I can remember the walk to my elementary school computer lab. It was only a like 3 minute walk across the school, but it was always one of the most exciting days of the week. We were allowed to, for one hour a day, choose whatever we wanted to do on the computer, whether it was make some kind of digital artwork or play a game, and of course, I always chose play a game. I was in like 2nd grade, what do you expect of me. And of all the games available to choose, this was, for some reason, the one I kept coming back to.

There's other games I remember fondly from childhood PC adventures, like Oregon Trail 2 or the remade Math Munchers - despite hating and doing poorly at any and all math - but this was something special. This was something I played at school, during school time. School was hell for me. I failed almost every subject every year. I somehow graduated without ever completing math of any kind. How I got a diploma is beyond me. Perhaps because I'm challenged they took pity on me, I don't know, but what I do know is that to be able to do something I enjoyed during school time was great, even if the game was nothing really special.

And boy this game, and this series of games, are truly nothing special.

The Super Solvers franchise have a cute cartoonish art style that's certainly appealing, and they're just your standard educational gaming faire published by The Learning Company. The Learning Company, for those perhaps not as old as my dead ass is, were a juggernaut of the computer gaming world when I was little. Not only were they responsible for the Carmen Sandiego series and later entries into the Oregon Trail series via their purchase of Broderbund and MECC, as well as the Reader Rabbit series they created. But the one thing I truly remember them for is this series, and particularly this game.

Again, I'm not saying the game is good. However, it did let me utilize my brain for critical thinking and reading comprehension, both things I did and continue to struggle with to this very day, so for a brief respite from actual schoolwork, it managed to be both entertaining and informative. There's a reason The Learning Company were top of their class, school pun notwithstanding.

But, much like my review of High Seas Havoc, this write up isn't so much about the game proper as it is about the feeling surrounding it. Once more I think back to my childhood, and I think back to that ethereal unreality that encompasses that period of ones life. When everything seems interesting and exciting because it's fresh and new, and you haven't yet been worn down and jaded by years of unsatisfying experiences and unfortunate interactions. When your biggest importance in your life was what kind of Lunchable you wanted that week. As I age, I find myself regressing more and more back to this mindset, and it's both comforting and terrifying. Here I am, 33 years old, and I cannot help but wish to simply be back in elementary school - not because I enjoyed it, but because the world felt fresh then - and playing a computer game about reading and problem solving.

I simply cannot function as an adult, and so I yearn for the comforts of yesteryear.

I miss those walks to computer class. Those cool mornings, walking in a straight line to a room filled with magical boxes that held treasures beyond your wildest dreams. I don't miss school. Please don't think I am saying that. I miss the FEELING these memories evoke upon me. Ya know, it's funny, for someone who spent a good portion of their childhood playing pseudo mystery PC titles such as Carmen Sandiego and Super Solvers, you'd think I'd be used to solving a mystery, but I'm not. I'm still at as much of a loss about how life works now as I was back then. Nothing's been solved. Nothing's been uncovered. I just keep getting myself embroiled into new more confusing mysteries without ever closing the previous cases.

I don't want to go back to school, and I sure as shit don't wanna play Super Solvers.

But I miss that walk. I miss that level of excitement. When I could feel anything other than abject sadness. When even just the idea of going somewhere for an hour and doing something fun was actually enjoyable. So, as I said, much like my High Seas Havoc review, this isn't about the game as much as it is the nostalgia that surrounds it in terms of how it made me feel. Who knows, maybe one day I'll load up Super Solvers and play it again just for kicks...but I'll never get to walk that walk again, and that's what really kills me. The only mystery I want solved is where all the time went.

And how I can get it back.

My name is Maggie. I write & make art for a living. If you like this review, you might also like my newest novel here, reading my media blog here and you can tip me for my work at Ko-Fi.