Review: Retro Granny's Garden education software

It could be said that it's an indictment of current games that a 20-year-old title could still sell today.

That's exactly what Granny's Garden is – launched back in the 1980s, it was the first piece of software to convince teachers that there was a point to computers in schools.

In addition to being fun for young children, it also taught problem solving as well as general computer use, sending players on a quest to rescue the king and queen of the mountains from where they've been imprisoned by an evil witch.

The game, originally available for BBC computers and here recreated for Windows PCs, is essentially a text adventure. Although there are basic graphics and animations all the players' moves are made by typing in commands in response to prompts. The commands required are very basic, meaning that even younger children can respond and play along.

If you're one of those who managed to complete it back in the day, the new edition, which is exactly the same in terms of play, will provide a nice nostalgia hit, while current parents of young children, as long as they're not already spoilt by the spectacular graphics of current games, may find this a pleasant diversion that even results in a little learning.

The same company also has a remade version for teachers that ties into current National Curriculum targets and levels – look out for a Computeractive review shortly.