Fun Game & Software Reviews

For a comprehensive Games listing for all the family use this link

TrackMania DS

Do you like driving at fast speeds? Do you enjoy the thrill of seeing the floor above your head? In this fast paced, high speed racing game you can drive at speeds unknown to man! Tracks include loops, jumps, turbo boost pads and more wacky ideas straight from the creators at Firebrand studios.

The game offers 3 single player modes such as Race mode, where you are pitted against your racing foes to go for gold or even the rare Firebrand trophy! Other modes include Platform; where you attempt to get to the end of a tricky and mind boggling track, set out to throw you off, and Puzzle mode; in which you are required to build your track using the few pieces provided to get to the finish. 

Also in every difficulty there are three types of driving; Stadium, Desert and Rally, each with 5 tracks of their own resulting in over 100 stunning tracks, all completely different from the last, resulting in ever-exciting gameplay and overall fun.

Another feature is the multiplayer mode in which up to four friends can play at the same time, either with their own game cartridges or hot seat style play on just a single card! You can also create your own custom tracks in the editor mode to play with your friends, and let your creative juices flow. Plus you can buy better track pieces with the ‘coppers’ you earn from beating computer opponents or your friends in multiplayer mode. 

As mentioned earlier you can earn ‘coppers’, which are the in-game currency, to buy either track pieces, new pre-built tracks or skins to spice up your vehicle.

The game is also compatible with the Nintendo DS rumble pack feature

Reviewed by Cameron Blower, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

PLAY AND INTERACT WITH THE SPONGEBOB UNIVERSE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

SpongeBob and Patrick stumble upon a magical pencil that brings whatever it draws to life. Unfortunately, the evil SpongeBob drawing ‘DoodleBob’ gets a

magic pencil of his own which he uses to cause havoc all over Bikini Bottom.

Players will draw their own unique hero that has the power to defeat

DoodleBob’s rogue drawings and rescue SpongeBob and his friends.

GAME FEATURES

• Create your own character and populate the world with your creativity.

• Draw, customize and furnish your own Bikini Bottom home.

• Play against your friends in an exciting two-player VS. mode.

• Battle, erase and redraw enemies as you work your way through the game.

• Over 20 levels, each with their own specific objectives.

Are You Ready For More Amazing PopCap Adventures?

Focus Multimedia, the UK’s leading PC casual games publisher, is delighted to once again team up with casual games pioneer, PopCap Games, to bring another three top game titles to retail shelves for the very first time.

Web favourites Bookworm Adventures, Amazing Adventures The Lost Tomb and Mahjong Escape: Ancient China are now on sale in the UK and Ireland as part of Focus Multimedia’s Essential PC range - all for the suggested retail price of just £9.99 each.

From the makers of classic casual game hits, Bejeweled and Peggle, PopCap’s Bookworm Adventures is a wickedly moreish game of vocabulary valour. A family favourite that sets minds and mouses racing, Bookworm Adventures can help parents relax while giving kids a mental workout and helping them beat the back-to-school Summer ‘brain drain’.

In Bookworm Adventures, players help Lex the Bookworm battle the biggest threat the Great Library has ever known. Put your vocabulary skills to the test by creating the longest and most complex words you possibly can from thecollection of letter tiles you are given.

As you travel through a selection of popular storybooks, you must deliver high-scoring words in order to annihilate your enemies and rescue your friend Cassandra - without being wiped out yourself!

From the makers of the UK’s best-selling “hidden object” game, Mystery P.I. The Lottery Ticket, comes another enthralling title; Amazing Adventures The Lost Tomb.

As an adventurer, you have been chosen to help search the sands of Egypt for a mysterious, long-lost tomb and recover the lost treasures of an ancient pharaoh. Hunt high and low to find items, collect precious scarabs and outwit clever puzzle traps on your quest. Train your eye and your brain as you seek 2000 cleverly hidden objects across more than 100 challenging levels.

Bend your brain while soothing your senses in Mahjong Escape Ancient China. If you’re a fan of the classic puzzle game, then this incarnation is sure to blow you away. You’ve never seen mahjong like this before!

Take part in a 4000-year journey of collecting treasure. This interesting twist on the popular game has you matching magic gold tiles and exploring ancient dynasties, as well as allowing you to enjoy the slower pace of the game. Stunning graphics and relaxing music, coupled with the alternate gameplay make for a truly serene experience.

PopCap Games is already a leading developer and publisher of casual games for platforms including Web, PC, Mac, mobile, Xbox, PS2 and iPod and many more. PopCap games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide. Flagship title, Bejeweled, has sold more than 10 million units across all platforms and PopCap estimates the Bejeweled franchise has consumed roughly 6 billion hours of consumers’ leisure time since 2001.

Bookworm Adventures, Amazing Adventures The Lost Tomb and Mahjong Escape Ancient China are available now for a suggested retail price of £9.99 each including VAT, from all good retail outlets of PC software. The products are also available to purchase direct from www.focusmm.co.uk.

Great games for girls!

