Richard Scarry's Busytown Best Activity Center Ever

Copyright: KBkids.com

This is a good program for Busytown fans, and computer novices. There is, however, nothing here which is really innovative. It is also not quite as well developed graphically as other Busytown products.

Animated hotspots are activated when your mouse moves over Busytown characters. Their movements are rather bland. Eight activities, with three skill levels are found as you move your mouse around Busytown:

Ski Chalet- A spelling activity covering basic first grade words. You start by simply matching letters to words on-screen. Level two finds you spelling words spoken aloud, and level three is a variation on hangman.

Observatory- A dot-to-dot activity, which reveals pictures of Busytown characters.

Art Studio- An extremely basic art studio is found here. Contains 30 Busytown pictures to color, but this art area is a bit too basic.

Create a Play- In this colorform-type activity, your child will place Busytown characters and props on a stage. You are limited to three characters. Clicking the 'action' button produces a few seconds of random (and rather pointless) movements. A second theater contains great songs on safety at home.

Memory Game- The standard, and overused, concentration game. Here children will match pictures of Busytown items in order to reveal a picture of life in Busytown.

Mr. Fix-it's Maze- Three maze levels are well done. A secret character works his or her way through the maze with your child's help. The character's identity is revealed once the maze is complete.

Billboard Puzzles- These simple puzzles contain pictures of life in Busytown and contain between 9 and 25 pieces depending on the level.

The activities here are cute, just not innovative. Busytown fans will enjoy this one, and kids who have had little exposure to using the computer or a mouse and need practice on something simple and uncomplicated.

Ratings: (based on KBkids.com's 4 star rating system)

Overall: 2 1/2

BrainGain: 2 1/2

FunFactor: 2 1/2

EasePlease: 4

Buy the upgrade to this program, Richard Scarry Busytown 2000 at Amazon!