Farm Vet
© 2008 Legacy Games
Can you cure a nasty case of greasy pig disease? You'll be able to after you play Farm Vet, another veterinarian simulation from Legacy Interactive, a company that has become known for first-person medical simulations. After you sign in (progress is saved automatically), you choose and dress a boy or girl avatar. Next, you meet an old, wise farmer who explains how important it is to be able to take care of the animals in order to save the farm. As you explore the 3D barnyard, you meet a variety of sick animals. There are chickens with eye infections, ducks with broken wings and a pig with bad-looking skin. Your job is to cure as many animals as you can before the day ends (which takes about 30 minutes in real time). Content includes three challenge levels, 60 cases and five mini-games. The program doesn't skimp on the real terms; words like Exudative Epidermis. Our testers, aged 13, commented that the "boy sounds wimpy" and the "girl looks stiff". But the content is good, with real tools and treatment using authentic antibiotics. The music and graphics have a distinct feel to them that some children might find to be initially strange. Features include the ability to increase or decrease the level of detail in the game, and the ability to toggle subtitles on/off. Note that you'll need to have a 3D graphics card with at least 128 MB of RAM. If you're expecting state-of-the-art characters, you'll be disappointed in this game. But if you're a future vet, you should jump in. Visit www.farmvetgame.com for more information.
$20, Windows
Teaches: science, medicine, veterinary science, deductive reasoning, problem solving
CTR Rating: 86%