The old and new combine to help you Look Sharp

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The aim of Look Sharp is to sharpen observational skills and visual memory, using two very different themes - Old Macdonald's Farm and SORT - the Space Observer Recruitment Text.

Old Macdonald's Farm features lovely graphic sheep, geese, pigs and cows in three different games.

The first - Memory - challenges the player to remem ber and reconstruct a farmyard scene. The two difficulty levels make this a good game for four to seven year olds, as well as being visually appealing and musically appropriate.

The two other games are Odd-One-Out - spot the blue eyed cow or the footless goose - and Snap, for one or two players. All these games are of excellent quality, and well suited to the intended age range.

SORT features space age scenarios for budding astronauts of seven years upwards in which the players are tested to find the best candidate for a space mission.

The three parts of the test all need a quick hand and eye. SORT 1 is visual perception where the player must rapidly compare two space age scenes of rockets, space stations and aliens.

A response to any matches between them will instantly send the blue rocket one stage nearer to take off. Too slow a response means a move upwards for the enemy red rocket.

SORT 2 is visual discrimination - one of those irritating games where the seven year old can spot the odd picture out of the six similar ones displayed about 10 minutes before you do. Once again right answers lead to your rocket ship blasting off successfully.

The visual memory test — SORT 3 - is the hardest of all. Imagine a picture made up of all nine elements, each of which can be one of 12 different space features.

You must memorise the whole screen, and then for each clement, decide which feature was located there. This is truly mind bending, and incredibly frustrating - after all, logic tells you this is only a matter of concentration.

Fortunately for those of us whose reflexes and brain cells work slower than they used to, there are practice modes for each section so you can work your way up to the final space test.

Again, a fine collection of good ideas incorporated in good software design, particularly recommended for Space Invader weary parents.

Jane Jackson