Champion Dreams: First to Ride Reviews

• Things are touch and go on this one...

  
  By A39I7E7P4IGX0E on 2006-11-26
  This game has its good and bad aspects. But, just to put it out there, I would not recommend this game for little kids.
  
  Good Aspects:
  
  Fair Graphics
  - The horse needs work because it has very ackward movements, but the people and surrounds are great.
  Good Story Line
  - The story line keeps you into the game longer then most horse games I have played (and trust me, I've tried maybe 99% of them).
  Design your own Training Schedule
  - You have certain goals to acheive before the end of the week, but otherwise you can do what you want, when you want to.
  Realistic Gameplay
  - Grooming, bathing, hoof cleaning, stall cleaning, turn-out, dressage, show jumping, cross country, trail rides, etc.
  
  Bad Aspects:
  
  Too Challenging of game obstacles
  - After about an hour of trying on some, I gave up and had to go onto cheat sites in order to figure out some of the obstacles)
  The main character talks to herself (or has an imaginary friend?)
  - Okay, I had to throw this in, because it's just a bad idea on the part of the designer to tell you what to do in the game. It's just plain strange.
  Some of the "Horse Care" tasks take WAY TOO LONG
  - Hoof cleaning and stall cleaning take way too long. Sometimes you can't even get the hoof pick to get that certain piece of dirt without touching the frog (V-shaped area of the foot). Or you can't pick up the straw and manure pieces without trying multiple times (I feel like the arm on those stuffed animal toys at the arcade). In addition, the hose in the bathing option does not spray correctly. I have to aim lower then it looks in order to his the rump for example.
  What's with the "Talk"?
  - The "talk" options (after passing the first competition) is all messed up. First of all, I can't hear whether a horse is whinnying or puffing, etc. Second, it's too much for a hassle to have to write all these things down in order to get them even remotely correct, and I still sometimes get them wrong. Third, way too many of them are too close to each other to figure out the difference. It was an interesting idea, but needed to be designed better.
  Important things get screwed up
  - The first time I played the scenario, my collected canter would not work no matter what I did, so I would always get points off. Now, on my second time through, my collected canter works, but my horse continues to turn left randomly, even when I'm not pressing the key (although I prefer this one over the first because this one I can expect and correct).
  
  I probably have more aspects, but I've written too much already. Overall, I don't want the bad aspects to get you down about this game. It is good, but only if you don't mind the difficult things and don't fret about having to look up some cheats if you get frustracted on the scenario obstacles.
  
  

• A Kids Review

  
  By A3DGFBZLGH3MQF on 2007-03-08
  I bought this game sometime last year and I love it. The graphics are farly good the only thing is sometimes the sound gets cut of from the hoofbeats when your praticing, but it's a problem thats easily fixed. When I first started the game it was really hard getting the required movements and I went through most of the game without having them because I didn't know you had to go to the library and read about them to get them. It's is a pretty easy to play once you get the hang of it. I suggest that before you go into Kiew's room in Morroco, you find your bedroom first and spend as much of your tokens as possible, because the Director is going to take them away. And in week five find some time to go into your bedroom and buy as much as your tokens will allow and you should have enough popularity to get to the competion. There are still a few things I don't get like talking to your horse. I've written all the notes down and I still don't get it all right. And when your chasing the guy on the motorcycle how are you supposed to catch him? But still this game is fun to play, but it does take a couple of different logs to actually master it.
  
