Space Academy GX-1 prepares players for a life in command of a space station while teaching facts about our planet, the moon and solar system. Topics ranging from the complex (effects of gravity on orbit) to the simple (why sunrise occurs the way we see it on Earth) are presented.

You are guided through the three areas of the game by inhabitants of Space Academy GX-1. Though nameless, they provide feedback when you answer questions correctly and give lectures on how certain aspects of the solar system work. For example, one presentation, accompanied by pictures and QuickTime movies, explains how the phases of the moon are seen from Earth as opposed to how the effect appears from space.

Based on the lectures, you're required to figure out and answer further questions on the specific topic being covered.
Continuing with the example, you'd listen to and watch the lecture on the phases of the moon and then make the moon on the screen change from new to full or vice versa by accelerating time until it's in the proper position in space to create the desired effect. Each game section covers 13 topics and provides a review at the end with random questions from all topics. Even though you can earn only 1,000 points in each category, play continues with more questions as long as you like.

Space Academy GX-1 is fun and entertaining and includes questions that do more than test your already-acquired knowledge by requiring searches for facts from the wealth of data provided. The program gives you a number of chances to redeem yourself if you answer incorrectly before it moves on to a different question. While the human characters give praise, the computer lets you know if your response is wrong and gives assistance in finding the correct answer. Sliders (via the options screen) provide adults a means of tracking how well a child is doing in the game as well as a number count of how many questions have been answered correctly out of the total responses in each category.

One of the drawbacks is the need to understand spatial relationships, which makes some areas of the game hard and frustrating for children without a firm grasp of that topic. Another is the poorly explained piloting and orbits section that results more in frustration than fun when a player has to try the same thing repeatedly to get correct answers.

Overall, Space Academy GX-1 is well rounded and gives players a thorough grounding in knowledge of the solar system, as well as information on the planets and their moons. In addition to questions, the game serves as a good resource for information and review well after gameplay ends. ~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide

Pictures of the planets are either digitized photographs or drawn from actual photographs from the Voyager missions. The inhabitants of Space Academy GX-1 are reminiscent of the 2D Japanese anime style and very convincing. ~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide

The voices are distinctive with sound and music cues that are easy and pleasant to listen to. ~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide

A great deal of information is offered about the various planets and moons and is presented in an interesting and enjoyable fashion that ensures children will pay attention and learn. ~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide

Once the game is completed, the program still serves as a source of material with no additional gameplay. ~ Lisa Karen Savignano, All Game Guide