Munching on Numbers
Any Child who went to elementary school in the late 80's and 90's. Probably played a math game called Number Munchers. Several versions of the game have been released through out the years. I remember playing this game a lot in grades 2-5 when I was in elementary school. We played it some during math or free time. So we are going to take a trip down in memory lane and review Number Munchers. 

Plot: 5 

Okay, Numbers Munchers suffers in the story line department cause there really is not a story. But this is a puzzle and math game so I would not expect a plot like a Mario or Mega Man game. The Muncers are green characters that love to eat numbers.  However they have to avoid the troggles, who eat Munchers while consuming numbers. The player must get the right answers and guide the Muncer across the board to get the right answers and avoid the troggles. Can you do it??

The plot and story line may not be that great as it is basic. However, it does do a good job introducing the characters. The Munchers eat numbers and the player has to get the right answer to the criteria the game gives you. The Troggles or trolls that will eat Munchers. I also like the challenge it brings.  I give the plot a middle of the road rating. This is a puzzle game so I don't think it deserves higher. On the other hand it does not deserve lower cause it does introduce the characters and what the game is about very well. Thus, I give the plot a 5 out of 10. 

Graphics and Controls : 9

The Graphics are pretty good for a computer game. The Munchers look like how they are supposed too. The Troggles look like trolls. What I really liked about this game was the background. The board looks like a game board, which fits this type of game perfectly. I also like the colors in the game. The Munchers are a solid lime green. The Troggles have different colors depending on the species. The sprites are also very good in this game. I like how the Munchers mouth moves when it its a number. The same can be said for the Troggles when they eat a Muncher. 

The Controls are very basic the player uses the arrow keys on the keyboard or a mouse to guide the Muncher to the answer to the criteria. The player can move up or down pretty basic stuff. But, the controls are very smooth for a puzzle computer game. The rate the muncher moves is the right speed. The controls do not seem sluggish at all.  I give the rating a 9 out of 10 rating. 

Sound: 8 

As you would probably expect there is not a lot of sound in this game because its a puzzle game. But the sounds the game does have are golden and nicely done. The sound the game makes when you have the Muncher eat the right answer is a nice ding to let the player know you got the answer right. If you get a wrong answer you loose a live but it makes a sound to know you goofed. One of the golden sounds is when a Troggle eats a Muncher. The Troggles make a belching sound to let the player know they just lost a life. I find that sound to be hilarious. Also in some games classical music will play during the cut scenes so that is also a nice touch. The sounds in this game are good thus I give them a 8 out of 10 rating. If they had included more sounds or had more music I would have given it a higher rating 

Replay Value: 9 
When I was in elementary school this game was addictive. I guess I could be a little biased toward this game cause I really like math. Math and Science were my favorite subjects and I was good at them. I could not wait to play this game when it was during free time or it was computer game day. But I also got to play this game some during Math class. I enjoyed the game so much that when I was younger I brought my own personal copy of the game. This game makes learning math really fun. A lot of people do not like math as they think it is boring. Well, this game takes the boring out of math and makes learning numbers fun. Also, I'm much older now and haven't played this game in a while. But once in a while its fun to relive your youth. So yeah, I give the replay value a 9 out of 10. 

Depth: 7

This game's depth varies. This game had an option were teachers or even parents could add more to the game or adjust the grade level. So that adds depth as a student moves up in math levels. It also increases the difficulty of the game, more on that in just a little bit. This game has a lot of criteria for it to be a math puzzle game. As with numbers there are a lot of criteria the game will give you. Examples are multiples of 5, prime numbers, even numbers, odd numbers, numbers that can be divided by 3, and other stuff. The criteria increases as one moves up in the game.  So while it is not a Mega Man or Mario Game were there are several items to collect. The numbers make up for the items. The player must Munch on the correct numbers to the criteria. What also increases the depth if you clear the board and get all the answers. You will get cut scenes. The cut scenes are hilarious as it shows the Munchers getting revenge on the Troggles. They are several cut scenes and some are comical. So I give the depth a rating of 7. 

Difficulty: 6 

The difficulty was difficulty, no pun intended, for me to rate. The difficulty really depends on if you are good at math, what your grade level is, or if your parents as well as teachers changed options in the game.  If you are like me and good at math. Then this game is a breeze and is more fun then anything. If your parent or teacher added options then the game can be tough to master. If you are not good at Math then you will have a hard time maybe. 

Options that could be added were multiples, fast pace of game, increased difficulty and more. Each option adds bigger numbers, and puts more Troggles on the board. Making the game difficult. 

Now if you stick with the default category there are some things that makes this game difficult even for those good at math. The Troggles appear at random so you can still get the right answer and still be eaten. Also while going to the correct number you can be eaten by a Troggle too. So the game does require creativity cause if there is a Troggle on the board you will have to find a way to dodge it. Also even on default the game increases in pace as one moves up in levels. The rate of pace mostly impacts the Troggles as they will move faster, and more of them will appear on the board. I remember I was at a high level one time and I had like 4 Troggles on the Board. 

It should be noted that different Troggles will behave different. Some will move up or down, some move horizontally, some will attack you from behind, and one species is really aggressive and will move in all directions and attack you from behind. This type of Troggle usually appears in higher up levels. The game does give your standard 3 lives as with most games. It should be noted if you get an answer wrong your Mucher will fall over dead and you will loose a life. 