  

• Good premise, bad execution

  
  By A1HRBABN1CFDQH on 2006-10-14
  As someone who has also played more than my fair share of horse games, I was a bit frustrated and disappointed by this game. For starters, the NICE thing about this game is that it has a more complete manual than most UBISOFT games. However, in keeping with tradition for UBISOFT, on the downside, there are still MAJOR gaps to be filled in - as you can see from other reviewers questions. The sequence of events is not always naturally progressive so there are some areas that you need to make a leap of logic to fill in.
  There are some areas - such as talking to your horse - which continue to be mysterious no matter how many notes you take. What your horse "does" doesn't always match up to the descriptions given. Also, having found something in the manual that didn't match up in game play, I am a bit suspicious that they made sure everything "written" had a matching equivalent in game.
  Additionally, while the level of the game scales up - as in the courses get harder - so too does your level of expected competency. As you get to the last week in the game your expected level of competency is higher than any other week, and the challenges are MUCH harder. As most who have played the game know is near impossible to make any jumping circuit without having at least one refusal(on the cross country course) or at least one bar down (in the show jumping), but during the last week thats exactly what's expected of you. Suffice it to say, with 34 cross country jumps and 15 show jumping jumps, the odds are just that much higher that you won't succeed. I've found myself saving and repeating courses over and over again just so I can try to get the best score possible. You get three fails at any week or task before you're expelled.
  
  And as a side note, I am NOT a fan of the "love interest" side story, mostly because I find it to be VERY creepy and very disturbing at the end. I just found the concepts to be more mature than should be in a game of this level (E for everyone).
  Overall the game is entertaining, but frustrating requiring more hours of repetition than actual progressive game time.
  
  

• Fantastic Game

  
  By A3T789L0V1Y917 on 2007-01-16
  Wonderful wonderful game.
  
  -User friendly, good for adults & mature kids
  -Great mystery, very well thought out
  -4 Teammates you interact with and get to know
  -Many many courses, always new ones
  -You plan your own schedule for when to practice, care for your horse, etc.
  -You must go to the library to do research, learn dressage moves, and understand your horses needs
  -Long game, but lots of variety, never monotonous
  
  Best game of this style that I've seen.
  
  

• Great game

  
  By A2SHXGCHDN2L1P on 2007-03-12
  This game is very close to being my favorite . Next to equestriad . I think it is very correct it's horses movements except for the lead no game can grasp the concept of this . I really like all the competions it's not all about cleaning your horse and I like the Idea of making my own schedule . Think is great . I love the dressage part on some games they only do some of the movements this one does all.I would suggest this to anyone that is a kid at heart it's a little hard for younger kids to play.
  
  
• HELP ME!!!
  By on 2006-07-04
  I really love this game! I almost wasn't able to play it because I scratched the disk terribly. My dad cleaned it about 7 times and it worked! Anyshwa, the way the horse moves is terrific! I put "Help Me!!!" on the title because, just like a lot of people will be, I'm stuck. You will come to a part where you have to get Ginger's present (You'll learn who these characters are in the game). Esteban forgot it in the attic room. Your mission: to retrieve it. Now, it sounds easy, especially because the attic is right up some stairs. WRONG. In orded to get the attic door UNLOCKED, you to get a phone number (You don't have to write it down.), steal a chess piece, call on a phone to disrupt the LOOKOUTS playing chess at another place, get past the lookouts AGAIN, and well, I haven't gotten past the 2nd lookout, so I can't tell you anymore. Well, hopes this help!
  
  P.S. In the library, read entertainment 5. Go to the site it says and you will find stuff to collect. ON YOUR GAME COMPUTER
  
  P.P.S. In order to unlock the attic door, you have to go to the library, which is past the 2nd lookout, which is also LOCKED.
  
  If anyone reads this and finds a way to get past the 2nd lookout and succeed in the mission, WRITE A REVIEW!!!! I'D LIKE HELP PLEASE!!!!!
  
  
• HELP!!!! I NEED HELP NOW!!!!!!!!!!
  By on 2006-09-16
  I just got this game and I just started it and the fire struck the barn and first I'm told to stay but then I'm told to save the horse. I decided to save the horse but now I'm stuck I can't go anywhere and the barn is burning up! HELP!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• This is a great game... One of the better horse games!
  By A9JVIKPV8MLM1 on 2007-03-19
  This game is definatley one of the better created horse games. The graphics are fantastic and the riding is realistic. The game can be a little challenging at some points in the game and the dressage takes a little getting used to but other than that it is a great game. I was very happy with Champion Dreams and would reccoment it over the other horse games out there.
  
