Scribblenauts Review!

CommentOctober 21st, 2009 23:10

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TGL’s Joseph Murphy Reviews a world of infinite discovery in Scribblenauts…

Scribble scribble scribble…Or type. You pick! Scribblenauts is a mammoth game and boy does it live up to the hype.

The game is based around the simple idea of puzzles. You have puzzles and you solve them. But, what if you could solve them approxminately 30-60 different ways? What if the game allowed you to type/scribble down words that actually created objects: that you would then use to solve the puzzles? What kind of gaming experience would that create? Well one that is unforgettable.

Scribblenauts_screenshot Scribblenauts hurls a staggering 200+ levels at you. Each can be solved in different ways. The only restriction here is generally your imagination.You get awarded more “money” for solving puzzles “under-par”. Each level has a difficulty level, each level has a guideline for the amount of items you can use to solve the puzzle. By using less: you gain money. Money allows the player to buy new avatars, music and many more items. This is all before I even mention the level creator in which you can construct levels of variable complexity. Again, your imagination is your only enemy here.

The game is extremely deep and complex but offers up a beautifully soft, welcoming front that appeals to both the young and old. The gameplay is so unique and inventive, it;s hard to imagine this game been on a different console at all. A very “DS” game…you could say. scribblenauts_hatchet For example, there is a puzzle where you have to collect a star (which is the means to an end for each level). So, you can type hatchet and a hatchet will appear. By then dragging it onto your character he holds it. The click the tree and he chops it down. Puzzle solved!

Now, imagine this but on a much broader scale. One memorable moment was a touch puzzle. For the life of me I couldn’t solve it, so I typed “Time machine” just to see what i’d get. *poof* A time machine appeared. After leaping into it I activated it and ended up in the Pre-Historic age: subsequently feeding cabbage to Dinosaurs. Another facet of this game which is outstanding is the music. It is very upbeat, interesting and extemely catchy. This adds to the overall impression and longevity of both the game and puzzles alike.

Now, if this is the kind of excape and flexability a game can offer, it really sets the tone for those that follow. The game does tend to becoming boring at certain times. Don’t get me wrong, iot is the most creative game I have ever played, but sometimes you are spoiled for choice and you sit there..thinking…thinking and you don’t make progress. Moments like this are very frustrating. For those that like to aim at rewards/achievements/trohies there is a section in the game that shows your medals. Awards you earn for been creative, hurting no-one, typing things, gluuing things, smashing things…the list goes on. So for those who like to aim for these there are plenty!! The game is so rich in detail that it’s no suprising it has become the smash hit that it is.

A game of sheer beauty. A game that will be cherish by the millions. An essential buy for the DS! If you are a parent and wondering what to get a child for Christmas then this is the game to get. Anyone that enjoys a challenge, a laugh and likes to “brain train” would simple adore this.

[ TGL score: 9/10 ]

scribblenauts