Though this title is easy to use and very informative, many of its activities lack depth and won't maintain their appeal in the long term. However, children with a sincere interest in the solar system will enjoy the abundant mini-lessons found in this encouraging and colorful title. This activity-based program is unlike the traditional MSB software titles you may be used to, with its focus on activities instead of missions. Once kids watch the opening sequence complete with the MSB theme song and select a funky picture ID, they are brought inside the famous bus where many surprises await. Players leave the bus to learn more facts and to engage in an arcade-style game that involves trying to bring a lander to the landing pad safely before running out of fuel.
Kids can watch, for example, a marshmallow explode on Mars and puff up on a mountaintop.
Though characters from the show are always around to lend a helping hand, in terms of selecting activities to play, children are basically on their own with open-ended activities. Where appropriate, the program uses easily adjustable difficulty levels. Unfortunately, this title's activity-center format takes away some of that magic. While Ms. Frizzle's comments and jokes are true to form, the lack of a program objective lessens this title's overall impact. Nonetheless, children might absorb plenty of facts while they do play the program, especially if they are curious about the solar system in the first place.