By Nancy Kalow
Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon is an adventure game for digital kids – the ones who've learned to use the mouse years before they'll begin to read. Our younger child was thrilled by the many inventive click points and wacky alien characters, while the older one wanted to race through the challenging narrative. The adventure is refreshingly nonviolent, containing reminders of the value of cooperation, friendship, and helping others.
Lenny's MusicToons is another program for nonreaders with a musical bent. Our kids enjoyed solving "musical" jigsaw puzzles, saving kitty
cats from a gorilla, and playing a memory-testing matching game. Players are prompted to choose musicians, back-up performers, setting, props, lighting, and even the order of music tracks. Although I found the characters unattractive and the music motif gimmicky rather than educational, kids definitely like it.
Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon: US$39.95 (floppy disk), $44.95 (CD-ROM). Humongous Entertainment: +1 (206) 485 1212. Lenny's MusicToons: $49.95 (CD-ROM or floppy disk). Paramount Interactive: +1 (415) 813 8040.
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