Odell Down Under is a version of the edutainment genre that takes place in the Great Barrier Reef. It was released for Windows 95 by MECC in the nineties.
In Odell Down Under, the user takes on the role of a fish. There are scores of fish from which to choose, including the Great White Shark, the Ringtailed Wrasse, the Whitemouth Moray Eel, and the Haretailed Flutemouthed Trumpet. There are over fifty different fish in total. The user has to keep the fish clean, fed, safe and happy. The goal is to be the oldest fish on the reef by staying alive. If the user shows the ability to support one fish without killing it, he or she is given another, and so the game progresses and points are allotted.
There are several modes of game play, which makes Odell Down Under more interesting. In “Challenge” mode, four fish are randomly selected for play. In “Tournament” mode, the user will have to play every breed of fish available, beginning with the silver sprat (the smallest) and finishing with the huge Great White Shark. “Create-a-Fish” sets particular parameters and allows the user to build a fish based on several defining traits, such as size or agility. In “Practice” mode, the user can play whichever fish he or she chooses.
Of course, each fish has different traits and requirements, such as different types of food (krill, crustaceans, other fish etc). This is where the educational portion of the game kicks in, since kids will be able to learn more about specific breeds of fish. The information is well-researched and legitimately conveys the needs of these many breeds of fish. It also points out the strengths and weaknesses of each variety of fish. Some fish are powerful, but need to eat often. Others are slow but feature great camouflage. There are also special moves for some fish, such as the cuttlefish’s ink squirt, or the dreaded sting of the ray. Fish also need to improve their health and avoid disease by seeking out the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse to remove bacteria and debris from the scales. There are dangerous mimics, however, just like in real life. The user must also be careful not to eat anything that disagrees with the particular breed of fish. There is a dialogue box to help the user learn about his fish, and what needs to be done to provide an optimum experience for that breed.
In short, this is a novel game that is interesting as well as educational. It is colorful and addictive, and is recommended for download, especially for children looking to devlop their minds over their hand-eye coordination.
Written by:
~dorento1
