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Mighty Math Number Heroes

Review

by Lisa Karen Savignano

Edmark is well-known for its educational software--products that get kids to learn while they are having fun. Mighty Math Number Heroes tackles third-to-sixth grade math, covering fractions, probability, geometry, analogies, shapes, numbers, and patterns as well as the traditional adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Each area of the program, save for Quizzo, covers one specific area.

Fraction Man teaches fractions, letting kids choose from among four different types of fireworks to show their fractions and from five different colors (unless the problem specifies a color). After kids have solved the problem, they can launch their fireworks into the night sky and hear people ooh and ahh over them, plus get some feedback from Fraction Man himself.

Handsome Chance teaches Probability. Chance can't make up his mind what colors and accessories his action figures are to be: he believes each is equally handsome. So, he set up his factory to make the figures random, according to spinners he has set up. Kids have to answer questions about which colors and accessories are more likely or less likely to show up in the completed action figures. To help them, they can build the action figures and check the results on a graph.

Geocomputer fields geometry questions from Geobot and asks the children to help answer them. Questions range from the easy (pick all the triangles) to hard (make a flipped version of this figure). Buttons allow the kids to turn, flip, duplicate or draw lines on the screen.

Quizzo is a game show run by Star Brilliant. Kids play against opponents like Apple Aday. Unfortunately, their opponents, no matter who they pick, are totally silent.

Kids get to answer questions on various math topics. As the difficulty goes up, the point values get bigger and the questions get harder. Whereas subtraction problems may have kids filling in the answers only in the easier problems, the harder problems will have kids filling in part of the numbers being subtracted as well as the answer in the more difficult problems.

This program is excellent at teaching kids math, though the congratulations players get from the heroes gets repetitious. It may even turn kids off to hear the same congratulations repeat 20 or 30 times in a row. Worse, the congratulations sound pretty lame. They were meant to sound heroic, but they certainly don't come off that way.

However, that and the silent opponents in Quizzo are the worst flaws I find. The different super heroes' tasks are challenging without being impossible, and get more difficult as the child solves problems correctly. The slide can be set either by the parent or the child.

In addition, every area except Quizzo allows children to explore the concepts given in math or simply have fun. Create amazing multicolored fireworks or beautiful geometric designs and design your own Handsome Chance action figures.

This CD-ROM gives kids lots to do, learn, and explore. Even kids who are having problems with math can learn here at their own pace.


Graphics graphics rating

Big and bright and cartoonish, they reminded me of some early comic books.

Sound sound rating

Voices are true and clear, stating the problems clearly for the children.

Enjoyment enjoyment rating

Aside from the repetetive congratulations from the heroes, the games are fun and enjoyable.

Replay Value replay rating

Your kids will keep playing this until they get too old for it.

Documentation documentation rating

A manual filled with information on the games, a quickstart guide, and a section for adult options.