by Angie Pollock

Created on: August 26, 2008   Last Updated: November 08, 2008

"Summer Session" puts you as a freshman student taking summer classes to gain credits for an early graduation. The start of this summer this journey introduces you to why you are going to summer school and to your new roommate, Mario. The graphics are similar to those of a comic strip and there isn't any interaction from your character other than clicking on the screen and reading some minor information.

Your first day of school begins with a six-week biology class that is taught by the sexy Ms. Jenny Gray. Did I mention that your character is male? This is the first downfall of many that surrounds this game. By limiting the character choice, the game pushes toward young-male players who won't find any action packed game playing that most kids want in today's style of games.

Before and after class, you will talk with other students. After these conversations, the other students will rate you with an opinion that can either be good or bad. At the end of your first day, you are given some options to finish the day out. You can earn some money by working in the lab, go to the gym or become an even bigger geek by staying in your room and studying. Then you choose what after-school curriculum you will be doing the rest of the week so that your entire week is planned out.

You have a toolbar that keeps tally of your character. Depending upon how well you complete your tasks can either raise or lower your strength, smartness, coolness, luck and your stress level. Any money that you earn can be spent at the mall on the weekends. Merchandise you purchase at the mall will also raise or lower these characteristics. The game play is very simple. Basically clicking the mouse and making some decisions are the only functions that can be performed.

The game works on the same premise as Sims or Kudos but with less creativity. Having the only character that can be chosen as male, limits the games capabilities. There are very few teenage boys that will play this game and teenage girls are not going to play as a male character with so many limitations. Girls want to purchase the latest fashions and jewelry-not neckties and silly t-shirts. I also don't believe girls would enjoy playing a character that wants to chase after the blonde and curvy biology teacher.

The innovation and especially the creativity of this game are highly lacking and even the background music became distracting to where I had to turn my speakers down. Role-playing games need to have more interaction and choices to be interesting and make me want to purchase the full version. Since the game focuses more toward the younger generation, I still would not purchase this for my teenage son as he would never touch it.

The trial period of this game is very short, only allowing you to get a glimpse of what the full version is all about. Definitely not enough time to make me jump up and say "man, I have to buy this game" but more along the lines of "you have got to be kidding me." With that said, I have rated this game a 1 out of 5.

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