Description:
Tigger is the one Disney character that seems tailor-made for a computer game. From his chief mode of transport (bouncing) to his jocular can-do attitude ("Collecting honey pots is what Tiggers do best!"), Disney game icons like Buzz Lightyear could learn a thing or two from this peppy pouncer. In Tigger's Honey Hunt, the mission is to guide Tigger through nine levels within the Hundred Acre Wood on a quest for honey pots. Pooh needs the honey pots in order to throw a party, which is a nice central premise: Tigger's task is to be helpful, not blow up the enemy. A secondary goal is collecting snapshots of Winnie the Pooh characters that float through the woods in order to build the pages of a photo album. As difficulty levels increase, the keyboard-controlled Tigger must avoid everything from angry bees to falling rocks to the dreaded Heffalumps and Woozles. If Tigger gets frightened three times, the game is interrupted, and Tigger backtracks to a checkpoint to regain his courage. Easier courses must be mastered before moving on to harder ones. Inspired touches include spider-web trampolines, a richly illustrated book-like format for moving within the program, and a dialog transcript that appears at the bottom of the screen anytime Tigger interacts with one of the many characters along his path. It's a great way to sneak some reading practice into the game, especially with some of the words Tigger concocts. The program's weak spots are the initially inexplicable Classic Mini Games. Kids can leave the main game behind and play Rabbit Says, Pooh Sticks, and Paper, Scissors, Stone. These games are designed for multiple players, which is why they're unwieldy: A single player must use X, D, V, and C on the keyboard to navigate her or his Pooh Stick as it drifts in a stream. Player number two must use number pad 4, 8, 6, and 5. And so forth. It's confusing enough for one player, as these keying sequences aren't explained within the game. Lining up four players along the keyboard would be an exercise in futility. If you can avoid the Heffalumps and tolerate those clunky classic mini games, Tigger's Honey Hunt is an excellent romp through the woods. (Ages 5 and older) --Anne Erickson
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