Sum Scruncher

Sum Scruncher is an educational game that allows children aged 6 years and upwards to practice the skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Once the program is loaded, the computer will first ask for your name and then how difficult you want to make the game. The game has six difficulty levels ranging from easy addition to quite difficult division. Press the number key corresponding to the level of difficulty you want. Once that is done, the game will start. You control Microbug whose mission it is to explore the corridors of a serpent-patrolled underground maze in search of the answers to a series of computer-generated problems.

There are 35 number gates in the thick walls of the corridors. Use the four cursor keys to position Microbug directly beneath the answer to the problem shown at the bottom of the screen. This must be done while one of the 20 fast snakes is already on the move. Moving up through the number will ‘scrunch’ the answer and a new gap will appear in the wall. At the same time, the serpent will be destroyed. Unfortunately, a new serpent will emerge to continue the chase. If Microbug goes to an incorrect answer, it falls down and is stunned for a while. If the serpent gets Microbug before the correct answer is ‘scrunched’, then Microbug changes color and loses one of its five lives. The frame is over when Microbug has outwitted all the serpents or when it has lost its five lives. Your high score will then be displayed in the Score Box. A game has three frames. At the end of each game, you can change the problem or difficulty level. You will then first be asked whether you want to play as the same player or as a new one.