Motion Math: Hungry Fish

Review

Common Sense Media says

Good idea, but glitches detract from experience.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that MOTION MATH: HUNGRY FISH is an educational game that teaches addition, with optional add-on levels for subtraction and division. The app has ads for the additional levels that appear from time to time. Controls are easy but the app has glitches and doesn't work perfectly.

  • Ease of use2
    The controls are simple: drag a bubble to another bubble, and the two will combine into one bubble, adding the two numbers together. If they add up to the number shown on the fish, the fish will swim over and eat the bubble. Eat enough bubbles and you pass the level; wait too long without feeding and the fish shrinks and eventually you lose the level. However, the app can be glitchy: The fish doesn't always shrink at the same rate, and sometimes the screen is flooded with the matching number so you don't have to do anything at all. The menu interface is not intuitive. You can't edit your fish except after playing a level, and only if a colored bubble appears at the end.
  • Violence1
    The add-on levels include a Mad Fish that will eat your fish if you don't succeed at the level.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism2
    There are additional levels (subtraction and division) available for purchase, and ads for these occasionally appear between levels. There is also a link on the home screen to display these additional level options.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety0
    Not applicable.
CloseExpand to see more details

Is it any good?

 

Motion Math: Hungry Fish is a good idea, but the execution isn't quite there yet. The idea is simple: drag two bubbles together to combine them, adding the numbers inside. If they add up to the number on the fish, then the fish eats them, grows a little, and you get points. Bubbles appear in batches from the little sea creatures on the ocean floor. Also, at the end of a level you can collect a colored bubble which will allow you to customize your fish, changing the fins and colors.

Unfortunately, the app is still buggy and doesn't work as it should. On higher levels the fish can shrink very quickly -- but sometimes not at all. Sometimes the feeder spits out an entire screen-full of the matching bubbles, which means you pass the level without doing anything. The easiest setting (for adding up to 3) sometimes gave negative numbers. Also, it's not clear what makes you clear the level -- is it the size of the fish, a particular score, or the number of bubbles eaten? The app will be worth considering once they get these issues fixed.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!
This review was written by Jonathan H. Liu

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Jonathan H. Liu
Topics:numbers and letters
Category:Education
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price:Free
Size:16.00 MB
Publisher:Motion Math
Version:2.0
Release date:January 11, 2012
Minimum software requirements:Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
This review was written by Jonathan H. Liu

Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.

 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Screenshots

  • 1 of 3
  • 2 of 3
  • 3 of 3

Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings. We value your feedback.

About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Math games for kids
For kids who love math
Browse more apps
 

vote now

Will you download Motion Math: Hungry Fish?

Absolutely
Maybe
No way

Already downloaded it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it