Scribblenauts Review

By John Walker Published 14 September, 2009

If you spell it, it will come.

Version tested: DS

Perhaps this is what people who don't play games think games are like. You must have had that moment where you're playing a game and there's a locked wooden door in front of you and an axe in your inventory, and your friend says, "Why don't you just smash the door down with the axe?" And you have to respond, "Look, just shut up, you don't know what you're talking about, OK?"

In Scribblenauts, if it seems like it should be possible, it's likely going to be possible. In fact, what Scribblenauts is capable of is so astonishing, so utterly complete in its collection of everything ever in the universe, it seems like it can't possibly be real.

Surely in a level which sets me the challenge of crossing main character Maxwell across some shark-infested water to reach the target Starite (the star shapes that represent your constant goal), it's not realistic that I can type in that I want an Ichthyosaurus, and then see whether it can beat the shark in a fight. Nor does it seem reasonable that I could tap in "PEGASUS", jump on the winged horse's back and fly safely over. It starts to get a little silly when I ask for a teleporter, step in, and find myself in an alien laboratory.

There is no question that Scribblenauts is an incredible achievement. Almost any item, object or animal you can think of, so long as it's not a proper noun (or rude, or alcohol, weirdly) appears after being typed - animated, and behaving appropriately. Create a spider monkey and he'll eat a banana. But a bulldog won't. They will fight, however. And it's specific - it's not monkey or dog. It's sub-species. You can ask for a tree, but you can also ask for an oak, maple or bonsai tree. Finding out who would win in a fight between a werewolf and a vampire can... Well, actually, that illustrates something else.

'Scribblenauts' Screenshot 1

It's a griffin wearing a summer hat. Of course it is.

I'm putting off the bad news, and I have to get it in here before we go too far. Scribblenauts is not that great. In fact, much of this game is a mess. The puzzles vary between uninspired and simple and frustratingly obscure and fiddly, rarely finding the correct middle ground. The controls are nothing short of appalling. And there's nothing holding any of it together. But here's the thing: how long can you stay mad after this...

Pitting a vampire versus a werewolf is just the sort of experiment Scribblenauts invites you to try. Not because the game demands it but because if you're given a box of magic crayons and a big blank sheet of paper, you won't be able to resist. So create a vampire and werewolf, drop them into the level, and oh... The vampire exposed to the daylight immediately turns to a pile of dust on the ground. The werewolf, meanwhile, transforms into a regular guy. Because it's daytime.

The point at which it becomes really incredible is when you start telling your own stories. I was stuck on an early level where I couldn't get past a tornado, so in frustration I built a time machine. I got in and emerged in Medieval times. There was a king, a queen, a knight. I got on the knight's horse and rode until I met a princess. For the heck of it I made her a flower and gave it to her. Then I saw a hooded man to our right, who started attacking me. Wishing to be appropriate to the era I created a wizard who zapped the bad man for me. I then made myself a crown, because everyone else was wearing one.

But but but. It's so remarkable. The depth and scope and opportunities for amazing improvised moments are beyond belief. But that's all so horribly pissed up against the wall when Maxwell is so intent on killing himself.

In a mystery that will remain unsolved until the end of time, the developers decided to have Max controlled by the stylus. Click on the screen and he'll run there. They also chose to have everything else controlled with the stylus, from picking up objects, selecting characters, placing objects and moving the camera.

Which means, inevitably, every third click sends Maxwell running off in completely the wrong direction, especially when trying to click on moving objects. It is beyond infuriating. It's possibly the most wildly stupid design decision of all time. The d-pad is also assigned to moving the camera - something easily done by dragging objects to the side of the screen. If they had Max's controls on the d-pad, this game would be transformed. Inexplicably, a beautiful thing is made hateful so very, very frequently.

'Scribblenauts' Screenshot 2

It's very important to wear a smart hat when riding a giraffe, as our grandmother always said.

One particularly horrendous level, Puzzle 4-11, was left uncompleted after I died at least five times because while I was moving a rain cloud on the other side of the level, Maxwell decided to leap into a pool of lava. He can be forced to stay still, for instance by building a turret and sitting him inside it. That done, I then lost the level because rather than cross the bridge I'd built, the king and his sheep decided to kick it out the way and leap deliberately to their lavary deaths.

I started over, killed the dragon for the millionth time (chosen method: Kraken - the dragon killed God too easily), put out the fires (that's what the rain is for), and then gave Maxwell some wings so he could fly to the upper part of the level to build a different bridge. At this point the knight by the castle, who played no part in the puzzle and who I went nowhere near, decided for seemingly no reason to hurl himself into the ever-popular lava pit - and it was level over. Again.

