Math Rescue

Math Rescue

Episode 1 Gameplay
Developer(s) Redwood Games
Publisher(s) Apogee Software
Platform(s) DOS
Release date(s) October 1992
Genre(s) platform game, educational
Mode(s) Single-player

Math Rescue is a 1992 educational platform game created by Karen Crowther of Redwood Games and published by Apogee Software. Released in October, 1992, for the DOS platform, it is a loose successor to the earlier game Word Rescue, whose game engine was used to power the new game with minor changes. It was followed by Math Rescue Plus.

The registered version of Math Rescue remains available for purchase.[1]

Gameplay

As the title suggests, Math Rescue revolves around solving math problems. Boxes float in the air. Touching a box transports the player inside it, where they solve a math problem to get points.

Math Rescue includes three episodes, called Visit Volcanos and Ice Caves, Follow the Gruzzles into Space, and See Candy Land, respectively. Only the first episode is distributed as shareware, while the others are available commercially. Each episode contains 15 levels.

Plot

The backstory of the game consists of the theft of the world's numbers by the Gruzzles, which causes problems, until the player finally spots a Gruzzle removing numbers from the front of a house. Benny the Butterfly comes to the player's aid and the player begins a quest to stop the Gruzzles and retrieve the stolen numbers.

Episode 1 takes place in seas and volcanoes. Completing Episode 1, the player defeats the number stealers, leaving players to wonder what they wanted with Earth's numbers and whether they are gone. However, the Glixerians, an alien race that originates from planet Glixer II in an outer arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, try to send the Gruzzles back to Earth.

Space is the main setting of Episode 2. The Glixerians are apparently bored with their pets, which are those pesky Gruzzles and they are planning to import new pets from Earth (presumably humans) and there is a hint that they've ordered the Gruzzles to steal Earth's numbers in order to make Earth's technology inaccessible to the humans so that they'll agree to go to theirs. As players progress, it is revealed that Benny was once a Gruzzle who found refuge on Earth to escape the fate of being a Glixerian pet. Furthermore, slime is a common element on Glixer II which has disgusting effects that make the Gruzzles ill. He says the battle isn't over yet.

In the Episode 3 ending, the numbers are returned to their rightful places and a Gruzzle named Zorja is captured. Zorja recognzies Benny as a long lost cousin who tells her to stop stealing the numbers. Benny convinces her to choose freedom over the Glixerians. After this event, all Gruzzles are invited and Earth's numbers are not only saved, but the gardeners are provided with built-in slug control. They decide to move from Glixer II to Earth. With all numbers restored, life returns to normal. However, despite the loss of the Gruzzles, the Glixerians, throwing stink mud at each other, are not finished with Earth.

Commercial history

Math Rescue was initially released as shareware but later achieved a retail release.[2]

Reception

Computer Gaming World called Math Rescue and Word Rescue "excellent choices for younger children ... though us older 'kids' will still find them entertaining. They are difficult to keep playing".[3]

References

  1. ↑ Math Rescue page at Classic DOS Games
  2. ↑ Game Developer. Miller Freeman. 1994. p. 53.
  3. ↑ Miller, Chuck (July 1993). "Edutainment 101". Computer Gaming World. p. 116. Retrieved 12 July 2014.

External links

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