Dora the Explorer: Backpack adventure Screenshots The Final Say! Gameplay 7.2 Graphics 7.0 Sound 7.0 Value 7.0 Dora the Explorer Backpack adventure - reviewed by Andrew B Review Date: 28 October 2002 Review Score: 7/10  Distributor: GameNation

Dora the Explorer is a popular children's character on the Nickelodeon cable network and has now made the jump to educational kids software. Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure is developed by European software giant Infogrames and is aimed at children aged 3 and over.  Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventures Features  Multiple locations with exciting  games to play  Discovery clickables brings Dora's  environment to life  On-screen Sticker book  2 ways to play - Adventure and  Freeplay Modes  3 adjustable difficulty levels Skills  Visual discrimination  Colour recognition  Spanish language  Problem solving skills  Mouse skills  Shape recognition  Pattern completion  Following directions  Number recognition  Number matching  Memory  Visual tracking  Classification  Deductive reasoning  Logic & More   Before starting the game, kids must sign in to customise their game and then select a colour and animal to take them through the world of Dora the Explorer. The game itself is a fully interactive game that teaches children a variety of valuable skills that will increase their learning.  There are two types of gameplay modes that include the Backpack Adventure Mode that lets children follow the story of Dora or the freeplay map mode that lets children pick their own games that they wish to play. The game also supports a changeable difficulty level from 1 to 3 and is generally aimed at children around three to four years of age. Some of the activities children will learn is shape recognition that takes place at the Troll Bridge. In order to get past the Troll, you must successfully put the right shapes into the right hole. For example, a triangle must be fitted into the triangular hole in order for you to proceed. Fortunately, if children get stuck, the characters in the game will give them hints and clues on how to solve the puzzle. There are literally dozens of skills that this game will help promote in children such as basic computer skills, problem solving skills and basic number recognition skills. Graphically, Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure will keep children glued to the screen because of the cartoon style of graphics that is almost reminiscent of the television show.

All the backgrounds in the game are sharp and colourful and just about everything is clickable in the game. The graphics of the game are set to a resolution of 640x480 that will guarantee that this children's software will run on a variety of different computers. 

Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventures features some great voice acting and doesn't speak down to children but rather on the same level. The only downside to the voices is that everyone has an American accent but then I suppose this game is primarily aimed at the US market. There is also plenty of sounds and music to help keep the attention of children. Another amusing feature of the game is that it will also help children learn some Spanish.

In conclusion Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventures is a simple game that is aimed at children around 3 years of age but offers a variety of different puzzles and skills that will give them a head start for their schooling. As all parents know, games like this will be played over and over again, so why not increase their learning in the process. Recommended!