Maths Blaster by Knowledge Adventure is aimed at nine to 12- year-olds who are after extra help with their sums.

It's much easier than ABC.

Suitable for Macs and PCs with Windows 95 or 98, this title encourages its users to plan their mission for maths success by embarking upon a barrel full of space adventures with the Blaster Pals.

Prepare for take off, captain. 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... lift-off.

Games involve thrill rides urging the child to play for longer and learn more without it being a chore.

The package provides a galaxy of experiences putting problem-solving into warp-overdrive and making trouble-shooting an absolute push-over.

Maths Blaster offers three levels of high-energy game play and ten maths skills levels, catering for both the younger, more challenged child and older, more confident computer whiz-kids.

Its comprehensive content prepares users for standardised tests.

There are more than 50,000 problems to keep them busy until teatime.

There are print-out reward certificates to keep children motivated and give them a sense of achievement, boosting confidence and academic esteem and a record-keeping system.

Your children can brush up on their estimation, multiplication and stepby- step thinking skills and their abilities with fractions, percentages, long division and equation building.

They can learn to identify complex equations and add uncommon denominators.

This software series is fun, frantic and very colourful.

The web site has competitions and offers discounts on other packages.

*Price: £19.99.

*Contact details: www.knowledgeadventure.co.uk or 0118 920 9100.

*Feel good factor: 7 out of 10.