Oz: The Magical Adventure

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Product Features

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Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004Y65Y
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: September 27, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,996 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)

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  Software > Children's Software > Interactive Books

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review
Travel on a fabulous journey through magical Oz to save Dorothy from the Wicked Witch of the West's evil clutches. Based on the beloved tale by L. Frank Baum--perhaps better known as the timeless classic film of the same name--this interactive CD-ROM puts a new twist on the familiar story: Dorothy is seized by the winged monkeys and imprisoned in the Witch's castle; in order to free her and get the heart, courage, and brain they respectively long for, the Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow must find jewels hidden throughout Oz to activate the key to the Witch's lair.

Players collect jewels by participating in nine learning activities scattered throughout four virtual environments drawn from the original story (Emerald City, Land of the Munchkins, and more); in addition, fun (and, of course, educational) puzzles pop up everywhere to liven up the journey and involve kids in the story. Remember the field of poppies that put Dorothy to sleep? Here players must figure out how to wake the Cowardly Lion from a poppy-induced slumber, challenging their problem-solving and creativity skills while making them feel like one of the gang. Kids can easily navigate through Oz on their own, or by clicking on a map of the city that tells them where they are and where they've been. And, if they ever get in a real bind, there's a magic mirror they can use to get help from Glinda the Good Witch.

The activities challenge a variety of skills, and most have been thoughtfully created to echo the feel and flavor of Oz and the kinds of things and people you'd expect to find in such an enchanting place. For instance, players must help a disgruntled and very vocal tree get rid of its itchy bugs, cleverly disguised as fruit, by choosing the fruit that doesn't belong with the others--a great practice in pattern recognition. At another stop, kids help an amnesiac munchkin regain her memory by concocting a fruity potion of just the right proportions--too much apple or not enough pear, and you won't get the jewel that rewards the right mixture; here players hone their grasp of measurement and fractions. Three different levels of play adjust the difficulty of the activities, so kids can continue to enjoy the game even as they grow older and better at many of the challenges.

Though the learning activities emphasize many of the same skills as other educational software for kids, it is the quality of the graphics and the heart of the story that distinguish Oz from the pack of competing products; the characters are richly illustrated and given real personalities, which adds to the feeling of adventure and purpose players gain as they work through the activities. And the story itself, so familiar to many of us and yet still so compelling, is hard to top--who can resist the chance to throw a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch? --Leah Ball

Product Description
Oz: The Magical Adventure

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oz: The Magical Adventure, October 30, 2000

By	"suzynitzy" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

My daughter (4 1/2) absolutely loved this cd-rom. She sat for over an hour the first time having so much fun. She wouldn't stop until she collected all the gems and was able to rescue Dorothy in Emerald city! She was problem-solving, sequencing, doing maizes and improving her thinking skills and she did't even know it! There are 3 difficulty levels (she started on easy), so she will be able to play this one for a long time. All her favorites- the scarecrow, the tinman, the lion and of course the yellow brick road! This is the best and most creative/educational cd-rom I've seen. I'm going to buy several and give them for all the 5 year birthday parties coming up!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oz: A Magicial Adventure, December 27, 2000

By	Tyler Nye (The Adirondacks of New York) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful game! Together with the Scarcrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion you or your child travels through three different countrys in the Land of Oz, in search of 9 magical jewels which will help you open the door to the Wicked Witch's castle and free Dorothy! This amazing game helps children with math, building on problem-solving skills, and development on critical thinking skills...While haveing a lot of fun at the same time! And, if the bronze level is to easy for your child, then move up to silver, or gold. This game is based on L. Frank Baum's original story that your child or even you will enjoy. My favorite part of this game was melting the Wicked Witch in the end..every child will enjoy it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oz-TMA --Great Fun, December 14, 2000

By A Customer

My 4 year old loves this game. Dorothy is captured by the Wicked Witch and the Scarecrow, Tin man, and Lion must save her. Good for boys, too, since the user is following the male characters to rescue Dorothy. Glinda is the help guide. The child must find nine jewels before the game is over. Each jewel is the reward for solving problems in three different areas. No reading is needed but math, logic, and spacial relationship skills are. The three levels of difficulty will keep your child coming back again and again. My four year old can complete the 1st (Bronze )level on her own but needs help in some areas of silver and gold so it's still challenging. Big plus is that your child gets to melt the Wicked Witch at the end.