  
• Hated it!
  By on 2006-07-01
  The game is too confusing. It was too hard to control the character around the castle. The cover isn't anything like the game - the cover looks fun but the game is too serious and boring. When you're done playing, theres no way to quit without killing the program. It was so bad I had to take it back.
  
  
• Finding Ginger's Present
  By on 2006-08-01
  To find Ginger's present you have to:
  1. go to the chess board that th lookouts are playing at and steal a chess piece
  2. go to the phone and get the phone nummber
  3. go through the hallway towards the library, but then go down the stairs where the stables are located
  4. follow the path, going under the bridge, to a door on your left
  5. pick up the key on the table
  6. go back to the library the man there will give you a key to the attic
  7. go into your room and call the number you got by the 1st chess board you will find it in your inventory
  8. go up the stairs, and then into the attic, find the present
  9. wait untill the lookout turns around and follow him out and go into the lounge room.(by the way, the lookout doesn't go all the way to the end of the hallway)
  
  
  
  
  
• Where's the cat??
  By on 2006-08-14
  I have been stuck on the part where you have to find kiews room, but i can not find the pool, or the cat i need help please i have been stuck on this part for 3 days. i can find the cat food but the cat never comes! will someone walk me through it in great detail. it would be a huge help!!
  
  
• A great game!
  By A22XBM8Y7SVKW0 on 2006-08-19
  I think this is a really good game and the graphics are really good compared to other horse games I have.
  
  I don't know how to get Ginger's gift in the attic. I keep on getting caught. I get to the part where you dial the telephone number and then i get stuck. Please help! It's a great game and i want to keep playing.
  
  
• Super Game, love it.
  By on 2006-09-30
  I loved the game, it was fun, full of challenges. The stadium jumping is
  hard, and the dressage is hard. But the game makes you feel like you are a student at a riding school. And you are getting to do all the competitions. It was super.
  I do have a question, you get to the end and have won. How do you delete the game out, so you can start over. Anyone finish it, and start over? Help please...
  Vicky
  
  
• Hints
  By on 2007-01-14
  OK heres a hint for getting Ginger's present: theres a phone that gives you a number by the first chess board and another phone in "your" room. Also you have to go outside and into another building to get the key to the library. I actually learned this from somebody else's review!!
  
  You have to go to the library and read the "extended or collected stuff" in order to learn it.
  
  I thought this game was great. Out of my 8 or so other horsey games this was one of my favorites, although I didn't really like the drop-off ending. It would have been nice if you could have continued just for fun afterwards, but the game just ends after the last competition (which took me 4 trys!!)Other than that it was a lot of fun and I liked how it was mostly all about horses but there were some parts that werent. I am a totally horse-obsessed girl, but I am also a teenager and so I found the perfect kind of game for me!!
  
  
• Fun Game!!!!!
  By AF553FVFC7AWK on 2007-02-26
  This is the best horse game ever. Some parts are very hard though,here are some hints.
  .When you have to find Ginger's present in the attic,take the chess piece and the phone number,then you'll find that the library is locked,so go down the stairs and you'll be outside. Go to the front building and go inside. Once your inside get the key on the table.Then go back inside and go in the library. Patrick will give you the key to the attic. Then go to your room and use the phone with the phone number that you got.Then go up the stairs to the attic. Once you've got the present follow Harry down the hall to the student center.
  .When you have to race Kiew,press the esc key.
  Hope that helped.
  
  
• AMAZING GAME
  By on 2006-08-26
  this is an awesome game. I love the showjumping part. DUDE where it the library, i cant get there to get Gingers present. lol im kinda slow. it is soooooo awesome i LOVE it, it has great graphics i would HIGHLY recomend it. but its kinda a copy off of Pippa Funnel's game.
  
  ♥
  
  
• I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
  By on 2006-08-27
  I just got this game about a week ago and i love it so much, but i can't find the cat in morroco. I have tryed for 5 days and still nothing. I need help, if i don't get threw this part my cusin will take the game with her to Bosie ID. I NEED HELP please re-post help.
  
