Treasure Mountain!
Encyclopedia
Treasure Mountain! is an educational computer game published by The Learning Company
in 1990 for both Windows and Macintosh
PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, basic math, and logic skills. Treasure Mountain is the third installment of the Super Solvers series and the first game of the Super Seekers series.
's Super Solvers series and Treasure series, steals the kingdom's crown and hides all of the castle's treasures. The player takes on the role of the Super Seeker, whose job is to find the treasures and remove the Master of Mischief from the throne.
The mountain itself consists of three levels. The player cannot climb higher until he has found the key to unlock the next level. To find the key, the player must get clues about its location by answering elves' riddles. If the player captures an elf carrying a scroll with his net and answers the riddle correctly, he will receive a clue- a number, shape, or description about where the key to the next level is hidden.
In the background, there are several groups of objects that each have a distinct characteristics that can be matched to the clues. The player may search behind these objects by dropping a magic coin. If the objects match all three clues, the player will find the key to the next level. If the objects match two out of the three clues, the player will find one of the stolen treasures.
After finding the key on each of the three levels of the mountain, he can enter the castle. At this point, the player must climb up a maze of ladders, avoiding the Master of Mischief, who tries to knock the player off. Once the player reaches the top, he deposits all treasures found into the castle's treasure chest and is given a prize as a reward for completing the three stages. This prize is kept on display in the player's clubhouse, showing how many times he has ascended the mountain. From this point, the player may exit the clubhouse and start again from the bottom of the mountain.
When the player deposits a certain number of treasures in the castle's treasure chest, he will go up a star rank. At higher ranks, the game becomes more difficult, as there will be more treasures to find, harder riddles to answer, and elves that steal magical coins.
, Treasure Mathstorm!
, and Treasure Galaxy!
. The Treasure series is a subgroup of the company's Super Solvers series. All the games in this series are math and reading comprehension oriented educational adventure games aimed at younger children. Games in the treasure series all have the same three stage gameplay format where a special object, whose location can be deduced by answering questions, is needed to reach the next stage.
's "Solfeggietto
". The theme heard in the outdoor levels is a combination of two of Beethoven
's contredanses, WoO 14: No.1 and WoO 14: No.3. The theme heard in caves comes from the first movement of J. S. Bach's Keyboard Concerto no. 1 in D minor
.
and Treasure Galaxy!
under the name "Treasure Trio!". This was one of the first software bundle packages ever created and sold.
In 1994, a version with slightly enhanced sound and graphics was released on CD-ROM.
gave the game 4.5 stars out of 5 stating that "Treasure Mountain may be somewhat repetitive, but each level will impel the kids to go onward until they finally get all 300 treasures and win the game...the game can be played over and over again." Users at Home of the Underdogs
gave Treasure Mountain! the Top Dog Award, an award given to games "(they) feel are severely underrated...to distinguish truly great underdogs from the pack." They gave it a thumbs up, claiming that "children will be captivated by the game's vibrant graphics...They will spend many hours solving puzzles, doing math problems, and looking for hidden treasures-- sharpening their math skills without even realizing it."
Abandonia
users gave more mediocre reviews, but said that "collecting toys and getting to the next level can be somewhat addicting."
The Learning Company
The Learning Company is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The...
in 1990 for both Windows and Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, basic math, and logic skills. Treasure Mountain is the third installment of the Super Solvers series and the first game of the Super Seekers series.
Setting
Treasure Mountain!, like the other games in The Learning Company's "Treasure" series, takes place in a magical realm called Treasureland. This particular game takes place on a mountain called "Treasure Mountain". Treasure MathStorm, a later release, also takes place on the same mountain.Plot
As the game opens, the Master of Mischief, a common antagonist of The Learning CompanyThe Learning Company
The Learning Company is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The...
's Super Solvers series and Treasure series, steals the kingdom's crown and hides all of the castle's treasures. The player takes on the role of the Super Seeker, whose job is to find the treasures and remove the Master of Mischief from the throne.
Gameplay
The objective of Treasure Mountain! is to find the hidden treasures and return them to the chest in the castle at the very top of the mountain.The mountain itself consists of three levels. The player cannot climb higher until he has found the key to unlock the next level. To find the key, the player must get clues about its location by answering elves' riddles. If the player captures an elf carrying a scroll with his net and answers the riddle correctly, he will receive a clue- a number, shape, or description about where the key to the next level is hidden.
In the background, there are several groups of objects that each have a distinct characteristics that can be matched to the clues. The player may search behind these objects by dropping a magic coin. If the objects match all three clues, the player will find the key to the next level. If the objects match two out of the three clues, the player will find one of the stolen treasures.
