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Many alleged educational programs are not worth a glance and for good reason: it's doubtful if good educational software can be written without recourse to experienced teachers who can validate and help with development.

Maths With A Story 2 is an example of the quality which can be achieved by an experienced writer supported by good field work. This package develops spatial awareness through co-ordinate geometry and pattern recognition combined in four captivating games.

The first game, Pirate Gold, is a treasure hunt. An island is superimposed on a grid where hidden gold can be found by moving a cursor using X/Y co-ordinates. A multicoloured barometer and a changing bleep tone shows how "warm" the hunter is. Further help is given by the coloured squares appearing over co-ordinates already visited.

The object is to be the first to fill a chest with gold, and the shorter the route taken the greater amount of gold there is to be found. Turnflex exploits the concepts of reflection and symmetry by presenting the player with two picture tiles, the second being a reflection of the first.

At the first level the picture is composed of numerals, but higher levels allow the user to design the pictures. The game starts by the removal of the reflected picture, and the player has to show an understanding of mirrors and reflections to win it back.

Dice Squares is a game of chance and strategy for one or two players, where rows, or squares, are positioned to fill a grid. The size of the rows and squares you can fill is determined by a simulated dice throw.

The last game, Tile Stretch, introduces the concept of stretching and enlargement using tiles to fill a grid in order to capture as large an area as possible.

In each game there is the option of turning the sound off, a choice of one or two players and a range of difficulties. Simple screen prompts, along with optional demonstration runs, make the comprehensive booklet supplied with the tape superfluous, and good protection from mischievous fingers enables the programs to be used by pupils without supervision. Highly recommended.

John Daddy