“They fixed the controls!”
Such was the theme of 5th Cell’s new demo for Super Scribblenauts, the sequel to the wildly fun puzzler Scribblenauts for the DS. Fun as the original was, the stylus-only controls for the main character were glitchy and dampened what could have been a revolutionary game. Not anymore.
Now Maxwell – the Scribblenaut who solves puzzles with written words – can be controlled with the D-pad and B-button rather than just the stylus. The D-pad orients his direction while the B-button makes him jump, granting the player much better control over his actions. Now, all the player has to concentrate on is writing words.
Retaining the same bright, flat cartoony design as its predecessor, Super Scribblenauts amps up the already improved fun by adding adjectives and a heavier emphasis on puzzles to the mix.
Adding adjectives to your arsenal allows you not just to use anything you want to solve a puzzle: you can use any size, shape, or type of thing you want—a floating gun, a flying sandwich, a giant brain. There are around 10,000 adjectives to choose from, and you can even string multiple ones together. As long as you don’t exceed the 100 character word limit, and don’t use naughty language, you can write anything you want.
The best part is that your objects act according to the adjectives you use. Need a giant, flaming guitar for a rock musician blocking your path? That’s exactly what you’ll see.
There are 120 levels, some with multiple objectives. Players can no longer rely on their staple of ladders and shotguns to get them through the game; each level has its own puzzles with their own unique challenges and individual solutions. No one solution will get you through multiple levels.
There are approximately 20 action levels, but be prepared to bust your brain on puzzles this time around. The game provides checklists to keep you on track, though, and finishing stages earns you points you can spend to purchase hints for future levels.
With those features added, and its biggest hassle removed, Super Scribblenauts looks to be a welcome addition to the DS. Look out for it in the fall.
