Time Riders in American History

Time Riders in American History provides a fun and educational introduction to some of the people, places, and events that have shaped the United States. Despite its value as an instructional tool and its sheer entertainment value, Time Riders sadly never achieved the recognition gained by similarly-aimed games. The premise of the game is simple: Thanatopsis Dread, the villain, is using satellite technology to broadcast phony news headlines that tell a warped version of American history.
Dread’s arch-nemesis, the wealthy and mysterious Benefactor, decides to call in the Time Riders team – led by the user – to expose Dread’s lies and set the record straight.

Each game begins with a false headline that gives Dread or one of his ancestors credit for a significant historical event. The player’s task is to determine the proper year, state, and person responsible for whatever Dread is attempting to take credit for. This process is repeated, increasing in difficulty, while the Benefactor works to build a rocket that will knock Dread’s satellite out of action.
A wide variety of events from military, diplomatic, and social history is covered, from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the admittance of the first female lawyer to the bar. Assisting the player in the mission are other members of the Time Riders team, and several technological gadgets including an interactive timeline and map, and a time machine that allows the player to indirectly “interview” the person in question for each event. While the action can get repetitive, there’s enough here to keep just about anyone interested.
Since a key part of the game is searching through data to find the correct set of facts, the user is constantly exposed to historical titbits that help to establish a foundational understanding of American history. The necessary knowledge is kept short and snappy, and the phony headlines range from the witty to the downright ridiculous (older players may catch some amusing references). There are no difficulty settings, but it is impossible to “lose” this game. If the player identifies the incorrect person, place, or year, or runs out of time while searching, no penalty is incurred. After a brief animation featuring either the disappointed Time Riders or a smirking Dread, the game simply moves on to the next headline.
The same thing goes if the player gets the information right, except it’s the Time Riders who are grinning and Dread who is fuming. The graphics are good for their time - they are not the focal point of the game anyway – and the sound is appropriate without being overbearing. The plot is fairly engrossing, and while the overall context must be taken with a grain of salt, the story’s practical shortcomings aren’t likely to deter this target audience. Time Riders in American History is a gem of a game, and one cannot help but take at least a passing interest in history after spending some time playing it.