Wild Words is an amusing and compelling game that gives children of school age and above practice in spelling. The vocabulary includes over 200 words ranging from three to 14 letters, and all the main spelling rules are covered.

After a long loading sequence, the scenario of two trees, greas, and a short-stalked flower appear. The child is asked to select a difficulty level from Easy (words like "mat") to Really Nasty (brontosaurus!).

The first word is displayed briefly, then letter begin to fall from a menagerie frieze scrolling across the top of the screen.

To catch the first letter Microchimp is there to help you. You can move him using the cursor keys to catch the required letter in his wheelbarrow, then deliver it without any other letter falling into the barrow, or hitting Microchimp on the head!

When the child has completed the word a tune plays, the flower grows, and a new word appears. The more words you complete the faster the letters fall.

If you win, the program describes you as "magic". And that's just how my children described this game.

C.B.