Rascal's Alphamaze
Release type: Shareware
Release date: 1994
Levels: 2
Author: Sherwood Forest Software
Registration bonus: Complete game
Registration price: $15
Related games: Rascal in Numberland
Not to be mistaken for Jon Bolden's Rascal.
In Rascal's Alphamaze, Rob Sherwood seems to have found his calling. There are very few educational games produced with Game-Maker, aside from RSD's own demo games. As it happens, maybe there should have been more. Likewise, it's a pity that Sherwood hit on this theme so late in his run.
Alphamaze is one of two Rascal games, alongside Rascal in Numberland. Not to be confused with Jon Bolden's Rascal, Sherwood's games depict a precocious raccoon who explores a colorful and detailed world to learn some kindergarten-level concepts. Of the two, Alphamaze is the cleaner design and possibly the clearer as an educational tool.
The player directs Rascal down winding paths, to find sequential letters of the alphabet. After A, the path might split to allow a choice of B or T. When the player chooses the correct path, there is an approving sound effect. Otherwise, the game chimes its disappointment. Along the paths the player will see parks, lakes, playgrounds, and all the trappings of a small town.
There is very little to Rascal's Alphamaze, and that is to the game's strength. The levels are fairly large, but unlike some of Sherwood's games they are carefully designed and not at all confusing to navigate. The routes themselves are fairly distinct from each other, and as in Shoplifter 2 the scenery is both meticulous and memorable. Overall the visuals are bold and clean, lending the game a professional appearance -- at least by early '90s shareware standards. In its clarity of design, concept, and presentation the game recalls Apple ][ educational games such as Number Munchers and Oregon Trail.
The Rascal games are amongst the latest known Game-Maker productions by Sherwood Forest. As such, they enjoy the benefit of more advanced Game-Maker features like digitized sound and FM music. Some of the sound effects are borrowed from other games, such as A-J's Quest. Along with the solid visuals and disciplined level design, the sound scheme cements Rascal's Alphamaze as Rob Sherwood's most refined game.
Most of Sherwood's games suggest a gift for unusual and strong scenarios, far afield from the usual life-and-death machismo or consumerism of mainstream games. Combined with his strong visual sense and tendency toward simple design, in retrospect it feels that he was always building toward a career in educational software. With Rascal's Alphamaze all of his strengths are assembled in the right order, suggesting a culmination of his sketches with RSD's tool set and the start of a new phase of his creative work.
Indeed, Alphamaze suggests greater didactic heights for RSD's tools, and a sorely missed opportunity in the educational sector. Would that one could turn back the clock.
As with Shoplifter 2, the Rascal games are amongst the few Sherwood Forest games to be parceled out as shareware demos. The unregistered version only covers A though J; to get the rest of the alphabet you need to fork over $15.
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| (Overview) | Rascal's Alphamaze | Rascal in Numberland |
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Story[edit]
Hi! I am Rascal the Raccoon. I need your help. Can you get me to the places I have to get to? It really isn't so hard. All you have to do is follow the right letters of the alphabet. If you can do that, then I can get home. I never learned my alphabet (raccoons don't have to go to school), so I need your help. Just follow the right order of letters, and I'll be home in time for supper. Thanks.
Instructions[edit]
This game will help your child to learn the alphabet. Rascal the Raccoon starts the adventure in his neighborhood. By following the correct order of letters (A to B to C, etc.), you will find the happy star that takes you to the next level.
Each level has five to six of the letters of the alphabet. When the right letter is the path taken, the chimes will sound. When the wrong letter is chosen, the other sound is heard, and the path turns into a dead end.
Controlling Rascal is done by using the appropriate arrow key or joystick.
Each section of the game is in a different area: Rascal's Neighborhood, the Forest, the Carnival, etc., and each area has items and people that are representative of the letters of that area, to help teach the the children the letters.
Please note this is the shareware version of the game. The shareware version only goes up to the letter "J". The registered version has the whole complete alphabet.
Credits[edit]
Rascal the Raccoon, as well as Rascal's Alphamaze and the other Rascal the Raccoon educational games, are the property of Sherwood Forest Software. Sherwood Sorest Software is:
- Rob Sherwood, president
- Dan Whalen, art director
- Randy Scott and Pat Curry, game development
- And a cast of thousands.
Availability[edit]
Available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs, including:
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #2-12: Programming (December 1994)
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #3-03: Home-Education (March 1995)
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #4-04: Education (1996)
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #5-02: Education (1997)
Archive History[edit]
Added to the archive on May 26, 2011. Located on one of many CD-ROMs hosted on cd.textfiles.org, during a search for Game-Maker file types.
Links[edit]
Downloads[edit]
- Rascal's Alphamaze (140 kB)
- Level 1 map (160 kB)
- Level 2 map (208 kB)
