SirPenguin
Member
Developer: 5TH Cell Media
Publisher: Warner Brothers Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle/Platformer
Price: $29.99
Release Date: 10/12/10 (America) | 10/29/10 (Europe) | 10/27/10 (Australia)
The original Scribblenauts is equally known for its amazing premise as its disappointing execution that couldn't meet people's overhyped expectations. Though it was still enjoyed by a lot of people, a lot of design flaws prevented it from becoming well loved among core communities
Thankfully, 5TH Cell decided to give another pass at the game, this time making it Super. The name fits in a lot of ways, both as a throwback to SNES titling as well as promoting its new adjective system. However, I think it best describes the game as a whole...this is the same Scribblenauts, but better, more improved, and hopefully better aligned with previous expectations. Not surprisingly, that last fact is what the focus of this OT will be!
Thankfully, 5TH Cell decided to give another pass at the game, this time making it Super. The name fits in a lot of ways, both as a throwback to SNES titling as well as promoting its new adjective system. However, I think it best describes the game as a whole...this is the same Scribblenauts, but better, more improved, and hopefully better aligned with previous expectations. Not surprisingly, that last fact is what the focus of this OT will be!
--> What's New?
New controls!
Nothing else annoyed players as much as the original's rather loose and frustrating control scheme. All that has changed. D-Pad controls are in, Stylus controls have been improved, and Maxwell runs about 30% slower to prevent spastic movement. You can even switch it on the fly!
Better levels!
Scribblenauts was split right down the middle between puzzle and action levels. The puzzle levels were clearly fan favorites given their unique nature, but many found the action levels to be rather repetitive and boring, falling prey to a Pegasus and a length of rope. Now there are 120 new levels of mostly the puzzle variety, purposefully preventing people from using the same old solutions and allowing for unique situations to make up the majority of the levels. You'll pretend to be the tooth fairy, kill all the dinosaurs (again), and transform people into dragons. Levels are also deeper and have multiple objectives and stages.
As if that weren't enough, the GUI and hint system has been drastically overdone. Not only will you have a clearer idea of what to do in a given level, you'll also have a much better interface to let you know when you're doing something right. Objectives, a tiered hint system, and real time notifications should help any gamer figure everything out
Finally, the level editor has been completely changed. You can create your own terrain now, and you're given a lot of "template" objectives in order to create both action and puzzle levels. As always, you can share them over the internet.
As if that weren't enough, the GUI and hint system has been drastically overdone. Not only will you have a clearer idea of what to do in a given level, you'll also have a much better interface to let you know when you're doing something right. Objectives, a tiered hint system, and real time notifications should help any gamer figure everything out
Finally, the level editor has been completely changed. You can create your own terrain now, and you're given a lot of "template" objectives in order to create both action and puzzle levels. As always, you can share them over the internet.
Adjectives!
These happy little guys can modify both physical and mental attributes of any object. These changes can range from the practical - bridge too short? make a longer one! - to utterly bizarre, such as a bovine Cthulhu, whose skin color turns to a cow pattern and can be milked.
The adjective system is pretty complex, allowing you to string words together to make combinations. A red, giant, angry oven would give you pretty much what you'd expect, assuming you expect to be killed by a kitchen appliance. While some adjectives might be purely cosmetic, certain personality modifies can give inanimate objects life, while others can bestow some fairly extreme changes. A pregnant zombie box can, in fact, give birth. To a smaller, still zombified box. Oh, and the original box inherits the "motherly" adjective.
It's a brave new world
The adjective system is pretty complex, allowing you to string words together to make combinations. A red, giant, angry oven would give you pretty much what you'd expect, assuming you expect to be killed by a kitchen appliance. While some adjectives might be purely cosmetic, certain personality modifies can give inanimate objects life, while others can bestow some fairly extreme changes. A pregnant zombie box can, in fact, give birth. To a smaller, still zombified box. Oh, and the original box inherits the "motherly" adjective.
It's a brave new world
Minor improvements? Added!
Super Scribblenauts is a game that has spent more time in the cooker than its predecessor, and it shows in the form of small additions and changes. For example, did you like just screwing around in the original? Then you'll love the fact that the "playground" level found in the title screen can now save your progress.
There are also many new objects in the game, particularly unique objects/assets for items that were once clones. Existing objects have also gotten a significant revamp, most likely due to the changes done to the underlying code of the object system.
Creatures have many more "responses" and "emotions" to other creatures and objects, interacting with each other in a more realistic way. You'll also find that many items have more uses than before: Volcanoes actually erupt, ropes can be attached to any spot on an item now, and you can choose the time period when you use a time machine.
There are also many new objects in the game, particularly unique objects/assets for items that were once clones. Existing objects have also gotten a significant revamp, most likely due to the changes done to the underlying code of the object system.
Creatures have many more "responses" and "emotions" to other creatures and objects, interacting with each other in a more realistic way. You'll also find that many items have more uses than before: Volcanoes actually erupt, ropes can be attached to any spot on an item now, and you can choose the time period when you use a time machine.
Minor annoyances? Removed!
Did you dislike how wings never lasted very long? Did the wonky physics system cause some bizarre glitches? Did you hate that the camera kept snapping back to Maxwell, even when you were in the middle of making a sweet tower made out of chairs?
All gone! 5TH Cell took user feedback to heart and wiped away the things little things that annoyed us the most. The camera stays put when needed and objects now have a more realistic weight to them. You can now focus on actually playing the game instead of getting annoyed by it
All gone! 5TH Cell took user feedback to heart and wiped away the things little things that annoyed us the most. The camera stays put when needed and objects now have a more realistic weight to them. You can now focus on actually playing the game instead of getting annoyed by it
--> Screens
--> Reviews
IGN - 9.0
1Up - 91
Games Radar - 90
Joystiq - 90
GameInformer - 88
Gamespot - 6.5
1Up - 91
Games Radar - 90
Joystiq - 90
GameInformer - 88
Gamespot - 6.5
--> News
With only a couple of days left, you don't have a lot of time to preorder the game at Gamestop in order to grab a copy of these bad boys:
Also, if you're near the Hollywood area on October 10th, you may want to check out this event to grab the game early and attend a Scribblenauts party!