There's another madly annoying thing that must be mentioned. Move the camera away from Max and it will very quickly snap back to him. This is ridiculous, meaning you have to holding the camera in place to execute anything complicated, especially when working on traps. And it means you'll always miss the best bits of fights as it cruelly drags you away. Again, a decision made seemingly to annoy the player, serving no apparent purpose.

There are two different types of level, Puzzle and Action. The former is endlessly simple, templates like asking you to help a duck reach its mother, but without hurting the wolf. Or figure out how to use a switch to open a door to reach a goal. Action levels are tougher and tend to require quicker thinking, or even fighting. You might be asked to stop a boat from reaching a pirate, using any means you desire. Each level begins with a quick tour of what's to see, and a hint explaining your goal. Then you're let loose to try anything you can spell.

Complete a level and you'll be awarded Ollars, the in-game currency, which can be used to buy access to more collections of puzzles (there's a mighty 110 of each type), or silly extras like costumes and music tracks. (Talking of the music, there's no damned way to switch it off, and its upbeat repetitiveness has just about driven me crazy.)

You'll also be awarded daft achievements based on the techniques you used to solve a level. You can then replay any of the 120 levels to complete it at the Advanced level, which requires completing it three times in a row without using the same objects twice. While doing the same thing three times in a row isn't exactly great fun, it does demonstrate the vast diversity available.

You can find a few ways to game it. Giving Maxwell wings gets you around all sorts of problems, and the lasso tends to offer a solution for all manner of issues. Lasso an object, then drag it behind you, tie it to a car, attach it to a helicopter. But then, that any of this is possible is pretty incredible.

'Scribblenauts' Screenshot 3

Pegasus! He's the winged horse who's always there for you.

There's also the option to create your own levels, again with only the distant limits of its and your vocabulary. You can decide the behaviours of conscious creations, and attempt to make the trickiest routes possible. This is done simply and well.

This is a game in which I killed a bee with a blue whale. It's one where jetpacks stop working if they get wet, and just blow out bubbles. Hippies are present to stop you killing ants. Reindeer can fly. When a rock, gun then rocket launcher won't work, it's time to pull out a black hole. You can create handcuffs and cuff yourself to another character. You can create a colossal squid and make it fight a bear. You can type in "portal" and an alien will jump through.

Scribblenauts is unquestionably a thing of wonder. But it's also a clumsily made game, with clumsy text (every level ends with the words "MERIT GET!", and then there's the gibberish sometimes contained in the clues), clumsy level design, and beyond clumsy controls. Oh, and an agonising tutorial that seems intent on denying anything the game is about.

I find it hard to believe anyone could play for more than six or seven levels before just typing in random things to see if they're there and whether they can beat Cthulhu in a fight. But then, doing that is utterly brilliant. It's like trying to wash the car and ending up having a water fight. The water fight is tons more fun than the car washing, but then you're wet and tired and it's time for tea.

7 / 10

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About John Walker

Read more articles from John by visiting the John Walker archive page.

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Comments (116) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Lotos8ter #1 2 years ago

    Fantastic review. I've seen criticism of the controls before and it's a damn shame they haven't fixed this.
    No purchase for me.

  • TheBiGW #2 2 years ago

    I was hoping to buy a DS for this. Sounds like a great game for 5 minutes, but those controls do sound teeth gnashingly bad. I will skip it as a result and just watch movies of the best bits on Youtube. Good review!

  • 3william56 #3 2 years ago

    Good god, how could anyone get the insanely tricky bit of the item generator right, and b*gger the rest of the game. Can you get a DS, type "transfer copyright to insomniac/team ICO/naughty dog/your favourite devs" and let them have a go at the level design and controls? This is a tragedy of mind blowing proportions.

  • Charlie_Miso #4 2 years ago

    Sold.

  • ChrisOTR #5 2 years ago

    Sounds quite flawed, but as I've said in other forums I often buy flawed-but-could've-been-brilliant games just to encourage the dev/publisher to have another go at it...

    So - SOLD! :)

  • seasidebaz #6 2 years ago

    Hmmmmmm.

    Unlucky. Looks like I'll be passing this one now.

  • symmetry #7 2 years ago

    Hmmm so you do just about everything with the touch screen... maybe there might be an iPhone version in the works? Hope so.

  • Scimarad #8 2 years ago

    I'm still going to have to give this a go.

