As a bonus, there are optional tasks in TOTI that I didn't spend much time on but which are probably very enjoyable for kids. One involves the notepad, which automatically records all clues discovered by each character. Players can choose to assign clues to the various suspects in order to create an overview that helps children figure out who is responsible for threatening Eugene.

Another interesting optional activity concerns the invention corner, where you build the photo device mentioned above. Here there are numerous other inventions children can come up with just for fun. You can experiment with various sensors (light, heat, cold, motion) and connect these with various alarms or lights, which in turn can also influence other sensors or can be connected to a photo camera or cell phone. Alternatively, you can experiment how the sensors are influenced by turning off the light, holding coffee near a heat sensor or ice cubes near a cold sensor, for example. Had I played this game when I was ten years old, I probably would've spent a good deal of time creating devices in the invention corner.

With the invention corner a notable exception, the straightforward nature of the puzzles in each segment occasionally makes Treasure of the Incas too limiting for the player. Understandably, kids' games cannot be too complex. However, the price paid for simplifying the gameplay is that TOTI is often more like an interactive movie than a game.

As with difficulty, TOTI's plot is suitable for both children and adults. The story arc is that of a typical mystery/whodunit leading into an adventurous treasure hunt. The antagonist is responsible for stealing and kidnapping, while the protagonists do their best to figure out what is going on and discover a whole bunch of clues along the way, which ultimately leads them to where the treasure is located – and to the bad guy. Still, the mystery of what happened to Eugene's parents and what the roles of various people involved are remains secret and speculative until the very end. The story draws on some clichés and the plot twist is hardly spectacular or shocking, but I was still intrigued to learn the truth.

As a kid I loved watching DuckTales on TV. Replace Scrooge McDuck with Whit, and the nephews with Connie and Eugene, and you have an idea of the experience presented in Treasure of the Incas. However, as I mentioned earlier, one aspect of this game makes it different from others; the same feature that makes Adventures in Odyssey different from other shows and series: its emphasis on morality and ethical values.

From the game's opening splash screen, which reads, "Digital Praise: Glorifying God Through Interactive Media", it's clear the developers don't hide the fact that they are Christians. But I'll repeat that TOTI is not a Christian propaganda vehicle. In fact, I don't recall the words "Bible" or "Christ" being mentioned anywhere in the game. They have created this game with the intention of providing wholesome entertainment for children that allows them to have fun and to learn. Parents can be confident in the fact that this game contains no violence or foul language. Looking objectively at this game, I could judge it more as a game based on humanist values than Christian ones, which are actually very much the same. This allows TOTI to be enjoyed by religious and non-religious people alike.

What life lessons are there in Treasure of the Incas? This is partially explained on the back cover of the game's box: children will develop skills like logic, reasoning, problem solving and critical thinking, and the game's theme is "trust". As the game progresses and Eugene learns more about his parents, people who knew the Meltsners accentuate the fact that Eugene's parents were good and kind people. On the other hand, it is made clear why the antagonists are the bad guys, such as the one who is "ruled by greed".

An Adventures in Odyssey radio show is available on the game's CD, which I listened to in preparation for writing this review, and there are others available for download from the Whit's End website. These shows are much more strongly about Christianity than Treasure of the Incas. The stories are also about adventure, but more often about people struggling with the Christian way of life. While this theme is handled very well, it's not indicative of the approach in the game.

Treasure of the Incas is one of three currently released Adventures in Odyssey games, but the only one that could be considered a full-fledged adventure. The other titles are The Great Escape and The Sword of the Spirit. I briefly played the latter, which initially started out as an adventure game, but soon turned into a sequence of puzzles and arcade action mini-games, and Great Escape appears similar in style. For more information or to purchase any of the titles, you can find what you're looking for at the Digital Praise website.

The company behind the original Adventures in Odyssey is known as Focus on the Family, and I think Treasure of the Incas indeed stays true to that ideal. Not only is this game fun for people of all ages to play, parents can rely on the fact that their children are playing a harmless and educational game. To the adult adventure gamer, the game might appear too simple or limited, but never so flawed that it becomes a nuisance to play. In a time of both violent computer games and dangers of religious extremism, Adventures in Odyssey and the Treasure of the Incas stands out as a well-balanced and positive experience.