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Full-Time Dads;
The Magazine for Caregiver Fathers
Issue 23
Pajama Sam
From Humongous Entertainment
Humongous Entertainment, creators of Putt-Putt and Freddi Fish, now unveil their latest masterpiece, Pajama Sam in No Need To Hide When It's Dark Outside. This is computer gaming for the pre-murder-and-mayhem crowd at it's best. As a story in the Portland Press Herald recently said, Pajama Sam raises the bar for the whole genre.
I initially started my search for kids software that was just plain fun. My kids and I were tired of everything having to be based on math lessons, or games that one advanced through by spelling words correctly. We wanted something that was a game, pure and simple. While Ben was leaning toward my fighter plane simulation game, I wanted something that would hold his attention without bombing, shooting or other simulated illegal activity. I knew there had to be something out there that would satisfy us all.
Pajama Sam reminds me of Calvin, from the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip. He is a little boy, probably about eight (The top recommended age for this game), who is afraid of the dark. He knows, though, that by taking on the persona of his favorite comic book figure, Pajama Man, he can defeat Darkness and overcome his fear. The adventure begins as he enters the World of Darkness, loses his superhero gear, and has to explore the strange world to track it all down. Only then can he confront Darkness and get back to sleep.
This is a very clever game, just complex enough to keep my eight-year-old captivated, though a bit over my five-year-olds head. The game is designed to change slightly every time you play, so that you can solve it, and go back again for another adventure. The animation and artwork are superb, the over-all design is wonderful, and there is enough going on to amuse even me. We put in several days working on our first adventure, and had a great time.
But as with all kids software that I've tried out, it remains to be seen how often we'll go back. This isn't like a writing or art program, but a finite series of puzzles to solve. The end result doesn't depend on how you play the game, the way a football or even a combat simulation does. No matter how flexible the puzzles along the way, the end result is always the same for Sam, and I'm not sure it will be worth going back again to see the same scenario played out at the end.
Still, Pajama Sam is an endearing character, and the game is fun. There's no violence or naughty bits, and it's wonderful to look at. And, yes, I suppose you'll even learn something about problem solving, though you'll hardly notice. For more info, see them on-line: www.humongous.com , or call 1-800-499-8386.
Copyright 1996 Full-Time Dads
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