Customer Reviews

Math Blaster: Master the Basics

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

This concept is good but the user interface and playability is terrible. My 7-year old was frustrated with being forced to use the keyboard and no mouse. And we couldn't figure out a way to go back to the main menu without exiting the game. And playing a later level requires you to go through all the earlier levels. And...did they actually test this thing on humans? What a waste of potential. It is a good concept.

My son had an earlier version of Math Blaster, it was wonderful. I saw this new version and expected more of the same. WRONG!! After 10 minutes of loud sounds, and pulsing video, he was complaining. It was impossible to focus on what he should do with all the distracting background stuff. Never could get to a point where learning might take place. Wish I could get my money back.

After this disaster, we purchased Mia's Math Adventure. This was more in tune with the first Math Blaster.

The focus on this game is definitely making math facts fun. My kids (aged 6 and 9) play it because they want to get to the next level, just as in any other arcade kind of game. They complain that they can't go back and play levels that they've already gotten to - they have to start at the beginning of the game and go to each "game" in turn, whether they want to or not.

I'm glad I got it, because it will help my 9 year old daughter practice those facts, but I don't think it's enough by itself. I haven't found any way to make sure she's limited to levels that aren't too easy for her. It does encourage her to improve her speed.

I bought this for my two sons, ages 6 and 8, to help them develop speed with their memory math skills. What a disappointment. Even when they do know the answer quickly it can take them a good minute to find the actual answer in the game. Each playtime you must start from the beginning a work back up to where you left off. Good for review but it takes so long to get to the levels where practice is really needed. I wish I'd purchased a different product.

I just got a 2006 version of math blasters, I played it for a while and I thought that it was really frustrating and it didnt help me at math at all! I think that anyone who plays it will probably fall right to sleep when they start playing! The box it came in said it was for age 6-12 but I think it is for 6 or 7 year old kids. I really dont think this is a good game to play.

The first kudos I have to give to this software is the ease of installation. It was perhaps the least complicated software programme that I have installed for years. It did not conflict with anything else on my machine, and did not require me to adjust settings or modify anything else. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I am operating on a fairly standard, low-tech machine, and ease of use is very important to me.

This is a fun programme! There are multiple levels, lots of action, lots of colour, good music and a good story line that weaves together the Math Blaster as she or he goes through the different levels. There are various obstacles and perils to overcome, as well as elementary math problems to solve to be able to advance to the next level. For example, at the first level, there is a combination to unlock the door to the next level - this combination can only be solved by solving a simple arithmetic equation. The Math Blaster must jump, run, and collect numbers to solve the equation before advancing.

The higher the level, the greater the difficulty with perils, and the greater the difficulty with math problems. Addition, subtration, equivalents, multiplication, division, simple problem-solving, speed and accuracy, and even some very basic algebra/missing-term concepts are introduced along with way. This is a very clever way to introduce times tables and other kinds of information that is often memorised by simple rote repetition. Playing the game over and over, children with learn both the content and the concepts while being entertained and challenged on multiple levels.

The graphics and game elements should appeal to both girls and boys. The art work reminded me of some of the kinds of animated television shows from Asia; there are comic-book elements of story that link together the different levels. The music is very well done, and appropriate to the science-fiction/mathematical theme; the vocal talents are also well matched to the theme.

This is a programme that is very well done, from both a technical and a teaching standpoint. Kids will want to play the game over and over (adults may want to, too!). The game is set up for multiple players to use the same computer, so they can advance to different levels together, or advance on their own as time and playing permit.

It's a blast!

Let's assume that like most people browsing these games, you want a game that will help your child either practice his math facts or reinforce/learn math concepts. If this is what you want, then keep on looking because this is not the game for you. If you want a game that has lots of noise and moving around with a very minimal amount of math added in an awkward manner, then this would be the game for you.

As someone who actually wanted a math game for my child to practice math with, this is by far the worst math program for my son. As others have pointed out, you're required to run around and jump from ledge to ledge to catch numbers that will add up to the correct answer. That means that even if you know the correct answer, you spend almost all of your time trying to catch numbers.

There may be lines at some people's houses to play this, but I can guarantee that those kids aren't getting much math practice. Nice idea for a game, abysmal execution.

This product is all new for 2005 and features a new character, a new story and a new gameplay style.

Bonuses for Kids and Parents:
Kids...there's never been a Math Blaster with this much action and actual platform gaming before.

Moms and Dads...if your kids don't do well at the math, they're not going to move from level to level successfully...they have to do the math to play the game.

As of this writing, both USA Today and Reviewcorner.com have given it 4.5 stars out of 5. Those are fair assessments.

Its system requirements are Windows XP and 2000, and whoever gave one star because Amazon accidentally put the wrong info on ought to be absolutely embarrassed for misleading people instead of simply reporting the problem to Amazon.

I'd let my kids play it!

I wish i could go lower than 0 stars in rating this item. In this game, getting the right numbers to add (build the answer portion of the game) is 500 times harder than knowing the right answer. Just imagine your son already knowing the answer to 50 x 6 = 300 after 1 second but
has to stay at that level for more than 5 minutes to build the answer getting the addends to get 300 !!! It is a crazy educational game idea and a waste of your kid's time. It's a total waste of your money. Do not buy the download version too from the KA (Knowledge Advenuture) site, because it has a bug (Windows Vista) and you have to redownload again to re-install.

In fairness to KA, i am impressed with Math Blaster ages 9 - 12 and pre-algebra. This version of Math Blaster is not really that great as it claims to be .. KA to maintain their credibility in making worthwhile educational games should pull this product out of the market. Or better, offer their disappointed customers to replace their copy with another KA product ...

I recommend Math Attack by Compedia - not that fancy graphics but gives your child the math drills to really master the basic. Try also "I Love Math" by DK. The title of this game should be "Math Blaster Master your keyboard up, down, left, right, spacebar keys !!!" I still can't forgive myself for buying my son this boring game.

CHECK OUT timez attack in [...] !!!

I bought this thinking it was an updated version of a Mathblaster computer game my older kids had years ago. It was a good review tool and they liked it. But this new Mathblaster is nothing like the old one. It is trying so hard to appeal to modern kids who play video games that there is too much gaming with very little math thrown in. I'm not happy with it at all since it's not really reviewing much math. My 9yo son sort of likes it because it's basically just another video game. But he doesn't really play it that much.