Many a title on the App Store has tried and failed to combine gaming with education, so it’s a joy to discover a release that seamlessly blends the two.
Twelve a Dozen is best described as a maths-platformer, which puts you in control of 12, an inhabitant of Dozenopolis intent on discovering the cause of a recent numerical cataclysm. Aided by a floating decimal point – Dot – who acts as guide and narrator, you traverse the landscape in the typical bouncing fashion.
The added twist is the maths-based puzzles that must be completed – using stray “numbles” to add, subtract, multiply and divide from 12’s value to gain access to fresh areas. In addition, some numbers bestow powers, such as the five that allows your character to swim.
The maths becomes increasingly testing, but the charming visuals and narrative style mean the educational benefits enhance the gameplay rather than the other way around.
