Amazon Trail II

{{Infobox video game

| title = Amazon Trail II

| image = Amazon_Trail_II_Cover_art.jpg

| developer = The Adventure Company

| publisher = MECC

| series = The Oregon Trail

| engine =

| platforms = Windows, Macintosh

| released = 1996

| genre = Simulation{{cite web|url=http://www.journal.su.ac.th/index.php/suij/article/view/84/83|title=Computer-Assisted Language Learning: An Overview|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018192233/http://www.journal.su.ac.th/index.php/suij/article/view/84/83|archive-date=2016-10-18|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://web.warwick.ac.uk/CELTE/tr/ovCALL/booklet1.htm|title=Advantages and Limitations of CALL|website=web.warwick.ac.uk|access-date=2016-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607094942/http://web.warwick.ac.uk/CELTE/tr/ovCALL/booklet1.htm|archive-date=2016-06-07|url-status=dead}}

| modes = Single-player

}}

Amazon Trail II is a simulation video game developed by The Adventure Company and published by MECC for the Macintosh and Windows.{{cite book |last1=Penix-Tadsen |first1=Phillip |title=Cultural Code: Video Games and Latin America |date=2016 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-03405-0}}{{page needed|date=June 2023}} It was released in September 1996.{{cite book |last1=Review |first1=Children's Software |title=The Complete Sourcebook on Children's Software |date=2001 |publisher=Children's Software Revue |isbn=978-1-891983-05-4}}{{page needed|date=June 2023}} The game is a spin-off of The Oregon Trail.

It is the second video game in the Amazon Trail video game series, succeeding The Amazon Trail and preceding Amazon Trail 3rd Edition.{{cite book |title=Software and CD-ROM Reviews on File |date=1997 |publisher=Facts on File, Incorporated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dhsQAQAAMAAJ |page=635}}

It was included in a games bundle with the Quantex 5500,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wEAAAAAMBAJ|title=Maximum PC|date=1999-07-01|publisher=Future US, Inc.|language=en}} and in the Trail Mix Social Studies Bundle with The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition and MayaQuest: The Mystery Trail.{{cite book |last1=Leppert |first1=Mary |last2=Leppert |first2=Michael |title=Homeschooling Almanac 2002-2003 |date=2001 |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-7615-2856-2}}{{page needed|date=June 2023}} The Quantex QP6/333 M-1c package also included the game in its software package.{{Cite journal|date=1999-03-01|title=Quantex QP6/333 M-1c: Quantex ups the entry-level ante.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53703828.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194916/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53703828.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}

Production

The aim of this educational video game is to teach players about the "culture, ecology, and history of the Amazon River". Richard D. Thompson was the game's video director.{{cite web|url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/family/intothewoodsjr/behind/home.html|title=The Artistic Team|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}

The game was donated to The Strong National Museum of Play.{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/22/66/109.10725|title=Amazon Trail II: Science & History|website=www.museumofplay.org|access-date=2016-09-08}}

Plot

The game starts with a mysterious incident at the Museum of Ancient Art, which results in the player ending up in the Amazon.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/amazon-trail-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Amazon Trail II|website=Metacritic|access-date=2016-09-08}} Players are then sent to find a local cure to a disease,{{cite web|url=http://au.ign.com/games/amazon-trail-ii/pc-758767|title=Amazon Trail II (PC)|website=IGN|access-date=2016-09-08}} with the end goal being to reach the city of Vilcabamba.{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/amazon-trail-ii/3030-35894/|title=Amazon Trail II (Game) - Giant Bomb|website=www.giantbomb.com|access-date=2016-09-08}}

Gameplay

Featuring "the same gameplay and educational styling"{{cite web|url=http://classicgames.about.com/od/computergames/fr/OregonTrail_2.htm|title=The Oregon Trail - Edutainment's First Video Game Hit - Apple II|access-date=2016-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914210900/http://classicgames.about.com/od/computergames/fr/OregonTrail_2.htm|archive-date=2016-09-14|url-status=dead}} as The Oregon Trail, players take a virtual trip up the South American Amazon River in a canoe in an interactive learning journey.{{cite book |title=CD-ROMs in Print |date=2001 |publisher=Meckler |isbn=978-0-7876-3356-1}}{{page needed|date=June 2023}} The game has 3 levels of difficulty.{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|236906679}} |last1=Reutter |first1=Janice |title=Amazon Trail II |journal=Science and Children |volume=35 |issue=3 |date=1997 |pages=59}} Players receive points by remaining healthy, using their resources wisely, and conversing with characters correctly. The best players have their names put into a high score list. A fishing meter shows how hard the harpoon is thrown when fishing. Tour guides ask the player questions which they must respond to further the game. The game includes four river guides, 17 assignments, and 50 characters.

Critical reception

Janice Reutter wrote in the Science and Children journal that the game is "an exciting, adventurous journey" with "attractive graphics", "mysterious and intriguing sound effects", and "beautiful 3D...scenes". The Boston Herald favourably compared it to its "pretty simple" and "not very attractive" predecessor Amazon Trail, deeming it a "good buy for families who don't yet have Amazon Trail".{{Cite journal|date=1997-03-30|title=Kid tech.|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56419982.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195013/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56419982.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} Computer Shopper said a software package that included the game was a "great starting point for the first-time buyer". The Washington Post{{'}}s review included testimony from their "kid software tester" Sarah Phillips, who said that parts of the game could be "pretty neat" or "extremely frustrating".{{Cite journal|date=1997-03-14|title=Keep on Trackin'|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-706221.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201833/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-706221.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} MECC deemed it "one of the most compelling interactive adventures ever".{{cite web|url=http://www.mecc.co/mac--pc-products/trails/amazon-trail-ii.html|title=Amazon Trail II {{!}} Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium|website=www.mecc.co|access-date=2016-09-08}} TESL-EJ described it as "wonderful" and "imaginative".{{cite web|url=http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume2/ej08/ej08m1/|title=Oregon Trail II|website=www.tesl-ej.org|access-date=2016-09-08}}

Amazon Trail II

Production

Plot

Gameplay

Critical reception

References

Further reading