So if your good at math then this game becomes more creativity and a dodging game in dodging the Troggles. If your parent or teacher has added options then the difficulty goes up a lot. If your not good at math this game will be tricky. That is what I mean by its difficult to rate this game. If your good at math it becomes as I stated a dodge game. So the difficult there would probably be a 6 out of 10. If you have higher criteria or not so good at math then the difficulty can easily be a 8 or 9 out of 10.  I gave the difficulty a 6 out of 10 that is mostly due to the randomness of the Troggles. But for other gamers the difficulty could be higher.  To be honest I kind of like games like this, were it challenges you, it require skill, creativity and due to the randomness of the Troggles sometimes a little bit of luck to beat.

Overall: 9  

What can I say I really liked this game growing up as a kid. I think this game came out in the late 80's and was real popular in the 90's. This game made learning math even for my friends who dreaded math fun. It was a good way to learn math. In fact during computer time this game along with Oregon Trail was encouraged. On Friday's we would get to play this game during Math time too as it was included in the teacher's lesson plans. 

This game has aged well and several versions have been released over the years to keep up with changing technology. The Version that my generation is familiar with came out in the early 90's. I enjoyed this game so much that I actually purchased this game by saving my allowance money. 

The only negatives about this game is the short sound track. I would have liked for there to be have been more music. That is really the only negative I can think of. The difficulty can either be a negative or a positive depending on your difficulty and level. 

This is a very fun game to introduce math to youngsters. It is also a game fun for those young at heart. This would be a great game to also help one improve on their math skills. The game makes learning math very fun. I don't think schools use this game as much as they used too due to Common Core and standard testing now. If that is the case then It would be a shame cause this is a game that should not become a lost game. So if your a parent this would be a good game to work with your child on math with while making it fun. If you home school children this would be a great game to make part of your lesson plan. This game is geared for Elementary levels 1-5. But even adults who like to play these games can enjoy them too. So would I recommend this game Yes by all means I would recommend it. I give it a solid 9 out of 10. 


  Graphics 9   Sound 8   Addictive 9   Depth 7   Story 5   Difficulty 6

MECC-A170

Overall 9.4    Graphics 7.3    Sound 7.3    Addictive 9.3    Story 6.5    Depth 8.7    Difficulty 7

Munch Munch Munch-You Know You Want To!   kramer4077
You know, I teach third grade and my students CANNOT multiply for the life of them.  I was just...
  Graphics 8   Sound 9   Addictive 9   Story 8   Depth 9   Difficulty 8
      Review Rating: 4.7/5     Submitted: 04-14-13     Review Replies: 3

Munching on Numbers   tornadocam
Any Child who went to elementary school in the late 80's and 90's. Probably played a math game ...
  Graphics 9   Sound 8   Addictive 9   Story 5   Depth 7   Difficulty 6
      Review Rating: 4.5/5     Submitted: 06-22-15     Review Replies: 3

A great math game... Yes, MATH.   Mistress
While roaming around the Retro Game Room, I stumbled upon an Apple II game with a very high rating. ...
  Graphics 5   Sound 5   Addictive 10   Depth 10
      Review Rating: 4.5/5     Submitted: 07-18-13     Updated: 07-18-13     Review Replies: 2

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cooldragon1990 03-11-17 - 06:52 AM
 I played this like the common consensus around this site, when I was a kid. We would each play various games. Zoombini's, a little Putt Putt, and Number Munchers. Now as a semi responsible adult, I can say this was the best! It scared me!
Awesome5000 10-07-15 - 12:11 PM
 i remember this being my favorite in computer lab back when i was 7.playing this now takes me back
Awesome5000 04-07-15 - 12:42 PM
 I REMEMBER GAMES LIKE THIS BACK WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7 IN COMPUTER LAB AT SCHOOL
MeatAndPotatoes 01-22-15 - 12:15 AM
 Groin movements of numb numbs! Because six saw seven ate nine!
kingkisher4321 07-17-13 - 11:44 AM
 I laved playing this game back in third grade
kramer4077 04-14-13 - 06:26 PM
 When the game ends and it asks to insert a diskette I hit Esc 2 times and it lets me play again without resetting! This is fantastic--I will see if I can get on this website at my school for my 3rd grade class to play!!
gunnerbear 02-02-13 - 01:21 AM
 Mavis bacon...
Deleted Account.. 09-19-12 - 09:12 PM
 This was my game in elementary school. :,)
darkceltic 06-05-12 - 03:30 AM
 How reset work?
shoveltastic 05-29-12 - 03:56 PM
 yeah. whats this about pressing reset?
LinkinParkChick 05-28-12 - 06:16 AM
 All the memories of my elementary school. I looked forward to computer lab time every single day.
da83shytyo 03-03-12 - 01:38 PM
 say's u gotta press reset botton and there is none how do i do that love this game when i was young and wanted to show my young one now but wont work :(
Rodzilla 02-14-12 - 10:26 AM
 i was a beast on this joint. top of my class. highest i got was lvl 49 on prime #s
gevaudan 02-12-12 - 02:16 AM
 how do you press reset, as instructed?
ashley07 10-11-11 - 10:33 PM
 I remember playing this in the computer lab at school.
temaraire 05-25-11 - 06:37 PM
 Used to play this in my grandparents house good times.
Jimsen 03-24-10 - 06:19 PM
 Same here. This brings back so many memories of being in a little computer lab looking at a green/black screen.
Davideo7 08-15-09 - 01:05 PM
 This was one of the many games we played all the time in my elementary school computer lab