I missed the Eighties cartoon so I was not sure if Vicky the Viking was male or female. He’s a boy. And while not the toughest Viking around he was definitely devious. The Big Trial is an adventure which you can play at three levels of difficulty and it makes a good addition to a computer club as although there is the odd interesting fact about Viking life, there’s not really enough to label it a history program.
This is not something children would play more than a couple of times, but it is a challenge and fun. I’d also be tempted to try it out in the German option with older children as the vocabulary is varied and it would really hone their listening skills.
In the tradition of such adventures there are puzzles to solve and logic is the only way. Vicky wants to join the Vikings in their next longboat quest and to do so he’ll have to convince his father, chief Halvar, that he is strong, brave and tenacious. Can he beat the best fisherman, strongest swimmer and his father in a stone carrying contest before testing his courage in front of the whole village?
Luckily for Vicky the rules are vague so he can win if you can work out just how his contraptions are going to have to be put together. Listen and watch carefully as the more you struggle the more clues Vicky will give you. Just as well as some of these designs would have impressed Leonardo da Vinci - hang-glider, fishing machine, catapult and a very large water cannon.
Clues are littered about so good listening skills are required as is good mouse control, especially with the archery game required to summon your competitor in the swimming contest.
Pam Turnbull Pam Turnbull is ICT co-ordinator at the Heys Primary School, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Tameside Vicky the Viking - The Big Trial from Tivola Publishing
PCMac
Price: pound;19.99
Tel: 01474 537886
www.tivola.co.uk