  
• i need help
  By on 2006-08-28
  I need help i just started the morroco the cat i mean just at the begging and i can't find the cat, i need help with the game please i need help i want to keep playing the game.
  
  
• PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!
  By on 2006-09-10
  I LOVE this game, but annyway, I have 4 accounts on this game because I keep failing week five!! for some reason I can't get my popularity high anough, or any of the other events except one. The rest is easy, an I want to finnish the game! PLEASE! ANYONE WHO FINISHED THIS GAME OR FINISHED WEEK 5 PLEASE HELP!
  that will be all.
  
  
• Help I don't know how to do extended or collected stuff
  By AGFIEM1X43FJY on 2006-12-23
  I don't know how to do extended or collected stuff at any gait and I don't feel like doing the horse care and starting a new game to learn how please tell me quick otherwise I love this game!!??!?!!?
  
  
• Worth buying if you like horse games
  By on 2006-12-29
  From what I have played of this product, I like it so far.
  
  Pluses
  -Nice Graphics
  -You get to plan your own day, so you pick what you want to do when
  -Actually runs on a time scale
  -Not super easy
  
  Minuses
  -Actually a little challenging
  -Horse care takes forever
  -The talk thing is hard to understand
  
  This game installed and runs perfectly on my computer, even though I don't have a supported video card. If you have all the other requirements, it will probably be fine. Also, sometimes you get stuck on an obstacle, and there aren't very many hints and tips online for this game.
  
  
• amazing
  By on 2007-01-09
  I LOVE THIS GAME!! i've played every horse game out there since the first barbie one, and this ranks amoung the best. it really makes you feel like you're at a riding school. you get to pick your daily scheduele at the beginning of each week, and the game is challenging, not impossible. [most horse games are SOOOO easy and i beat them in a day or two. this one, however, was a challenge..it took me a little over a week!!] i reccomend this to everyone!! if you ever get frusterated, just look at a cheat site. this game is so worth the money
  
  
• Doesn't Work
  By on 2007-02-24
  This game is almost exactly like Horsez, which I have finished, but this game I bought but it doesn't work on our two new computers, my mom's old one doesn't have any sound which is of no fault to the game, and my grandma's computer cuts off half of the screen. But since Horsez and this game are exactly alike, I'd like to give some hints. For Ginger's present, you have to pick up the chess peice first, then pick up the phone number, but DO NOT MAKE THE CALL YET! No you have to go outside and into the director's office, which is near the front gate. It's a little sliver of black on the left side of the wall. On the desk there's a key. now you go to the library and get the key to the attic room. Now you go into your room which is the door by the staircase. Now you call the phone by the chess board. You now go up the stairs and into the door on the right. Now how to get into Esteban's room. First when you're in the library, you go out of the big circular window it's pretty straightforward where to go from there, once you're in the room, you go down the elevator and through the door to the right. You'll see Spike and the safe is in that room. Talk to Spike and he'll give you a clue. Next you go out the door down the hallway and take a left I think you'll be in your room and Ginger will be there. Otherwise you'll be in the lounge where Kiew is. Anyway talk to Ginger and she'll give you another clue. I forgot how to get to the lounge, but in there you'll find Kiew, you have to talk to her last otherwise she won't give you a clue. Now you go back to the director's office and use the clues to figure out the code. In Horsez it's 4224, but it could be different in Champion Dreams, I might be giving completely wrong directions, anyway, in Horsez, once you enter the code you get the key card. Esteban's room is through the door that's down the hallway that leads you to the office and to the right. In there there'll be a bag on the couch, search through the bag and you'll find what you're looking for.
  
  
• Best horse game EVER!!!
  By on 2007-03-08
  This is a great game! The horses are beautiful, and it has great graphics! I do not tend to like games by this company, but this one was fantastic! A big must-have for horse lovers!
  
