Amazon Trail II is a simulation video game developed by The Adventure Company and published by MECC for the Macintosh and Windows.[3] It was released in September 1996.[4] The game is a spin-off of The Oregon Trail.
The aim of this educational video game is to teach players about the "culture, ecology, and history of the Amazon River".[5] Richard D. Thompson was the game's video director.[9]
The game starts with a mysterious incident at the Museum of Ancient Art, which results in the player ending up in the Amazon.[11] Players are then sent to find a local cure to a disease,[12] with the end goal being to reach the city of Vilcabamba.[13]
Gameplay
Featuring "the same gameplay and educational styling"[14] as The Oregon Trail, players take a virtual trip up the South American Amazon River in a canoe[5] in an interactive learning journey.[15] The game has 3 levels of difficulty.[16] Players receive points by remaining healthy, using their resources wisely, and conversing with characters correctly.[16] The best players have their names put into a high score list.[16] A fishing meter shows how hard the harpoon is thrown when fishing.[16] Tour guides ask the player questions which they must respond to further the game.[16] The game includes four river guides, 17 assignments, and 50 characters.[16]
Critical reception
Janice Reutter wrote in the Science and Children journal that the game is "an exciting, adventurous journey" with "attractive graphics", "mysterious and intriguing sound effects", and "beautiful 3D...scenes".[16] The Boston Herald favourably compared it to its "pretty simple" and "not very attractive" predecessor Amazon Trail, deeming it a "good buy for families who don't yet have Amazon Trail".[17]Computer Shopper said a software package that included the game was a "great starting point for the first-time buyer".[8]The Washington Post's review included testimony from their "kid software tester" Sarah Phillips, who said that parts of the game could be "pretty neat" or "extremely frustrating".[18] MECC deemed it "one of the most compelling interactive adventures ever".[19] TESL-EJ described it as "wonderful" and "imaginative".[20]
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