Game Description
ClueFinders: Math Adventures delivers results by combining math with a mystery. Logic comes into play as you piece together clues to discover where stolen treasures are hidden and identify who took them. As clues are gathered, suspects, locations and treasures are removed from a block of possibilities, represented by a 3D cube. As clues are found, items that do not fit the evidence are removed. You have two chances to reduce the mystery to the correct combination before starting again.
Each of the eight places in the town contains a mathematical activity. For example, the village store teaches sets and groups with some deduction, while the great hall focuses on equations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The tailor works with charts and graphs, just like the library, although with more emphasis on interpreting the information in real numbers. The stable deals with word problems, the ice cave requires balancing equations, the yak pasture teaches perimeter and area, and the rock cave explores geography by classifying and grouping objects, triangles and shapes.
All games are fun, even for players who don’t excel at math. Each activity is about real-life applications, but some of the details or gameplay may cause confusion. The worst offender is the General Store, where the requirement to group items by number, such as four groups of three items each, is not fully explained. Frustration can arise when players put 12 items on a shelf and are told they are incorrect. The lack of a manual compounds the problem, resulting in a game of trial and error just to understand the requirement. The problems take between two and five minutes to solve, but the number is infinite and there are an incredible number of possible combinations.
After completing an activity, a clue to the missing treasures is revealed and some areas, especially later in the game, contain more than one. The clues become more difficult as the game progresses and some are less useful. For example, some clues may eliminate previously excluded suspects, locations, or items. Additionally, the clues become less obvious as “The suspect was wearing green” could become “The suspect uses a notepad.” Some show graphic representations of the people, places or treasures in question, revealing information such as which place has a blue wall or who wears boots.
Each topic is covered in detail, with three levels of difficulty for each task, which change during the game as problems are solved. The game features ADAPT technology, a method by which the game’s difficulty is automatically adjusted to ease problems if a player experiences too much difficulty. Levels can also be changed manually through the options screen. Saved games are automatic when the player quits or a new treasure is acquired. Clues are not only obtained by the villagers, but also through scenes in which the ClueFinders discuss possible suspects.
The game interface is quite simple, with the exception of the general store. Clicking and dragging items on the screen solves most problems, but the rock cave location also uses the left and right arrow keys and the space bar. Those with experience using the mouse will find the game easy to handle.
While the game is intended for children ages 9 to 12, younger children may also find it fun and interesting. Although the game is not open ended and is limited to a maximum of two dozen treasures, it is possible to replay it as clues appear in different places during each game.
Reviewed by AllGame