Looking for a science reinforcement program for your 5-11 year olds? This new program from Kutoka is a lot of fun, and includes rather nice graphical effects.

Science Subjects Included:
Plants and their Parts
Animals, their habitats, their eating habits, and how to classify them
Weather
Solar System
Earth Science
The Human Body
Heat Energy
Properties of Matter
Fossils
Electricity and Magnetism

Mia 2: Romaine's New Hat is a surprisingly fun program. I was rather frustrated trying to run this program on my slower 200 MMX computer, but once I switched to a higher powered machine it was a much more pleasant experience. I did not feel the graphics were adequate near the minimum requirement level list on the box of 166 MHz.

The graphics are really fun if your system can handle them. Kids will love the 3D effects which have a bit of a console feel to them. Mia is a cute little mouse, who gets caught in a rain storm, loosing her mother's hat. A wrotten rat named Romaine ends up with the hat, and Mia must now try to replace the hat. She explores her world looking for "sparklies" which will, in theory, buy her mother a new hat. The science instruction and reinforcement comes in throughout her explorations.

Your child can tell Mia which direction to go, who to visit with, and what to pick up. Kids who are extremely adept with video games may find the gameplay a bit dull. There is not a lot of difficulty in the manuevering.

As Mia explores, she meets folks who give little science lessons, or science quizes. While much of it is question and answer, there are some interactive lessons, including some fun space lessons.

For kids who like science or enjoy games that send them on "quests" this game is a great choice. Do not depend on it for your "science instruction." It is a great reinforcing program, however.

Grading for Mia 2: Romaine's New Hat Educational Value: 4 Entertainment Value: 4 Replay Value: 4