After finding the key on each of the three levels of the mountain, he can enter the castle. At this point, the player must climb up a maze of ladders, avoiding the Master of Mischief, who tries to knock the player off. Once the player reaches the top, he deposits all treasures found into the castle's treasure chest and is given a prize as a reward for completing the three stages. This prize is kept on display in the player's clubhouse, showing how many times he has ascended the mountain. From this point, the player may exit the clubhouse and start again from the bottom of the mountain.
When the player deposits a certain number of treasures in the castle's treasure chest, he will go up a star rank. At higher ranks, the game becomes more difficult, as there will be more treasures to find, harder riddles to answer, and elves that steal magical coins.
Development
Treasure Series
Treasure Mountain! is the first of four games in The Learning Company's "Treasure" series (also known as the "Super Seeker" series) along with Treasure Cove!Treasure Cove!
Treasure Cove! is an educational computer game published by The Learning Company in 1992 for DOS, Windows and Macintosh PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, math, and oceanography...
, Treasure Mathstorm!
Treasure Mathstorm!
Treasure Mathstorm! is an educational computer game intended to teach children ages five to nine mathematical problem solving. The sequel to Treasure Mountain! is the 6th installment of The Learning Company's Super Solvers series and the second in the Super Seekers spin-off series.The objective of...
, and Treasure Galaxy!
Treasure Galaxy!
Treasure Galaxy! is an educational computer game published by The Learning Company in 1994 for both Windows and Macintosh PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, basic math, and logic skills...
. The Treasure series is a subgroup of the company's Super Solvers series. All the games in this series are math and reading comprehension oriented educational adventure games aimed at younger children. Games in the treasure series all have the same three stage gameplay format where a special object, whose location can be deduced by answering questions, is needed to reach the next stage.
Music
In lieu of original musical scores, Treasure Mountain! employs a number of famous classical pieces as background music. The music heard in the game's introduction is Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach
right|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
's "Solfeggietto
Solfeggietto
Solfeggietto is a short solo keyboard piece in C minor composed by C. P. E. Bach. Played at a tempo of Allegretto , it requires well-trained, dexterous fingers and much practice to be played well and at a consistent pace. The piece is not meant to be played at a fast, rushed pace, but more an...
". The theme heard in the outdoor levels is a combination of two of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's contredanses, WoO 14: No.1 and WoO 14: No.3. The theme heard in caves comes from the first movement of J. S. Bach's Keyboard Concerto no. 1 in D minor
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
.
Later Versions
Treasure Mountain! was later released in a software bundle package with both Treasure Cove!Treasure Cove!
Treasure Cove! is an educational computer game published by The Learning Company in 1992 for DOS, Windows and Macintosh PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, math, and oceanography...
and Treasure Galaxy!
Treasure Galaxy!
Treasure Galaxy! is an educational computer game published by The Learning Company in 1994 for both Windows and Macintosh PCs. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 9 and is intended to teach children reading, basic math, and logic skills...
under the name "Treasure Trio!". This was one of the first software bundle packages ever created and sold.
In 1994, a version with slightly enhanced sound and graphics was released on CD-ROM.
Reception
Treasure Mountain! has received mediocre to positive reviews. Lisa Savignano of AllgameAllgame
Allgame is a commercial database of information about arcade games, video games and console manufacturers.Allgame is owned by All Media Guide, along with Allmusic and Allmovie....
gave the game 4.5 stars out of 5 stating that "Treasure Mountain may be somewhat repetitive, but each level will impel the kids to go onward until they finally get all 300 treasures and win the game...the game can be played over and over again." Users at Home of the Underdogs
Home of the Underdogs
Home of the Underdogs was an abandonware archive founded by Thai Sarinee Achavanuntakul , aka: Underdogs or Fringer on her own blog, in September 1998, and grew to be one of the most significant abandonware websites on the Internet, despite losing its domains to cybersquatters and then briefly...
gave Treasure Mountain! the Top Dog Award, an award given to games "(they) feel are severely underrated...to distinguish truly great underdogs from the pack." They gave it a thumbs up, claiming that "children will be captivated by the game's vibrant graphics...They will spend many hours solving puzzles, doing math problems, and looking for hidden treasures-- sharpening their math skills without even realizing it."
Abandonia
Abandonia
Abandonia is an abandonware website, focusing mainly on showcasing computer games and distributing games made for the MS-DOS system.Abandonia also features a music section and an Abandonware List, a continuously expanded database of over 4600 games including information about their publishers,...
users gave more mediocre reviews, but said that "collecting toys and getting to the next level can be somewhat addicting."
External links
- Treasure Mountain! at AbandoniaAbandoniaAbandonia is an abandonware website, focusing mainly on showcasing computer games and distributing games made for the MS-DOS system.Abandonia also features a music section and an Abandonware List, a continuously expanded database of over 4600 games including information about their publishers,...
- The Learning Company Official Site