Math Blaster HyperBlast

A roller-coaster ride in space is what you get with this manic hot math app. Little space warriors saddle up their rocket blasters (which resembles a souped-up jet ski) and takes off shooting at robots and space debris and collecting "shields" to power up their rides.

Every once in a while, a math problem pops up and must be solved to keep going. By the time super spacemen encounter an equation, they'll probably be too hyped up to solve anything—and that's the point. Math Blaster HyperBlast scores high on motivation but low on frequency and depth of practice. There are many levels and categories to choose from at the start. Pick a theme such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions or a combination of these basics and take off. Players ride through a mesmerizing obstacle course in deep space.

The version reviewed here is free and comes with limited lessons—paid versions have more options. The app keeps track of progress and high scores just like a traditional arcade game. The sound effects are loud and can overwhelm adult ears, but will probably appeal to kids.