Every once in a while the question has to be asked, how can solving math problems and telling time save the Galaxy from the evil Separatists and bring you a step closer to becoming a Jedi Knight? Well, a question like that is important if one is playing Star Wars Jedi Math for the LeapFrog’s Leapster2 (NOTE: Works with all Leapster systems). Well, we had a chance to find out the answer to that question when we put this game through its paces.

You Too Can Learn the Ways of the Force

In Star Wars Jedi Math, the player helps Anakin, his Padawan Ahsoka, Clone Captain Rex, and R2-D2 rescue kidnapped members of the Republic from the evil Separatists. Each of the prisoners is being held on one of Count Dooku’s Trade federation cruisers and to rescue them, the player must engage in a 4-part mission pitting their smarts against cunning actions of the Separatists concluding with a Lightsaber Duel. As each prisoner is rescued, the player collects their data card along the way earning Jedi points to increase their Jedi ranking.

Grab Your Lightsaber

Star Wars Jedi Math is designed to engage children in kindergarten through the 2nd grade (ages 5 to 8) by challenging them with number recognition, sequencing, addition and subtraction, time telling, and daily routines. To do this, the game employs 4 challenges starting with the Starfighter Battle, where the mission is to successfully reach and board one of Count Dooku’s Trade Federation cruisers by using number recognition, addition, and subtraction. This mission is followed by Cover Fire, where the player must help Clone Captain Rex supply blaster cover fire to Anakin and Ahsoka along with performing a few math problems along the way. During this mission, the player also engages in Telling Time With R2-D2 to unlock doors to move through the ship and rescue the prisoner. The final mission is a Lightsaber Duel, where the player helps Anakin face either Count Dooku, General Grievous, or Asajj Ventress by once again solving math problems, but the player has to think fast lest they be cut down by a Lightsaber. Upon victory in the Lightsaber Duel, all that is left is to set the Countdown Timer and blow up the Trade Federation Cruiser.

The Force Is Strong In This One

As far as game play goes for Star Wars Jedi Math, well the graphics are certainly not those of a high-end gaming system, however children should find them entertaining along with the character audio comments. The 4-part rescue mission repeats with every prisoner that needs to be rescued, though the math and time problems change with each rescue. As an adult I find this rather tedious, however I know this ‘Flash Cards Approach’ helps reinforce learning in a child, but still… There are 3 levels of play to help advance and keep the child engaged. Finally, like all games played on LeapFrog’s Leapster2, children with their parents’ help can connect the gaming system to their computers to collect and download rewards as well as allow the parents to track their child’s progress.

Overall Impressions

I’ll have to admit that I’ve always found mixing the learning of new skills with established entertainment franchises, as is done in Star Wars Jedi Math, to be a bit silly. But I guess if it helps a child to learn or hone a certain skill, then it can’t be all bad. I guess there will always be more boring ways to learn math. So with that in mind, Nikolai (age 8) has decided to give Star Wars Jedi Math 100 Thumbs up out of 100, because he loves Star Wars and he said he found that the math problems challenging, making the game more exciting. As for me, though I found the game a little flat and repeating the missions got boring, I can see where a kid would find that very enjoyable, so I’m giving it 6 Dancing Elephants out of 8.

Parting Thoughts

One of the Republic Representatives kidnapped by Count Dooku and the Separatists is Star Wars favorite, Jar Jar Binks… Unfortunately, there is no ‘pass on the rescue mission’ option in the game.