From the Manufacturer
The follow-up to the launch title Iridion 3-D features dramatic improvements. After a century of peace, suddenly the Iridion menace has reappeared. You must take control of a star fighter and destroy the aliens once again.
Each of the five planetary systems has three planets, for a total of 15 levels. While Iridion 3-D offered a behind-the-ship view, Iridion II elevates your view to more of a three-quarter perspective. The colorful and detailed backgrounds have a 3-D feel.
You can choose one of several types of blasters, such as a laser or homing missiles. Only one may be used during a mission, but you can find upgrades to increase your firepower along the way. The controls are simple. The A Button fires your blasters and the L and R Buttons launch your limited supply of bombs. Double-tapping and holding the A Button will charge up your blaster, giving you an extra-powerful blast.
The music and sound effects are excellent. On an ice world, the music is very soft and crystalline, while a techno mix propels the action above the mechanical planet. Expect many unlockable bonuses, too.
Review
This eighth I SPY title is the best, perhaps because it is based on children's favorite pages of the I SPY Fantasy book. When polled, kids liked the castle, outerspace and undersea pages of the book best, and so the designers based the CD-ROM's adventures on just those themes. Children are delighted with this title, and we are, too. The format is tried and true, and the graphics are particularly stunning, with more special lighting effects and animated objects than previous I SPY titles.After signing in, players see a view of a child's messy, interesting room, with items that lead to adventures. Clicking the fish tank takes children on a search for lost treasures under the sea; a toy rocket leads them to a mission on Mars; and a collection of beach toys lets them invade a dragon-infested sand castle to save a princess. Along the way, it's not uncommon to see the child's name appear in a riddle, one of the subtle but effective techniques that keeps children engaged in the adventure. As they solve the 54 I Spy riddles and play the other scavenger hunts and games, children are exposed to a rich vocabulary experience that cleverly presents opportunities for using logic, memory, listening and rhyming. Our testers, four kids aged 5-8, huddled around the computer for hours, working together to solve the puzzles. Because progress is saved, the program will work well in either classroom or home settings. This title will be available in early to middle October, in most retail stores.Copyright © 2001 Children's Software Revue -- From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"
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