Editorial Review
Be prepared: Your child may develop a yellow-sock obsession after discovering this charming, multilingual European CD-ROM. Socks--yellow ones with holes--are the only things that can free Willie, the friendly ghost, from his tower. He eats them to maintain his ghostly powers, and he's terribly hungry. Max must choose whether or not to leave the twilight comfort of his uncle's backyard on a mission to the haunted castle to free the ghost. Fortunately, this spooky spot is more full of delight than dread.
The haunted castle's 13 rooms are cozy, cluttered, and riddled with secret passageways. The object here is simply to search for little yellow socks in this multidimensional storybook world. Click on a rug, and it transforms into a ghostly keyboard, each note a quivering moan. In another room, click on a washing machine, and a grungy ghost flies in, goes through a cycle, and flies out, sparkling white. There's endless fun to be had searching for the all-important footwear; this CD-ROM emphasizes the exploration (there's a ghost in the shower!) that happens on the way to achievement (must get yellow socks!)
As your child helps Max discover new rooms, narrative text appears onscreen, adding to the storybook feel and encouraging literacy skills. Memory and orientation come into play as explorers negotiate the castle's doors and secret passageways, and kids can even dabble in German and French by changing the language setting. As bats deliver mail from home, and statuary drops hints to sock seekers, this place doesn't feel haunted; it feels charmed. (Ages 3-7) --Anne Erickson
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Customer Reviews
Ok, but primitive 
2001-06-29
Our 6 & 7 year old enjoyed playing this once- and it did take several sessions to get throug it, but I doubt that they will play it again, as it doesn't seem to change w/ each game. The slow play drove me wild, but they didn't seem as bothered by it. For example, when you click on a doorway, to get Max to go there, you don't just go- a voice over says, very slowly, "should Max go through the doorway into the cellar? Yes [a thumbs up appears]or No [a thumbs down appears]?", then you click on whichever you want, and the same voice says the choice you made (yes or no), and then you can go through. If you are used to American software it will seem a bit primitive.
Slow & Dull 
2000-12-26
My twin almost-four year olds are fast becoming video game veterans - the Jump Start Series, Winnie the Pooh, Pajama Sam. This game got on my nerves quickly - when you try to move from room to room, EVERY SINGLE TIME it asks "Are you SURE you want to go through this door? Yes or no?" and makes you click on an up-thumb or a down-thumb. That gets old FAST. If you click on a door, obviously you want to go through it! It does not allow you to hit the "escape" key to skip the long, dull opening narrative as most games do after you've played it once. You don't want the five-minute story EVERY time. Every room you enter requires you to sit through another long narrative describing what you can easily see just by looking at the room. Most games would allow you to click and skip the talk. Not this one. No way to turn off the self-involved talky Brit who wrote this. (From the UK). Pajama Sam is a better alternative to this, but you'll have to walk through that one the first time with the under-6 age group. After one walk through, though, my toddlers loved PS. This one they walked away from in disinterest after only 15 minutes....very poorly designed, IMHO.
A keeper 
2000-11-28
My daughter loves this game! We have played it many times and she has yet to really tire of it. Surprisingly enough my 2-year old loves watching and playing along too. A great game with a gentle spirit and a sense of fun.
Please get more like this one for my kids! 2000-10-03
This is the software that is tons of fun and does not pollute your childs imagination! My kids spend hours playing this one and I like it because they are learning while they are playing in the story. The most important message in the story line is to help your friend in need. The game is rewarding and thus also make your kid feel like they have accomplished something. GOOD STUFF!
Please get more like this one for my kids! 2000-10-03
This is the software that is tons of fun and does not pollute your childs imagination! My kids spend hours playing this one and I like it because they are learning while they are playing in the story. The most important message in the story line is to help your friend in need. The game is rewarding and thus also make your kid feel like they have accomplished something. GOOD STUFF!
