Previous Next

The problem with children's games are that they are often classed as educational aids when they are no more educational than space invader games. At least Macmillan's have avoided this pitfall with their adaptation of the popular children's television programme Orrn and Cheep.

For those who may not have met this dynamic duo before, Orm is a worm and Cheep is a chick. In the game their friends Mouse, Mole and Hedgehog feature in a battle against Crow, Rat and Cat. There are actually four pleasantly animated games on the tape: Cheep's Game, Crew's Game, Rat's Game and Orm's Game.

Cheep's Game involves collecting washing-up and stacking it at the side of the screen. When the last item is placed on the pile the whole column crashes to the floor waking Orm from his slumbers.

Orm then takes a stroll but is cornered by Crow and his game begins. Crew's game is like a visual form of Simple Simon. Each of the creatures move alternately in a fixed pattern and the player has to indicate when the pattern changes.

Next, Rat has cornered the animals in a tree hollow and hedgehog has to protect them from rat and guide them to the exit.

The final game shows Orm floating on his bed during a flood. The evil animals have taken refuge on floating logs and Orm must upset these and knock them into the water. The only control in all of these games is achieved by pressing any key, including the joystick fire buuon. Most of the games are fairly difficult to master but success is rewarded by a score sheet which reveals a section of a picture, depending on how well you did in the last round.

E.D.