a good word game is hard to find. especially one that's done well, not just a [b]good idea executed horribly[/b], like [b]paperback: the game[/b]. it's the digital version of a board game I haven't played, but was intrigued because I love word games (and books). [b]online multiplayer doesn't work anymore, only local or against the ai, but they didn't even bother to remove online stuff from the menu, or at the very least add an in-game warning.[/b]
it's for [b]2-4 players[/b], the ai has 3 difficulty levels. there are a bunch of avatars to choose from and rules are briefly explained in the game, with only a 'next' arrow, can't go back and forth. rookie mistake, one of many. another would be using 'tap' in the optional help messages. I'd say you can't get any lazier than this when making a pc version of a mobile game, but do read on.
cards contain one or two letters, make words with them, buy more cards with your points/money, repeat. cards available for purchase are visible on top, will be shuffled into the deck. [i]wildcards[/i] can be used as any letter, worth nothing score-wise but have a single so-called [b]fame point[/b], which is what your final score is based on. [i]fame cards[/i] with no score but a higher fame value can also be bought, and there are [i]community cards[/i] as well. you can grab one in every turn (which wasn't clear from the tutorial) and if used in a longer word, it also gives fame. the first needs 7 letters, the next 8, but you'll get offered the same one until it's used in a long enough word.
score/cash doesn't carry over between turns, might as well spend it all. besides letters, price and a score value, [b]cards can also have abilities[/b]. things like double word score, words with a certain score granting an extra card or more cash, trash a card at the end of the turn, etc. you can set how many of each fame-toting card you'd like in their respective decks and the game ends when 2 of the 4 piles of fame cards or all the community cards are gone, whichever happens first.
and that's it, [b]not a hugely complex game[/b]. very basic, in fact, not much meat on the bones, but could work as a brief time-killer. there's a log of the happenings, surprisingly nice touch, but the dictionary will always be iffy in these things, with many words not recognized. however, one of the major dealbreakers is [b]no mid-game saving[/b]. you have to play the whole thing in one sitting or start over next time. absolutely unacceptable.
graphics are is fine but [b]the interface is very mobiley[/b] and I wasn't a fan of the jazzy music, as usual. nor the fact that [b]switching tasks and going back to the game both reset the music[/b]. what the ♥♥♥♥ is that? a song is playing, switch to another running task and a new one will start instead of the game shutting up, and when you go back to the game, the song will change again. there are very few tracks in the game, making the situation even worse, so I just turned off the music after about a minute.
[b]settings are practically non-existant.[/b] no speed settings or toggles for repeating animations. [b]no full screen(!)[/b], alt+enter doesn't work either, you can maximize the window, that's it. [b]no volume settings[/b], only separate toggles. I was surprised to find an exit button at least. [b]the real board game has better functionality, as you can just tell people you're playing with to act faster or speak less loudly.[/b]
I also ran into [b]some buggy behavior[/b], shocking. click cards that weren't supposed to be clickable or bring up an empty screen with a confirmation button. and my favorite, [b]things keep happening over the open 'pause' menu[/b]. beyond words.
I bought it a few years ago on sale because I thought it was a good enough deal even without multiplayer (mostly because I don't do multiplayer), but after having tried it, [b]it's impossible to recommend, free ♥♥♥♥ is still ♥♥♥♥[/b]. the devs recently re-released the same thing as 'vol. 2' with working (for now) online multiplayer, but you have to buy it (again if you already paid for this). it still doesn't have any basic functionality though, which is appalling, so don't bother with either.
