A common goal of developers is to strive to find just the perfect education/entertainment mix to get kids playing their apps for fun, thus overcoming the notion that learning=boring.
There are a lot of apps for toddlers and preschoolers that succeed at this, but not so many for older kids. The percentage of apps that successfully present edu-tainment definitely decreases as the age group rises.
Enter Math Guardians, which is a very strong attempt at merging a "fighting" video game (not real fighting, cartoonish fighting with dinosaurs, robots and robot dinosaurs) with mental math practice.
We haven't reviewed it yet, but at first look Math Guardians (Math Guardians Mini on the iPhone/iPod) looks very cool. As a huge Godzilla fan "as a kid," any app that features using mental math to charge up a character named Rage Bunny in prep for a fight with giant metallic butterfly named Venom Beauty, works for me. It also features a "must-have" feature for developers trying to emulate games of choice for the older set: the ability to unlock more powerful characters.
From iTunes:
BATTLE WITH THE POWER OF MATH!
For the first time ever, real-time battles and math training merge to
present Math Guardians, an arcade-style math fighting game! Set in
a world where the native creatures defend their planet from an
invading mechanical alien force, the game features 2D fighting in
glorious HD with simple directional taps and uses in-game arithmetic
to charge up attacks. Awesome boss battles, dynamic animation,
unlockable creatures with unique attacks, and a leaderboard integrated
with Game Center encourage players to bring their A+ game!
Key Features:
- Redefining FUN and learning by encouraging players to practice math.
- Test your skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division fighting awesome enemy bosses.
- Simple 2D fighter gameplay using only directional taps.
- Unique attacks like flames and electricity for each creature present
the player with different playing styles.
- Eight playable creatures with different special attacks.
- Six dynamic stages for battle.
- Math practice mode for honing arithmetic skills.
- Campaign Story Mode
- An interactive “Getting Started” tutorial
Math Guardians is at its core an app that is designed to train and speed up you or or kid's mental arithmetic skills. The game is aimed at ages eight and above (all the way to adults). All creatures are unlockable through a series of challenges; the game has no in-app purchases.
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If you would like to purchase Math Guardians please support Smart Apps for Kids by using these link buttons:
($1.99/iPad)
Lite (FREE/iPad)
Mini ($1.99/iPhone)
Mini Lite (Free/iPhone)
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