Tonka Search & Rescue

Brand: Hasbro

Format: CD-ROM

Details: Review

Saving stranded animals, putting out fires and rescuing trapped sailors- kids playing this CD take on some daunting tasks! Here’s how it works. After signing in, children learn how to operate the vehicles at the Tonka Academy and practice repairing rescue equipment at the garage. Then they choose one of three missions: a flood disaster, an earthquake at the zoo, or a fire on the boat docks. At each scene, kids operate lots of different Tonka vehicles- 22 in all. They’ll use helicopters to airlift people and animals out of danger and manipulate cranes to move heavy objects. They’ll use dump trucks and fire engines, speed boats and bulldozers, all in a day’s work. After the rescues are complete, certificates can be printed out, as well as license plates and newspaper articles with children’s names in the headlines. Our test kids, aged three to nine, all wanted to spend time with this program, as the theme and those cool trucks are very compelling. Children did get frustrated, however, especially the younger ones. Although the vehicle manipulation has been improved upon since the first Tonka CD-ROM, it’s still tricky, and at times the cursor can get totally stuck. Parents found it necessary to lend a hand quite frequently. The other significant weakness is the software’s lack of random generation techniques- the adventures are the same each time you play. Despite these faults, the program was a hit with the kids. “This is so cool! I love saving the animals at the zoo!” reported one enthusiastic youngster. Testers found much to do on the CD and asked to play it over and over again.
Teaches: following directions, listening
Age Range: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Copyright © 2000 Children’s Software Revue — From Children’s Software Revue® — “Subscribe Now!”

The Tonka Rescue Academy wants you, as a new recruit, to rescue sailors from an oil-burning rig, clean up the Tonka Town Zoo after a nasty earthquake, and save the stranded when a flash flood wipes out a local bridge. If you don’t know how to fly the ‘copter, drive the fire truck, or pilot the rescue boat, you’ll first need to get your degree at the Tonka Rescue Academy. Good luck, recruits.
Likes: “I liked saving people’s lives.” Michelle “I liked the fire truck. I also liked when you got to make your license plate.” Traci “I really liked that you got to drive your vehicle after you repaired it.” Amanda
Dislikes: “I don’t like how you always crash.” Jolie “I didn’t like how everything was slow.” Mandy
Rating:4/4
©1999 MacAddict — From MacAddict — Subscribe now!

Amazon.com

Join the Tonka Search & Rescue Team and tackle air, land, and sea missions. Put yourself in charge of a squad of helicopters, fire engines, and rescue boats. Then visit the Tonka Joe Print Center to print stickers, license plates, awards, and medals.

UPC: 608610990706

Release Date: 15-10-1997

Package Dimensions: 10x140x136