Math Rescue

Math Rescue
Developer(s)	Redwood Games
Publisher(s)	Apogee Software
Platform(s)	DOS
Release date(s)	October 1992
Genre(s)	platform game, educational
Mode(s)	Single player
Media/distribution	Floppy disk

Math Rescue is an 1992 educational platform game created by Karen Crowther of Redwood Games and published by Apogee Software. Released in October 1992 for the MS-DOS platform, it is a loose successor to the earlier game Word Rescue, whose game engine is reused to power it with minor changes. It is followed by Math Rescue Plus.

The registered version of Math Rescue is currently available for purchase.^[1].

Gameplay

As the title suggests, Math Rescue revolves around solving math problems. There are floating boxes in the air, which, if touched, will transport the player inside it, where they must solve a math problem to get points.

Math Rescue includes three episodes in total, called Visit Volcanos and Ice Caves, Follow the Gruzzles into Space and See Candy Land, respectively. Only the first episode is distributed as shareware, while the others are available commercially. Each episode contains 15 levels.

Plot

The backstory of the game consist of the theft of the world's numbers by the Gruzzles. The in-game story give a summary about it:

“

The world suddenly realizes that there are no numbers. There are no numbers on calculator, your mom has locked herself in the bathroom and won't come out because her paycheck is blank, and the Dow Jones isn't up or down... it's gone! In desperation you try to call your friend, but the numbers on the phone are gone, and you can't remember your friends number. Rushing outside, you find a creature that resembles a giant nose with eyes, one of the "Gruzzles", grabbing numbers off your house and tossing them into a robot garbage truck. In fear, you point a quivering finger. Suddenly, a giant butterfly appears and dumps a giant bucket of slime on the nose. After finding out how to get past the Gruzzles, you grab a trash can lid for protection as you follow the Gruzzles to get the planet's numbers back.

”

Episode 1 takes place in the seas and volcanoes. Upon the completion of Episode 1, the number stealers have been defeated, leaving the players wonder what they want with Earth's numbers and whether they are gone. However, the Glixerians, an alien race who originates from their planet of Glixer II in an outer arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, try to send the Gruzzles back to Earth.

Space is the main setting of Episode 2. As players progress through, it is revealed that Benny was once a Gruzzle who found refuge on Earth to escape the fate of being a Glixerian pet. Furthermore, the slime is a common element on Glixer II which has disgusting effects that make the Gruzzles ill. He says the battle isn't over yet.

In the Episode 3 ending, as the numbers are returned to their rightful places, a Gruzzle, named Zorja, is captured. Zorja recognzies Benny as a long lost cousin who tells him to stop stealing the numbers. It is clear that Gruzzles are not always being pets and Benny convinces her to choose freedom over the Glixerians. After this event, all Gruzzles are invited and Earth's numbers are not only saved, but the gardeners are provided with built-in slug control. They decide to move from Glixer II to Earth. With all numbers restored, everything returns to normal. However, despite the departure of the Gruzzles, the Glixerians, throwing stink mud at each other, are not finished with Earth.

See also

• Word Rescue

References

1. ^ Apogee Software page at Classic DOS Games

External links

• [1] Redwood Games
• Official webpage at 3D Realms
• Math Rescue at MobyGames