- Release Date: 1995
- Genre: Educational
- Style: Geography
- Similar Games: The Oregon Trail (Hybrid PC/Mac)
Game Description
Have you ever wanted to take a full-fledged bike trip? Have you ever wanted to explore Africa? Well, with Africa Trail by MECC, you get to fulfill both of those wishes.You must start out by choosing your companions for the trip from a group of six. You can only take three of them with you on the trip, but if one of your team members gets too sick to continue, you may well see the others.
Before you go, you must choose which bike parts you will take and how much food to buy. You can also choose how much of the day you will travel and how fast you will attempt to bike. Pushing too fast and too long can wear your team down and end your expedition before it is even truly begun.
Will you survive all 12,000 miles without serious injury? Will your money last out the trip? Find out in Africa Trail.
~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Surviving a 12,000 mile bike trip through Africa is no mean feat, whether you do it in real life or on a computer screen. Time, money, weather and even your own health may well be against you.You start out in Tunisia with $30,000 and three companions, along with a collection of bike parts that will be used to repair your bikes as you move through Africa. You will always have the need for some bike parts, as the grueling trip takes its toll on bodies and bikes alike.
Every so often, you will need to purchase more food and bike parts from the local vendors. This can be especially expensive and you must keep an eye on your costs. Accepting the first price the vendors give you is a sure way to run out of money before the end of the trip. Luckily, there is a "barter" button. Players can haggle with the merchant and come up with a price acceptable to both. Meat seems to be especially expensive. Check out the local price and the American price. Things can be more expensive than they appear.
Often during the trip, you can take shortcuts through the country to save time. These shortcuts don't always save time, however. Getting caught in a rainstorm or sandstorm, or having an accident on the road can sap time from your schedule as well as make you sick.
The health and morale of you and your teammates is equally important. From time to time you will be told that you or another teammate is injured or sick. You can prescribe treatments or send the teammates home if they are too ill to continue. If you are too ill to continue, the game is over.
As you bike through Africa, you get to see pictures of the land and people. When you stop in major cities or towns, you can also chat with the people, giving you insight into their ways, customs, and attitudes. One thing to remember is to buy visas into every country you can. Not only will this save you time and money later on, but you will be forced to backtrack less often.
At the bottom of the travel screen is a series of buttons. One shows you maps of Africa which can be clicked on to show your route and the countries you are currently traveling through. Another shows you the condition of your teammates, their health and morale. You can choose to rest from this screen. Another button will show you if anything is wrong with your or your teammates' bikes.
At the end of the trip, you are assigned a score based on how long the trip took, how many miles you traveled, and the amount of money you have left.
While Africa Trail simulates the feel of a bike trip well, it is less adept at showing players the people of Africa. You may get a feel for the people and culture, but the information is really no more than a superficial glimpse.
~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
The number of times you will have your trip fail through illness or running out of money is large.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
The pictures show the beauty of Africa and her people well.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The music of Africa permeates the air. You'll definitely feel like you are traveling there.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
There are many possible bike trips and the game is never the same twice.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Very scanty. You really are required to learn by doing or, in this case, playing.~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
