The Manhole was followed by a Spiritual Successor IN SPACE, Cosmic Osmo.
In the 1990s, the original Apple Macintosh HyperCard version started receiving ports to other platforms, including MS-DOS, Windows, and most recently, the iPhone. In 1989, it earned the distinction of being the first game ever published as a CD-ROM. The authors had started with plans for an interactive but linear storybook, but found that building a storybook universe was much more fun. It presents a whimsical universe for children to explore at their own leisure, with the exploration as its own reward. Like Winnie the Pooh or Alice in Wonderland, this pair of underrated gems will captivate kids and adults alike in ways that are no less addictive than the better-known The Manhole.The Manhole is a 1988 computer game by Rand and Robyn Miller of Cyan Inc., better known as the creators of Myst. With numerous hot-spots for kids to discover, excellent cartoony graphics, and well-hidden edutainment elements that kids will hardly notice, both games are two well-designed rarities that are well worth a look, even if you are not a Mac fan. The only gripe I have is that the maze-like structure of Spelunx makes navigation a bit too frustrating, as you need to map certain areas of the game if you don't want to waste time retracing your steps. Hand-drawn by Robyn Miller, the graphics are very good for their time – very clear and crisp even in the restrictive black-and-white palette. For example, when faced with a sinkful of dirty dishes in Cosmic Osmo, you can wash them, break them on the floor, or put them through the garbage disposal. Like The Manhole, much of the fun in both games lies in replaying them over and over to discover new routes or options that you did not find in previous sessions. My favorite activity/mini-game in Spelunx is the "Tree Gene-orator", which allows you to pick the traits of a tree, plant it, and watch it grow over time. Spelunx was designed for older kids, as here you can learn about the principles of math, biology, physics, and many other "serious" subjects. Kids will enjoy the wide range of activities and options in a relaxing gameworld that is filled with colorful characters and dozens of surprises. Cosmic Osmo is more similar to The Manhole in that it was designed primarily for toddlers, except this time with a sci-fi theme. Similar in design to The Manhole but much more obscure, both games were designed by Myst creators Robyn & Rand Miller and released only for the Macintosh.īoth games are similar in many ways: they were coded with Apple's Hypercard, there is no set goal in either game, and like The Manhole they are full of cleverly enchanting and well-hidden mini-games that teach kids on various subjects. Seudo are two superb educational games disguised as open-ended adventures. Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel and Spelunx and the Caves of Mr.
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