LGR - Number Munchers, Word Munchers, Super Munchers - DOS PC Game Review

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey, you!You like math?- Not particularly.- You like arcade games?- Sometimes.- Like, math arcade games?- I don't know!- Sure you do! Number Munchers, fool!Yeah, dude man bro, munch on math.Well, seeing as it's called Number Munchers,that makes complete sense!I mean, what else would I munch on?I'm not making that joke. That's too easy.The game was developed andreleased by MECC in 1990.And inside the box, you got the gameon a floppy disk,either 5¼-inch or 3½-inch, like this one here.You also get none other thanthe Number Munchers manual,which is packed to the brimwith all sorts of useless information.Want a quick startup procedure forpeople who hate to read manuals?Just read this manual. There you go.Flawless logic.It also lets you know about the extra materialthat could be purchased for classroom usage,as well as the fact that the game isn't copy protected.So, please, don't copy that Word Munchers floppy.Uh...Yeah, no worries.I wouldn't dream of copying Word Muncherswhen I own Number Munchers!The game beings with a title screen,letting you know that the game...begins with a title screen. Hmm.You're then dropped into themain menu, which is pretty bland,in this MS-DOS version at least.I am much more fond of the Apple II version,since it has things for eyes to look at.And since that's what eyes are for,I find it to be shockingly appropriate.But for all intents and purposes,the games are the same beyond the menu aesthetics.Before you start, you'll definitelywant to hop on over to the options,so you can optimize the optionaloptionality contained within.Not only can you choose the difficultylevel by grade and skill within said grade,but the individual game content that you'll come acrosswhile nomming the numerous numbers.Start a game, and you're greetedwith a short introduction of our hero,the Number Muncher, or Munchicus digitus,a cutesy little monster thing with a big mouththat you'll take control of momentarily.You're also introduced to the Troggles,five not-so-cute monsters that arehellbent on screwing up your munching sessionin any way they can.Finally, you have the choice offive types of math games to play,Multiples, Factors, Primes, Equality and Inequality,followed by a challenge modethat mixes these up at random.Once you're in the grid,you take the reigns of the Muncher,who is controlled either by the arrow keys or the mouse,though I personally prefer the former.At the top of the screen, you're given aspecific rule to follow for the current grid.In this case, things that equal 38.All you have to do is move the Muncher around tothe tiles that match the top of the screen's wishes,press Space and gobble it up.Once you've eaten every appropriatetile, you'll move onto the next,and that's honestly about it for Number Munchers.It's really that simple.Troggles will soon make theirway onto the screen, though,and if they touch you, they will take one life.Not only that, but tiles they walk over will oftenchange to something else after they've passed,either providing another answer for you to eator a garbage answer that just distracts you.Lose all your lives, either by receivingtoo many bad Troggle touchesor eating enough wrong answers, and it's game over.And you do get the occasionalreprieve from these grid spotswith white highlighted corners.They randomly change as time goes on,but if you enter one, you're invulnerableto any Troggle attacks while it lasts,so that's decidedly not mean.Thanks, designers!And every three levels, you geta fun little cartoon animation,which, like the faux-Latin monster names,is very Looney Tunes-esque,especially bringing to mind theWile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons.But really, that's it for NumberMunchers, and you know what?I am not entirely enthused with this game.Sure, it works just fine. It's got someentertaining bits that I enjoyed as a kid,and it's better than just solvingmath problems on their own,but there really just isn't much to it.In fact, the follow up game,Word Munchers, is just more of the same.Instead of math problems,you have word problems,which are just as problematic,where you'll have to choose the wordsthat match the indicated vowel sounds.It's exactly the same gameplaywith nothing new on offer.Except for the new things,like animated cut-scenes,which, frankly, I find far less endearingthan those in Number Munchersand even downright confusing.W-w-what was that?He caught a Troggle with a shark fin?Well, good for you. I don't understand the humor.However, then you've gotSuper Munchers: The Challenge Continues,released in 1991.And this... THIS is what I'm talking about.You've got six categories of triviato choose from in three difficulties,and of course, good old Challenge Mode.The gameplay is mostly the same,but this time you're really gettingchallenged from all sides,seeing as it's not just restricted tovowel sounds or fractions or whatever.Not that those don't have their place, of course,but with this monster-dodging arcade game,I just find more enjoyment in triviathan I do in solving logic problems.Not only that, but you have anew game mechanic, the Munchmeter,along the bottom of the screen.Fill it up by eating enough stuffand a little blue transmogrification thing will appear.And once you enter it,you become the Super Muncher!Little green guy dons a little white capeand can fly around, giving theTroggles a taste of their own medicine.At least until the Munchmeter runs out.It's just fun on the earlier levels,but before long, it becomes an absolute lifesaverwhen you're being violated byTroggles from every which way.And this time, instead of anon-interactive cartoon every few levels,you get sent on a mission,with the goal of getting closer andcloser to some mad scientist's castle.I don't know why. You just do it.Like one mission, you have topick which Troggle is disguised.Another, you have to watch where a key is placed.Then one where you have to memorizewhere certain words are hidden on a screen.And the last one, where you must scalea cliff by flying upward, collecting numbersand avoiding falling rocks and anvils,which is kinda clunky, and I kinda don't like it.Once you complete all these,you'll reach the mad scientist's lab,and for some reason, he turns hisFrankenstein monster into a chicken.And that's it.Start over from the beginning of the gameand continue playing for a high score.And that's the original Number Munchers series.I've liked all of these since I was a kid,even though it's Super Munchersthat really keeps me coming back.Number and Word Munchers justget a bit monotonous before long.And even though they were fun back in the day,they don't hold my attention pastthat initial \"ooh, nostalgia\" feeling.But I'd actually still recommend Super Munchers,not only because it's got more varied gameplay,but the various trivia is justmore interesting, if you ask me.Although some of it is a little outdated,but that's just the nature of trivia.So if you can put yourself in a 1991mental state, you'll do just fine.Just be sure to come out of itwhen you're done with the gamebecause flannel is not the easiest to find anymore.So if you're in the mood for some arcade action,but for some reason feel a bit guilty about itand desire a thin coat ofeducational paint on your game,you'll be hard-pressed to find something morefitting for this desire than the Munchers games.\n"