Drawing upon story lines from the movie, this program consists of a mixture of arcade-style, logical, and creative activities. Kuzco, Pacha, Kronk, and Yzma host the 4 featured games.

In Kroc Krusher, Kuzco is hanging by a cord from a broken rope bridge. What’s more, hungry ‘gators are beneath him, and the rope keeps stretching lower as he swings. Needless to say, Kuzco needs a little help. Dropping planks into the gators’s mouths will do the trick, but kids will need to drop them at just the right time to be successful.

The fast-paced Yzmania activity finds the hero Kuzco on top of a twisting ziggurat with Yzma’s soldiers ascending the ramps towards him. Kids need to match the colors on the platform with those of the soldiers in order to use Kuzco’s magical potions to transform the soldiers into harmless animals.

Assisting Pacha in meeting the Empire’s requirements for harvests requires some strategy and attention to directions. Kids use tools like hoes, seeds, watering bags, and baskets to plant, water, and till their way to the village’s prosperity. Level 1 quickly becomes montonous, but higher levels introduce new elements – kids need to contend with scorching and stormy weather. This activity requires some persistence, and is not for the easily frustrated.

The program’s creative activity involves creating animated tapestries called Loomations. Kids select backgrounds and add stickers including characters, props, and even dialogue to fill the panels on their loom. Clicking on the projector icon allows kids to watch their fabulous animation in a short movie format.

An interesting Internet tie-in allows kids to effectively barter points won in the program’s various activities for new art for their Loomations. (Remember to enable Internet access during install of the program in order for this activity to be activated).

Technically Speaking
Minimum requirements are Windows 95/98, Pentium class 200 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM, 16-bit DirectX-compatible sound card, 16-bit DirectX-compatible video card. Mac users require an iMac or G3 233 MHz, System 8.5 through 9.x, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM. This program requires 100 MB of hard drive space. There is a disclaimer note in the jewel case insert alerting customers that the program may not be compatible with Windows 2000.

Skills Covered
arcade, strategy, creativity.

Educational Value
Some strategy and creativity are required to play the games, but this program should be considered entertainment more than anything.

Entertainment Value
The graphics and games are up to par with those you would expect from a Disney project. The pointy-bodied villain Yzma hosts the game, and delivers funny and harmless goading. Children high on the movie will enjoy extending the fun at home.

Design
This program has a rather straightforward interface, with clear instructions for each activity.

Replayability
There may not be enough activities to keep kids coming back often over the long term. However, kids who take to the activities offered will find plenty of levels and challenge. The tie-in to the Internet is interesting and provides some incentive to collect points in the arcade-style activities in order to barter these points for new art online.

Dollar Value
This CD-ROM sells for $40 Cdn/$30 US.