Focus Multimedia, the UK’s market-leading publisher of budget PC software, has signed an exclusive deal with Ubisoft® to release titles from their successful Games for Girls range in the UK and Ireland.

Aimed at 6 to 14 year old girls, Imagine® Fashion Designer, Imagine® Pet Vet in Australia and Imagine® Pet Vet at the Zoo join Focus Multimedia’s best-selling range of budget PC software.

Imagine® Fashion Designer puts girls in the shoes of anup-and-coming fashion designer who’s just started a new job at a highly successfulNew York company. Their aim then is to work up through the ranks by completing a series of challenges, whilst at the same time keeping their eyes and ears open for the next hot trends. They must create successful fashion collections, make the models beautiful and progress to the role of Manhattan’s hippest designer.

Imagine® Pet Vet in Australia will appeal to animal lovers, as it has them training to become a master vet in a gorgeous coastal area of Australia.Players will manage their own animal hospital by taking care of the continent’s most popular wildlife, including the popular koalas, kangaroos and dolphins. Girls must learn everything about their cuddly patients in order to become an expert vet.

Imagine® Pet Vet at the Zoo introduces more weird and wonderful creatures to care for! A gorilla with a broken tooth, a polar bear with a sore paw a crocodile suffering from a cold. Players must manage the zoo hospital, respond to emergencies and gain new skills to become the world’s greatest zoo vet!

The Imagine® range is available now. The titles retail at a suggested price of £9.99 each including VAT, from all good stockists of PC software. The products are also available to purchase direct from www.focusmm.co.uk.

© 2007 Lexis Numérique. All Rights Reserved. Published and distributed by Ubisoft Entertainment under exclusive licence from Lexis Numérique. Imagine, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

© 2007 Braingame Publishing GmbH. All Rights Reserved. Published and distributed by UBISOFT Entertainment under license from Braingame Publishing GmbH, Germany. Imagine, Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.

Nancy Drew® PC Game

Focus Multimedia, the UK’s leading publisher of value and casual PC games, has acquired the rights to publish one of the world’s top adventure game franchises. Focus is teaming up with Her Interactive, the designer and developer of the award-winning Nancy Drew PC game series, to bring three titles to stores in the UK and Ireland.

The world’s most famous teen detective has enjoyed incredible longevity and success for over 75 years, with more than 200 million copies of the books in print around the globe. The PC game series stays true to thebrand by delivering the same compelling story telling and content fans expect from the Nancy Drew brand, while incorporating gameplay elements that adventure gamers of all ages will enjoy, including varying difficulty levels, enough puzzling to have players scratching their heads, and lenient options such as “Second Chance” and “Phone a Friend” available.

Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor, Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch and NancyDrew: The Secret of the Old Clock will be re-branded to fit in with the £9.99 Focus Essential label.

retail price is just £9.99 each.

Imagine™ Teacher

Ubisoft proudly presents Imagine Teacher, the newest and most exciting addition to the Imagine range of videogames for the Nintendo DS that gives young girls the chance to live the exciting life of a teacher, and experience life on the other side of the teacher’s desk!   

 Play the role of a teacher in a brand new school, helping your students improve their creativity in many subjects such as music, drawing, and pottery. Start building relationships with your pupils to increase their knowledge and make school as fun as they want it to be. You can also participate in major school events such as parties for the End of the School Year and even organise birthday parties for the students!

Everything you do helps you aim towards upgrading your school to be the most fun and educational place possible! Imagine is a range of games from Ubisoft®for the Nintendo DS that encourages young girls to use their imagination, creativity and have fun creating their own virtual world through a number of different games.

Find out what other games are available in the Imagine™ range at www.yourimaginegame.com!

Here are some reviews for other games in the Imagine Range:

Imagine Baby Club, Imagine Girl Band, Imagine Fashion design, Secret World

Baby Club – it is a very good game, easy to play, hard to look after babies and keep them happy – great fun for all girls. Katie aged 7

Girl Band – really cool, fun to play with instruments, you follow the rhythm to earn money, you can get clothes for the band to wear, change their hair style, put make up on them, go to the library, and generally have great fun. Beth aged 9

Fashion Designer – whenever you do something good you have the chance to design something, you have to complete set tasks to reach a different level – if you complete one task you get another, once the tasks are completed you can design your own fashion. Katie aged 7

Secret World – you can keep you personal diary on here, design your own person, dress them, change their hairstyle, good fun and not too hard find your way round the game. Beth aged 9

PEGGLE

This is a great game for fun, and will have you playing for hours and hours.  You work your way through a number of levels and then move to the challenge section (which gets really hard).  You feel that you have to reach this section, and then the next.  It is addictive but in a fun and harmless way. This game is suitable for all ages and you’re not likely to get bored as there’s so much involved. A great game for anyone who enjoys PC games and is looking for something a little different.  I would recommend this for anyone for a Christmas or Birthday Present.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £9.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

DINER DASH 2

Review by Beth aged 9:

This is a great game where you get to run and serve in restaurants and have to improve them to gain access to new bits and fun things to do.  Its hard as you have to run it like a real restaurant bt great once you understand what you need to do.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £9.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

BRATZ ROCK ANGELZ & BABYZ

Review by Beth aged 9:

This is so cool and a superb game, my friends are jealous and love playing it when they come over.  My favourite is Rock Angels but Babyz is fine to play to.  There are loads of things to go and solve that will keep you entertained for hours.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £9.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

BARNYARD

Review by Katie aged 6:-

This is a brilliant game and so funny.  I love all the characters and the activities are really simple to understand and play.  I could play for hours if my parents would let me.  Think everyone should have a copy.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £4.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

Nemo's Underwater World of Fun – DVD-Rom (For PC)

A great game for all children who love the film, both my 6 and 8 year old girls loved the adventures and challenges of this game. 

