In Medieval Times

Copyright: KBkids.com

You have just found yourself in the village of Wingate around the turn of the century...the thirteenth century! This program takes place around the year 1200 in the late middle ages. You are given several quests which must be completed before attempting the ultimate quest, the Kings Quest. This program is a good combination of entertainment and education.

Nine quests must be completed, each dealing with a different medieval item. The items you must obtain are ale, candle, compass, fire, glass, gun powder, paper, pewter, soap and steel. Each of these items was important to the medieval community. When you are sent on a quest for fire, for example, you must find flint, pyrite, tinder and a bow and drill. You will find out what importance each of these items held, and why you must now find them. A court jester appears throughout the program and serves as your guide. An online glossary of terms explains many important aspects of medieval life. These bits of information are clear, concise and easy to read.

Each quest you are sent on has five different solutions. This extends the game play substantially. You are awarded five points for the first solution, and one extra point for every other solution you can find. You will find the characters responding and talking in an accurate manner, which was a nice educational touch. Be aware that the word "God" is used quite a few times with medieval flare. In the glossary/dictionary you will find more than 170 different terms. While this is an interesting period to study, it is often quite foreign to younger children. This program will make the period much more accessible.

The game play is very similar to Oregon Trail 2 or 3. The characters are actual video clips, the maneuvering within the 3D environment is very similar, and the way you interact with people on the street is almost identical. That is not a bad thing, Oregon Trail has been fantastically popular. If your kids like the Trail programs, they will be quite happy with this new program. As you meet people on the street, you will ask them questions, attempt to purchase things from them or even negotiate a trade. One really fun aspect to this program is the multiple level trades that can be negotiated. For example, you may find an item along the way which has no real value to you. This item may, however, be sold or traded for something you do need in order to complete your quest.

The overhead map included on your screen is a very nice touch as well. You can wander through the street by pointing your cursor in the direction you want to go, or you can access the map and click on the location you would like to visit. Once you have completed one quest, you can access all previous quests for further investigation.

This is a well done program which will teach some of the basic customs of the middle ages. If your children enjoy these exploration based programs, this one will be a hit. If they have not liked the Trail programs in the past, however, they will most likely not enjoy this one either.

Bottom Line: A very well done program in the spirit of Oregon Trail 2 or 3 which teaches medieval customs quite well. More replay value here than meets the eye.

Sorry, this program is no longer available. Watch for it on Ebay.com