  
• Never getting bored!!!!
  By A2POKSWG4NAQFQ on 2007-05-16
  I am 43 years old, and I absolutely love this game! It isn't difficult and when I showed my brother (47 years old) he wanted to play! I can not say enough good things about this game. I purchased one other game and regretted it...it was made for a 4 year old and the movements, handling eveything just stunk (poor 4 year old). But I mean it was terrible, the horse looked like he walked out of a coloring book. BUT, not this game!!! Awesome guys...just loads of fun.
  
  
• It was OK
  By A3H63ZE7I7SGE6 on 2007-06-25
  The game wasnt bad. It was very challenging the 1st time I played it, it took me over an hour to get Ginger's present. I also got kicked out of the academy at the very end. The game was definutly fun to play, the only problem was the graphics, which were terrible. Here's a hint- When you go to a new place(or new week), always go to the library first, then do dressage, showjumping, cross country. You get moral points from doing dressage. Always start your day of with something to help their moral! Anyway, if you are looking for a real quality horse game, I suggest Equestriad!
  
  
• GREAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By on 2006-08-07
  This game is sooo fun! People who are stuck with how to get the dressage figures.
  1:remember what figures you need to learn.
  2:Go to the libary and read the dressage figures.
  3:Look at the booklet the game comes with and look at what buttons you need to press.
  I think that is all.
  And people who need help to get into kiew's room The tip i have for you is to listen to what your elsys says. But beware you will get caught and you will lose all of your tokens but you gain them back.
  
  
• BUY THIS GAME!!!
  By on 2006-08-07
  Champion Dreams: First to Ride is the BEST GAME EVER. I have my own horse and have seriously bought every single horse game since the first "Lets Ride!", and this game beats them all. The storyline is similar to Saddle Up: Time To Ride, but in this game you are at a riding academy. Also, this game has the most gorgeous horses!In most riding computer games, the horses are ugly and so are the people, but all of the characters in this game are very realistic looking. The thing I really loved about this game was the fact that it was challenging. With almost all of the horse games I have ever played (excluding Saddle Up: Time to Ride,and Equestried 2001) I have felt that they are way too easy, and no fun at all. But this game is different in the sense that it is actually a challenge. (Normally, when I beat a game, I never play it again. But I have already beat this 2 times and am working on my third game.) I love the atmosphere of being at a riding school, and this game has just the right amount of competetion and mystery. THIS IS THE BEST RIDING COMPUTER GAME EVER. If you love horses and you don't buy this game, your crazy!!
  
  
  
• morrocco cat
  By A1LQU5O9AVACHL on 2006-08-09
  okay, i'm @ the part where u have 2 help the cat, which i did, and then the cat's by the pool, but how do u get the cat away from the pool??? also, where is the library in morocco????? spike gave me his book 2 return, but i have no idea where the library is!!!! plz help me!!!! cause i have 2 give harry the sandwich 2 get into kiew's bedroom, but first i have 2 get the sandwich from spike, but he says i have 2 return his book first, & i'm sooooo confused!!!!! plz help me, anyone. tell me where the library is and how 2 get u're cat from the pool
  
  
• answer for morroco cat..
  By on 2006-08-14
  for people who are stuck with the cat/ library:
  
  to get the cat away from the pool, you need to go into your room and get your cat food. i'm pretty sure its near the cats crate.
  
  pick up the cat food, and then go into the main room where wendy the trainer is and put the food into the little bowl that is to the right of wendy, from your point of view.
  
  wendy will go over to watch the cat eat, and you can steal the library key out of her purse on the end table!!
  
  to get to the library, you go to the room that harry is in. then, go near the exit door but instead of turning right to exit, go straight and use the key to open up the door.
  
  put the books on the table in the middle of the room.
  
  then, you may need to go to spike to pick up the sandwich, or it may just automatically appear in your invetory. i kinda forget, sorry.
  
  give the sandwich to harry and walk into kiews room. you'll get caught, and theres nothing you can do about it. you'll lose all of your points, but you'll gain them back. dont worry.
  
  have fun playing this game!! ITS THE BESTT!!!
  
  

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