October 5, 1999
Reader Rabbit: Thinking Adventures Ages 4-6 is a 1999 video game created by The Learning Company and A.D.A.P.T. Learning Technology.
Gameplay
The player plays eight activities featuring logic-based puzzles to gather party items to take to the Wordville Museum for Sam's birthday party. Each activity can be set from three levels of difficulty as indicated by the numbers 1-3 that appear onscreen. Completing an activity earns the player a certain party item; each item must be earned in three sets of six (making eighteen total) before the party can begin. During each activity, the player can also look for a hint to where they can find a clickable animated surprise during the party after completing the game.
Storyline
It's Sam's birthday, and Reader Rabbit decides to throw a surprise party for him in the Wordville Museum. Reader runs to the museum entrance and picks up a megaphone to make the announcement as the Wordville critters gather around and agree to pitch in and help with preparations. Babs agrees to make cookies and put treat bags together, Pierre agrees to make banner cards and paint wrapping paper for Sam's presents, Papa Bear and Baby Bear agree to organize toys and wrap Sam's presents, and Mat agrees to arrange dances and games with Professor Owl. Just then, Reader hears Sam coming, and tells the critters to hurry and get started with their preparations. When Sam arrives at the museum, he asks Reader where everyone is, coughing twice in the process. Reader, hearing Sam cough, convinces him to go home and take a nap, as if he has a cold, so he and his friends can start preparing the surprise party without Sam noticing, much to Sam's confusion.
After Sam is gone, Reader heads for his friends' locations to assist each friend with their respective party preparations, and agrees to bring finished party items to the museum in three sets of six each. After bringing the first six sets of party items to the museum, Reader gives the top stair at the museum entrance a fresh coat of paint and places a "wet paint" sign in front of the door to keep Sam from entering the museum. He notices Sam coming and hides. Sam looks at the sign on the entrance to the museum and walks up to it. He drags his finger over the stair, picking up a smidge of wet paint, telling him that he cannot go inside the museum. Reader, out of Sam's sight, sees this and grins while holding up a bucket of paint.
Meanwhile, after Reader has brought six more sets of party items to the museum, Spike is sitting on the grass outside the museum, blowing balloons. Unfortunately for Spike, since he's a porcupine, the balloons he tries to blow stick to his quills and pop. Sam comes along and asks Spike what the balloons are for. At first, Spike says the balloons are for the party, but then he notices Sam and tries to make him believe he's trying to build up his lungs and make himself hearty, leaving Sam skeptical.
Later, after Reader has brought another set of six sets of party items to the museum, Sam is seen sitting on a tree stump, looking bored. Just then, a birthday cake moves along the path in front of him, which is being carried by mice underneath. Sam asks the mice what the cake is for. As one of the mice is about to answer him, it stops, so that the surprise is not spoiled, and another one exclaims, "Run, there is a lion chasing us!" before they run off quickly, headed for the Wordville Museum. Sam is then shocked, until he realizes that he is a lion, leaving him confused again.
When all party items are finished, and Reader has brought the last set of six sets of items to the museum, he leads his friends into the museum and closes the door as they prepare Sam's surprise party inside. As the critters are finishing up, Reader hears someone coming to the door. The critters turn out the lights and get ready to jump up and surprise who's coming, who they think might be Sam at first, but it turns out to just be Spike, covered in popped balloons. Just then, Reader hears Sam coming to the museum, and the critters quickly close the door and turn out the lights again, Spike now included. Sam appears, slightly opening the door to the museum, peaking inside, before going inside while the room is dark. When Sam walks in, the lights turn on, and Reader and his friends jump up and surprise him yelling, "Surprise! Happy birthday, Sam!" Then, Sam gets in front of his birthday cake, with lit candles on it, as his friends sing a special song to him. After the song is finished, Sam blows out the candles on the cake, also blowing out some of the cake in the process due to his strong breath. At that moment, a photo is taken, and Sam thanks everyone for coming to his party.
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, High Pitch Moose Cal CRT013101
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, HORN - PARTY HORN, TWO TOOTS 01
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, ZIP - HIGH 01
- Sound Ideas, DOOR, WOOD - OPEN 02
- Sound Ideas, DOOR, WOOD - OPEN 04
- Sound Ideas, FOREST, DAY - BIRDS, STEADY LIGHT BREEZE THROUGH TREES, AMBIENCE
- Sound Ideas, SQUEAK, WOOD - VARIOUS WOOD SQUEAKS
- Sound Ideas, SQUEAK, WOOD - WOOD SQUEAK: TURNING
- Sound Ideas, SQUIRREL - CHATTERING, ANIMAL, RODENT (H-B)
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - KEEN ZIP OUT
- WB CARTOON, ZIP - QUICK ZIP