'Teacher' is nothing cosmic

If "My Teacher Is An Alien" had come out five years ago, before we became accustomed to quality computer games, then it would have been interesting.

But it didn't, thus it isn't.

In "My Teacher is an Alien," one of the teachers is an alien the likes of which we have never known before. Using one of three characters, you have to explore the school, discover who is the alien is and foil whatever devious plot it has.

The game is based on the first book in an award-winning series of children's stories by Bruce Coville. The three characters in the game are the main characters of the series, and each personality has its own strengths and weaknesses. Each will do better with certain puzzles and challenges than the other two ,and multiple endings are possible.

At certain points in the game, there are also action sequences to conquer. For instance, one character had forgets to do his homework, and therefore the goal is to get him out of class using only a sling shot and some ammunition to accomplish this. Before long, I figured the perfect manipulation techniques to uncover the mysteries of the game. One of the other kids kept raising his hand and getting in the way, and when I hit him, he told on me - the fink.

"Teacher" lets you practice or play with these action sequences once you have reached them in the game, but the rest of the game is similar to a less-complex, less-exciting form of "Myst." You walk around, open doors and lockers, and ask students and teachers questions.

It was sort of fun to figure out the puzzles and to find out what the teachers and students say in response, but for most of the game, you walk around the same area again and again, trying to find something you missed or forgot.

If there were constant challenges to keep my attention, then I might find myself more interested in playing.

The game is made for the same eight to 12-year-old audience as the books were. A big fan of the book who has lots of patience and a good attention span might love the game. The games of Sony Playstation or Nintendo 64 have incredible graphics and a fast-pace to their play. And for challenge, Final Fantasy VII looks pretty difficult - at least more challenging than a lesson from the alien teacher.

Most kids would have the same reaction that I did - enduring instead of enjoying the game.

Schools may buy this game because of its relation to the book and its complete lack of action, but parents should consider the $3.99 price for each of the books instead of the $34.95 one for "My Teacher Is An Alien."

- Michael Galloway

01-28-98