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(More customer reviews)The following review is from www.gamerdad.com
Save the Dinos
by Michael Anderson
September 06, 2007
Save the dinosaurs ... save the world!
Reviewed for PC.
Edutainment - this label is either a blessing or a curse depending on who you ask. But don't ask your kids, just let them play! True edutainment should be both entertaining and educational, but the more a game can teach you stuff while you are just chomping at the bit to keep going, going, going ... the better the game. Save the Dinos is a great example of Edutainment Done Right!
The game is based around the premise of 'Bone Monkeys' who like to run around and steal dinosaur bones, with you given a beach-ball firing cannon and tasked with protecting the dinosaur skeletons. Sounds like a completely toss-away casual game that could be played in a couple of minutes and never touched again - but because of the integration of an awesome model system, great quizzes and tons of bonuses it is terrifically addictive and fun for the whole family. The game features a tremendous 3D modeling of dinosaur skeletons called DinoMorph. This has been used in museum exhibits as well as on shows on the National Geographic and Science Channel networks, and provides stunning realism in the depiction and movement of all of the skeletal elements. And it does this while being able to run on most any decent household computer. The battles are pretty straightforward - you move around the circular dinosaur viewing area using the mouse and fire beach balls to scare away all of the bone monkeys. If you don't scare them off they will hop onto the dino and start hammering away trying to loosen up a bone to steal. And that is the game - three difficulties, ten dinosaurs per difficulty level. Yet there really is so much more. The game has real difficulty levels that will allow young or casual gamers to succeed as well as more experienced action game fans. The Dino Quiz is really critical to why you will love this game - you will learn things you don't know about dinosaurs and will have loads of laughs the whole time. Once you shoot one of the Dino Quiz targets you are launched into a quiz and told what cool thing you will unlock if you get the correct answer. These are things like bowling balls for the cannons, mega-healing stars, and even a boombox that causes everything to dance around - allowing you to bop all of the bone monkeys while they're grooving to the tunes. The quiz poses a question and has the answers floating down from the sky - it is a wacky sort of timed multiple choice quiz! The questions are not terribly hard, but there are likely to be ones you don't know or aren't sure of, and there are always at least two plausible answers to choose from. The other two range from unlikely to downright hilarious - this was one of those game moments where everyone wants to see what is happening and share the laughs. One example would be giving the current name of the dino formerly known as the Brontosaurus - there is the correct Apatosaurus there, but there is also a choice for 'the Dancing Dino'.
The worst thing is that the game is short, but don't let that distract you from the main message - Save the Dinos is the perfect blend of fun and learning that your kids and the rest of your family WILL enjoy! If your computer can run any recent kids games you will be able to play this, and it has multiple dimensions of interaction and play to keep you busy. It offers plenty of fun whether or not your kids are old enough to read without ever feeling too young for adults to enjoy. It is a rare title because it takes a very popular subject and presents it in a way that truly does offer something for folks of all ages!
There is a fine line that developers of true 'edutainment need to walk - too little entertainment and kids won't want to play and too little education and parents won't want to buy it. The best possibility is something that is fun for the whole family. That is exactly what Save the Dinos delivers - family friendly edutainment that is great for anyone in the house!
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This award-wining children’s game received 10 out of 10 on education by Children’s Technology Review Magazine,and GamerDad.com said: "Save the Dinos is a great example of Edutainment Done Right!”The game combines science, action and humor.Kids learn fascinating facts about dinosaurs as they save a magnificent collection of living dinosaur fossils from wacky, bone-stealing monkeys.No reading required, as all text is voiced.Three difficulty levels make it just right for young children or anyone who loves dinos and a good laugh.DinoMorph? technology was used to create the games dinosaurs -- some of the most scientifically accurate digital models ever produced. DinoMorph models have been featured in National Geographic and Science Channel documentaries, as well as in major museum exhibits.The game is rated E for everyone.