You work your way through different levels helping Nemo learn to swim, finding his friends along the way and solving puzzles and challenges at the same time. 

This is another good game to boost creativity, thinking power and problem solving whilst having fun – so the children don’t realise they are being educated at the same time. 

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £4.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

Review submitted 27/6/07

Noddy and the Toyland Fair – DVD-Rom (For PC)

This is a great game for younger children, especially if they like the TV programme.  Children get the chance to take Noddy on an adventure around the town and look for loads of items.  This game helps children learn without them realising it is educational. 

There are two levels to the game so it is great for older ones as well.  One of the best features for a parent is that the voices are as the TV programme which helps children relate to the game. 

Hours of fun for the younger ones; and fun for parents too!

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £4.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

Review submitted 27/6/07

Cars – DVD-Rom (For PC)

For all the children who loved the film will love this game; they get the chance to be Lightning McQueen and race round tracks, roads, the town and do all the things they would love.  You can also race with your friends at the same time, and if you don’t fancy being Lightning McQueen you can choose from 10 characters. 

It kept my children happy for hours, but the one thing I would recommend is that your PC does need a good quality video card to ensure the game runs smoothly.  Overall this is a great game for children used to playing games on their PC.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £4.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

Review submitted 27/6/07

Casper the Magical Toy Store (For PC)

This game is aimed at children 4 -6, but older children also enjoy the simplicity and fun way they have to complete the tasks but also means they can help the younger ones solve the problems posed.

It encourages children to work together to solve the different levels, and unlock sections that are hidden unless completed properly.  The games help children learn new things, how to operate the computer, promotes independent play and to improve their listening and concentration.

Both my children loved this game, more so because it is led by Casper the friendly ghost who guides you round the various levels and helps you out.

This game is available for sale by www.focusmm.co.uk and costs £4.99.

To take advantage of the current Reader Offer for Focus Products, click here.

Review submitted by Heather McLean, 19/4/07

Happy Feet (For Nintendo Wii)

Happy Feet is based on Warner Bros' comedy adventure. You'll jump into the shoes of Mumble, a young penguin born into a nation of singing emperor penguins. In this land, each penguin needs a heartsong to attract a soul mate.

Unfortunately, Mumble is the worst singer in the world. But he is a brilliant tap dancer.

Based on the general storyline of the film, the player will be able to experience life from the point of view of Mumble in music, dance and interaction with the friends and enemies of the penguin's world.

This game is available for sale at www.amazon.co.uk and costs £23.90

Lego Island II (For Playstation 2)

What do the residents of Lego Island fear most? Deconstruction. The mischievous Brickster has broken out of the town jail and turned loose his army of Brickster Bots to take apart the island brick by little plastic brick.

Skateboarding pizza delivery boy Pepper is the island's best hope against this threat, and players will take him through 18 levels based on popular Lego play themes, such as Adventurers, Castle and Lego City.

Players will control different conveyances around the island, like blasting off in a space shuttle and riding on the back of a Pterodactyl, from a first-person perspective. Objectives within the levels include deep-sea-diving for bricks, jousting with the Dark Knight, snake shooting, matching mummies in ancient Egypt, and target parachuting. Friendly Lego figurines are always close by and willing to offer some observations.

This game is available for sale at www.amazon.co.uk and costs £3.95

Sonic the Hedgehog (For XBox 360)

Sonic the Hedgehog returns for his 15th anniversary in Style, as he is plunged into an epic adventure to save princes Elise who has been Kidnapped by the evil Dr Eggman as part of his plans to unleash a force that will threaten the kingdom. Unfortunately a mysterious new opponent is going all out to take to take our blue hero down with all new psychic abilities.

Unless Sonic can prevail, the very future of the world is at stake. Who is this new psychic talent, and what are "The Flames of Disaster"?

This game is available for sale a www.play.com and costs £17.99

Disney's Meet the Robinsons ( For Nintendo DS)

What if you could change the past? What if you could control the future? What if time was on your side? Disney's Meet The Robinsons video game brings the excitement of the film to life. Play as Wilbur Robinson and experience the thrills of time travelling adventure. With a host of crazy gadgets at your disposal, battle enemies and solve puzzles while in pursuit of the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical robotic hat Doris in an attempt to thwart their evil plans.

It's up to you to save the future!

This game is available for sale at www.play.com and costs £14.99 delivered

To submit your own review, please email us at webmgr@primarytimes.net.