Ahoy! We are setting out on The Oregon Trail! But stop right there before the wagon wheels start rolling on the dusty road. This is The Oregon Trail FREE version, so I’m going to take on the dangerous outback on a solo mission, and I will let you know whether the dysentery is worth the gold.

So I started off on the journey as a carpenter with my brood of three rather raggedly kids and nagging wife. You can choose to be a banker with more money or a less hungry farmer too, but I figured there wasn’t much a difference what profession I was in. Dysentery was gonna attack me, carpenter or no carpenter.

I could also choose to move as fast as I could, and I decided to walk like a human rather than a tortoise or hare. This wasn’t a nonchalant choice like the first; I didn’t want to be so slow that the gold turns to dust before I get there. I also don’t want to be hopping right into trouble.

Just cos I was setting out looking for gold didn’t mean that I didn’t have any to start with. But this was just enough to buy the basics of such a journey. Well, if I had a lot gold coins in the first place, I wouldn’t be trudging through rough terrain and dragging my poor tortured family along with me, would I?

Did I say that I was a carpenter? Forget about it, for now I am a hunter and fisherman besides being oxen driver. Remember that we are on an unexplored map, so there are no fancy restaurants or even a small family joint where we can grab a quick bite.

I also have more pressing decisions to make, like whether to give a ride to a hitch hiker. I say yes much to the disapproval of my wife and kids. How did I know that he would get on top of our wagon and lie down peacefully for the rest of the journey? Anyway, I try to set my mind on bigger stuff and try to drone out their complaints. I secretly make plans to get a separate wagon for the wife and young ‘uns once I strike gold.

But as I am dreaming away, the journey stops there…just like that. You have to buy the full version for $4.99 (gasp!) if you want to get anywhere near the gold. There are more mini games and adventures in store, so it should be one adventurous trip.  Psst! I heard even Abe Lincoln is waiting somewhere along the trail. So, my dear oxen, let’s get moving.

• App Name: The Oregon Trail FREE
• Price: Free
• App Category: Games
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• Developer: Gameloft
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