Description:
An angry mob is gathering underwater. With sea monster sightings panicking vacationers, Mayor Marlin has shut down a popular park. But now the developer of Coral Cove is urging the townsfish to take matters into their own fins... by driving the creature away. Only the ever-helpful Freddi Fish and her best friend, Luther, can discover the reason for the monster's presence in Coral Cove. The question is, can she solve the puzzle before the crowd attacks the massive beast? Freddi Fish 5: The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove brings the popular mystery-solving duo back to computer screens in a role-playing adventure for children in the ages 4 to 7 range. Players travel through a complex marine village, the park itself, a shipwreck, and many other sites in search of an explanation for the sea monster's presence. Along the way, Freddi copes with a multitude of other problems: returning a lost screwdriver, finding a missing musical jug, repairing a broken microscope, and many others. These small tasks test a player's basic skills in such areas as recognizing shapes, counting, and distinguishing between differing heights and weights. It's no mystery at all why the Freddi Fish games are popular. This package is one of those rare games that truly have it all. The graphics are bright and attractive, visually complex, and yet never confusing. The soundtrack is charming and unobtrusive. The puzzles players must solve are terrifically funny, entertaining children while slipping in a painless dose of educational content. Most importantly, Freddi Fish is a vastly appealing heroine. Her eagerness to be of assistance to any and every fish makes her admirable. She is supported by a large cast of characters, male and female, young and old, including females in strong career roles such as machine repair, law enforcement, and the sciences. The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove is a top-notch mystery, with an equal split between brainteasers, static animation, humor, and arcade-style activities. With a setup that changes the game's puzzles every time players begin, it offers both a lot of fun and a high replay factor. Who could ask for more? --Alyx Dellamonica
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