This thread is in response to a review for Scribblenauts on the DS. You are encouraged to view the review in a new window before reading this thread.
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Author: zippdementia
Posted: October 01, 2009 (12:54 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Man your reviews have been excellent lately, Zig. Quick, precise, easy to read, covers the important parts of the game... I definitely think you're this site's best all-around reviewer. Sure, individual pizzaz may be able to oust you in a tournament, but you are the Honest Hercules.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: jerec
Posted: October 01, 2009 (04:06 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
This game was talked about so much on GameFAQs prior to its release. Since it's come out, I've barely heard anything about it.
I can avoid death by not having a life. |
Author: darketernal
Posted: October 01, 2009 (05:02 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Well, up to last week it was still on the top ten message boards posted in on Gfaqs. But yeah, I agree, it becomes cumbersome after some time when you find the same solutions to various problems. That and the controls are nothing short of horrid. It shouldn't be that much of a problem since every level can be solved with the right solutions in a matter of minutes, but it's still beyond me why you couldn't control Max with the D-pad and make the camera static that you can move it and leave it as you want.
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Author: Suskie
Posted: October 01, 2009 (07:17 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
This is an extremely well written and informative review that nicely outlines what I think gamers are anticipating in a game like this. I've been on the fence with this one for a while and I've finally settled on simply avoiding it. I do hope they make a sequel, however. The idea is too good to simply give up on after the first try.
You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it. |
Author: zigfried
Posted: October 01, 2009 (05:57 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Yeah, the controls are kind of screwed but that's not what really kills the game. I think the game could really benefit from a stronger limiter (forcing players to think of more out-of-box solutions) or an expanded setting that demands a larger variety of item types to solve the puzzles.
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Author: aschultz
Posted: February 08, 2010 (02:13 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Stumbled across this late, but the conclusion about what people look for in puzzle games has me left thinking, "geez, why didn't I notice that?"
My principal said, 'Emo, Emo, Emo.' |
Author: radicaldreamer
Posted: February 08, 2010 (03:53 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I'm curious as to what you mean by a "degenerate" solution.
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Author: aschultz
Posted: February 08, 2010 (05:56 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Degenerate means something dumb, trivial, quick and short, in a logical context. Part of this is laziness and part of this is actually a good algorithm. If an obvious/previous strategy doesn't quite work, the question is how to tweak it so it does?
My principal said, 'Emo, Emo, Emo.' |
Author: radicaldreamer
Posted: February 08, 2010 (06:26 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Thanks, though I actually meant to direct that to Zig and his use of it in the review.
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Author: zigfried
Posted: February 08, 2010 (07:08 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
The game can be beaten through repetition of the same solution (or rather, set of solutions). The first time, the solution appears quite novel; but the effectiveness of using that same solution over and over, just swapping words like "killer" for "murderer", is what makes it degenerate. A set of virtually unlimited potential is reduced to a few elements. To tie into the formula that ASchultz just posted, people look for the quickest solution -- which is, in Scribblenauts' case, the thing that worked the prior time, the time before that, and the time before that.
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