THIS GAME IS GOOD FOR KIDS WHO NEED HELP WITH:

Focus

Getting started and then maintaining attention and effort to tasks.

The Fourth Wall is a puzzle-platforming game, meaning it demands both careful timing of jumps from platform to platform, as well as good problem-solving abilities. There are a variety of obstacles present in every level that mix together elements of puzzle solving and action. For example, in one level the player needs to scale a massive wall that extends beyond the view of the screen. To do this, she must jump off a ledge and freeze the camera, causing the wizard to fall through the bottom of the screen and come out the top. Each time she finds herself back at the top, she can unfreeze and pause the camera again quickly to re-position the view slightly higher, thus slowly climbing the wall. Throughout the game, keen attention is needed to notice how the game's mechanics can be used to solve puzzles, all while controlling the character with precision.

Planning

Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.

There are a variety of puzzles in each level of The Fourth Wall, and the player will need to plan out her actions logically to advance. As the player starts each new level, she should take note of the obstacles, items and environment to formulate an effective strategy. Planning paths around lava pits or devising ways to reach far off areas requires certain actions to be done in a specific order, and sometimes the player may need to obtain hard-to-reach keys before advancing. If the player acts without thinking ahead, she may end up failing and have to restart the level. By taking the game one step at a time, however, she can slowly formulate a strategy that leads her to the end of the level.

Self-Control

Understanding our own actions, thoughts and feelings.

There is little penalty for dying in The Fourth Wall, however, some puzzles are quite difficult and will take several attempts to solve. Continually failing can be immensely frustrating and even discouraging, and sometimes the player's plan won't always pan out as she anticipated. Thus, it is important that the player remains mindful of her emotions and doesn't let them affect her goals. Retrying the same puzzle over and over can become aggravating, but by remaining calm the player is more likely to think clearly and eventually crack the puzzle.