''Amazon Trail II'' is a simulation video game developed by The Adventure Company and published by

MECC The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (later Corporation), most commonly known as MECC, was an organization founded in 1973 best known for developing the edutainment video game series ''The Oregon Trail (series), The Oregon Trail'' and i ...

for the Macintosh and Windows. It was released in September 1996. The game is a spin-off of '' The Oregon Trail''. It is the second video game in the ''Amazon Trail'' video game series, succeeding ''

The Amazon Trail ''The Amazon Trail'' is an educational computer game created by MECC. It was inspired by the popularity of '' The Oregon Trail'', featuring the areas surrounding the Amazon River and some of its tributaries. In this 2D adventure, the player is ...

'' and preceding ''

Amazon Trail 3rd Edition ''Amazon Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures'' is a 1998 game based on the video game '' The Oregon Trail''. It is not a true sequel to the franchise, but is rather largely the same game as '' Amazon Trail II'', only with updated graphics, ...

''. It was included in a games bundle with the Quantex 5500, and in the ''Trail Mix Social Studies Bundle'' with ''

The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition ''The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition'' (full title: ''The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition: Pioneer Adventures'') is the second sequel to the 1985 edutainment video game ''The Oregon Trail (1985 video game), The Oregon Trail'' after ''Oregon Trail II''. It was ...

'' and '' MayaQuest: The Mystery Trail''. The Quantex QP6/333 M-1c package also included the game in its software package.

Production

The aim of this educational video game is to teach players about the "culture, ecology, and history of the Amazon River". Richard D. Thompson was the game's video director. The game was donated to

The Strong National Museum of Play The Strong National Museum of Play (also known as just The Strong Museum or simply the Strong) is part of The Strong in Rochester, New York, United States. Established in 1969 and initially based on the personal collection of Rochester native Ma ...

Plot

The game starts with a mysterious incident at the Museum of Ancient Art, which results in the player ending up in the Amazon. Players are then sent to find a local cure to a disease, with the end goal being to reach the city of Vilcabamba.

Gameplay

Featuring "the same gameplay and educational styling" as ''The Oregon Trail'', players take a virtual trip up the South American Amazon River in a canoe in an interactive learning journey. The game has 3 levels of difficulty. Players receive points by remaining healthy, using their resources wisely, and conversing with characters correctly. The best players have their names put into a high score list. A fishing meter shows how hard the harpoon is thrown when fishing. Tour guides ask the player questions which they must respond to further the game. The game includes four river guides, 17 assignments, and 50 characters.

Critical reception

Janice Reutter wrote in the ''Science and Children'' journal that the game is "an exciting, adventurous journey" with "attractive graphics", "mysterious and intriguing sound effects", and "beautiful 3D...scenes". The ''Boston Herald'' favourably compared it to its "pretty simple" and "not very attractive" predecessor ''Amazon Trail'', deeming it a "good buy for families who don't yet have ''Amazon Trail''". ''Computer Shopper'' said a software package that included the game was a "great starting point for the first-time buyer". ''The Washington Post''s review included testimony from their "kid software tester" Sarah Phillips, who said that parts of the game could be "pretty neat" or "extremely frustrating". MECC deemed it "one of the most compelling interactive adventures ever". TESL-EJ described it as "wonderful" and "imaginative".

Production

Plot

Gameplay

Critical reception

References

Further reading