Westward Ho!
Written: Mar 23 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Actually fairly educational, in a boy scout motto kind of way
Cons: 3 disks for one game? Pain in the butt
The Bottom Line: Good educational and fun way to pass time for tweens and older!
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| BadtzGirl's Full Review: Oregon Trail 4th Edition |
This game was purchased at TJ Maxx in the bargain bin, but since my girls liked the 1st edition they used to play at the local library a few years back, I plunked down my 12 bucks, and took it home.
Annoyingly, there are 3 disks with which to play the game. As you progress on your trek westward, you must insert a new disk to propel you along. In the old version, you were a typical Pioneer family. In this version, you start out as "Choose your name" and "Choose your career". You can be a carpenter with $210 to your name, or a Blacksmith with $190, etc. Then you must go around town, interviewing interesting characters, to see who would be an appropriate travel companion. Actually you choose two companions.
Of course this is tricky, because you want to choose someone who can help you on your way west. I chose a meek Doctor. He looked like a geek, was named Miles, but I figured, snake bites, fever, gunshot wounds. A doctor would be helpful.
Then I chose a woman, who claimed that she was tough and she could handle the trip. She turned out to be a complainer. She was always thirsty, and had a soft spot for my team of 10 oxen. Always telling me that we should let them rest. Hasn't she ever heard the phrase "Strong as an Ox?" What did she think someone made that up?
And the doctor turned out to be a pessimist. Always telling me to get out of the rain or we'll catch pneumonia. Telling me it's not good to travel without water. Really? Telling me that we shouldn't travel in the snow. A regular know-it all. Where was he when I got accidentally shot while trying to score dinner? Where was he when the game asked me how to treat the whiny lady's sprained ankle?
Anyway. Traveling companions aside, the game is a lot of fun, but it takes too long loading after you make decisions. For example, the game proceeds, and you come to a river. It asks you would you like to ford the river? Caulk your wagon and float it? Or wait two days for the next ferry? After you answer, the game loads the result. You could drown. You could lose an oxen.
There are many pitfalls as you can imagine, whilst traipsing to Oregon. Your Oxen inevitably get lost now and then. Your wagon tips over, you lose valuable supplies. Thieves steal your clothes in the night. You get bitten by a rattlesnake. You get scurvy, if you weren't smart enough to pack a whole lot of dried fruit. You meet strangers, some weird, some kind. You have the opportunity of bartering with the strangers, but you'd better know what's valuable.
The idea is to make it successfully from Independance Missouri to Oregon, to set up a homestead. You must purchase supplies at the general store before departure. You must buy food, and staples such as sugar, dry beans, flour, baking soda. Salt. Initially you might think a 10-lb bag of salt was excessive, however, keep in mind that salt is used to preserve any meats that you might hunt for yourself on your journey.
In that vein, rifles, shotguns, bullets, gunpowder, fishing gear, and gathering baskets are necessary. If you don't have a gathering basket, the game will not allow you to gather any wild plants when you stop.
In that vein, when gathering wild plants, berries and roots, you must refer to an on screen reference book, which offers you pictures and descriptions of the various indigenous plants. You must look them all up, because many are poisonous.
There is a system of navigation available to you as well, in the form of maps and routes. Making good time is important, and plotting a course is key. Time of departure is important as well. Where will you be in the cold month of March?
There are many people to ask for advice, but most of them really don't know a lot. Trade, and barter if needed. Stop at the few forts on the way for supplies. And if you've shot a bison or a bear, don't shoot anything else, because you won't be able to carry all that meat back to your wagon.
At the end of my forst time playing, I was awarded a 40 acre piece of land. Not too bad, as my people were a bit weak, and not as healthy as they could've been. I also took too long getting there. If your time is quicker you get more land. Obviously it was a first come first served kinda deal!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
BadtzGirl
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Member: Jennifer
Location: New Joisey
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 27 members
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