road Glinda the good witch of the South appears to tell the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Lion to keep going to the Emerald City. Once in the throne room of the Emerald City, the Wizard of Oz tells the three companions he will grant their wishes if they rescue Dorothy, kill the Wicked Witch, and bring Dorothy back as proof. He gives you a medallion which will open the door to the witches castle. It's missing nine jewels. The jewels are hidden all around Oz. Your objective now is to help the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion find the jewels and get to Dorothy and Toto. Now it's up to you to save Dorothy, Toto, and all of Oz from the Wicked Witch of the West.
This game is based on the original book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, not the movie with Judy Garland. The game brings out characters from the book, characters from other Oz books, and new characters that are equaly lovable. You must journey with the Tin Man, Sacarecrow, and Lion to locations in Oz such as the Land of the Munchkins, the Land of the Winkies, and the Country of the Quadlings. In each land there are three games. Between each land there are mini games. Some are to transport you between the lands and some are for plain entertainment and don't have any purpose other than that. There are 15 games total.
The games all teach basic logic and directions. For example: In the Land of the Munchkins you must help a juice lady to recover her memory that the wicked witch has stolen. You must listen to her instructions to make a fruity drink that will help her recover and she might be able to tell you where a jewel is hidden. In the land of the Quadlings you must set the water pipes right or the jewel will be stuck. To reset the pipes you need to dircect the colored pipes in different directions so the water will flow the right way.
The games are very educational and entertaining. The animation is brilliant. It really brings Oz to life. The Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow are always at your side and interact with you so you're never alone. Before each game starts you can select levels (Bronze: Easy, Silver: Medium, Gold: Hard). And after each game you can either quit or choose another level and start over. The game really makes you feel like you've fallen into the book and met all the characters. Me and my mom taught my brother how to play each game. He eventually learned to play the games all by himself. We're hoping he will soon progress to the next level. This game provides really good challenges for 4-8 year olds. The game is always changing so it doesn't get boring quickly. I highly recommend it.
So put on your magic slippers, grab your basket, get your dog, and head down the magical yellow brick road for an unforgetable journey through Oz.