Scribblenauts - Nintendo DS

Release: Septmeber 25th, 2009
eyefire Rating - 8.5 /10

 

in a nutshell, scribblenauts is a game where you guide your little character through a multitude of levels by trying to reach the objective in each.  the shining highlight of this game is that it allows you to literally decide how and what to use to reach the objective.  the games gives the player the ability to write the name of an object and then it will "magically" appear in the level.  suppose you have to catch a bug... then you would simply write "net" in the pop up box and then a net will appear so you can just scoop up the bug.  this technique remains the same throughout the game, but the objects you need to create to assist you in reaching the objective will vary.  from what i understand there are literally thousands of items you can "write" into game play.  you are pretty much limited only by your imagination.  one thing i found frustrating however is that many levels can be completed successfully by using the same objects over and over again.  i mean why give the ability to create a seemingly endless amount of new items when each objective can reached by using the same technique over and over.  a little more difficulty should have been added.  this is not a huge distraction, however it does take some of fun out of the game play.  another issue i ran into was the controls. you control your character by using the stylus.  it is a bit rough around the edges, but not too bad.  if you have played the zelda game for the DS it is similar although not as responsive or precise.  the overall concept of this game is simply brilliant although i have real one major gripe that i think it is worth noting.  the objects that you can place into the environment often don’t "act" as if they should.  example being if the objective was to reach the top of a cliff.  if placed a stone statue at the edge of the cliff and attached a rope to it.  you would think that the stone statue would sit in place securely... being that is in fact a stone statue.  in actuality, it is the exact opposite.  the stone will fall down, often with just the weight of the rope attached.  this i find very frustrating as it limits your ability to creatively use different objects and methods to achieve the objective.  this seems to be the biggest flaw in the entire game.  objects you can create do not behave as you would think they should.  this flaw certainly does not take away from the appeal and charm of the game itself, however it does take some of the fun out of it.  if this one major issue was not present in the game i would be able to easily waive off the other few.

 

overall i recommend this game as it's concept is just down right awesome.  the idea behind it to make the player decide what would be best used to tackle each level is really fresh.  i loved the fact that the developer gave me that choice rather then a pre-determined set of in-game objects to choose from.  aside from the few little flaws that scribblenauts has, it is a pretty solid game.  it should definitely be experienced once...