  • TripSkyway #9 2 years ago

    Disappointed to hear about the control problems, not sure whether to get it now.

  • Super_Zee #10 2 years ago

    Spot on review, although I wouldn't give it a 7 as I find the problems make it really unenjoyable. The title screen, however, is the best part of the game. Your imagination + blank interactive canvas = complete timesink. Such a shame that the actual game isn't any good.

  • Pirotic #11 2 years ago

    I'm going to write 'good review' and see if this appears ;)

  • mowgli #12 2 years ago

    Had a feeling about this as soon as I saw a vdeo of the game in action. A bloody shame nonetheless, I might pick it up anyway.

  • secombe #13 2 years ago

    Such a shame, a ground breaking concept hurt by the absolute basics. I'm already hoping for a sequel.

  • Khab #14 2 years ago

    I'm buying it anyway. Fuck it, it sounds like fun.

  • Spielo #15 2 years ago

    Surely "MERIT GET!" is just a very knowing reference to the infamous Japanese version of Super Mario Sunshine, which uses the phrase "SHINE GET!"?

    Anyway, it seems like they've done the hard part right, so I guess I'll just wait for a sequel or an iPhone port where all the issues are fixed...

  • UncleLou #16 2 years ago

    So, wonderful concept that works well, let down by shoddy execution. I am almost tempted to wait and see if they announce it for another platform where they hopefully iron out the kinks. It helps that I can't find my DS charger at the moment. :p
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 08:31

  • MiniAmin #17 2 years ago

    Great review. I think there'll be a sequel in about a year which will iron out the problems. I think i'll wait for that instead.

  • decibel #18 2 years ago

    Yeah, what's with the "MERIT GET!" criticism? That's just a reference to Super Mario Galaxy as a poster above said. But yeah, good review. And a bit of a shame.

  • menage #19 2 years ago

    The whole merit get thing isn't even from Galaxy, I heard that slang used enough times before. Item get, merit get, etc.

  • Ninja_Tino #20 2 years ago

    It's so annoying that your control system seems to fit the game perfectly yet the developers have just been silly.

  • knocker #21 2 years ago

    Fine review. Half review/half play test summary report.

    Shame they didn't read it before releasing the game ;)

  • Dezm0nd #22 2 years ago

    Fun game, tricky controls. Deal with them and you'll love it.

    Good review for a good game!

  • dr_faulk #23 2 years ago

    It's a shame the DS games can't be patched, what with it's internet connectivity. =(

  • gizmo #24 2 years ago

    Damn. Cancelled my pre-order. Can't bear the frustration.

  • b00n #25 2 years ago

    Good review. Such a shame they made that many mistakes with such a brilliant concept. Will probably buy it anyway to try it out. Let's hope for a sequel or a remake.

  • DFawkes #26 2 years ago

    I have to buy this now, just so I can pit a robot against a monkey. Then a teapot. Then just sit spelling all the objects I know. That really does seem like a fantastic concept. The rview makes it nice and clear the game itself can be a tad irritating, but the scope for just messing about sounds incredible.

  • Shinetop #27 2 years ago

    That reads like they had a brilliant concept working, and then fucked up everything else. No way am I paying £29.99 for an interesting concept.

    Thanks for fucking up what would've been the game of the century, 5th cell.

  • MyPointIs #28 2 years ago

    Please don't let the negative aspects get to you, they are NOT that bad. A little annoying some times, that's all. It's still a MUST BUY to anyone interested in game design at all. You have to see it.

  • OrgasmicMutton #29 2 years ago

    Hmmm . . . from the review i reckon i'd get bored of this in the same way I got a bored of Crayon Physics; although it might take a bit longer as my vocabularly is stronger than my drawing skills.

  • Toothball #30 2 years ago

    I skipped straight to the score as I've been avoiding any descriptions about things in this game since I heard about the concept. While it's not the best score in the world, it's not all that far off. I'll still look into picking this up anyway.

  • Arwin #31 2 years ago

    In the camp that was considering buying a DS for this. Now I might just wait for a sequel. ;)

  • mexalen #32 2 years ago

    well, at least I know that it's not perfect. but I want that game anyway :)

  • poopmonster #33 2 years ago

    Yog Shoggoth vs. Nyarlathotep?

  • login_name #34 2 years ago

    It boggles the mind why they went with that control scheme, even after it was pointed out to them in demo and preview builds that it was utter toss. It was a must buy but, seeing as they ignored the criticism, I'm in two minds now.

  • mingster #35 2 years ago

    The controls aren't completely borked.
    You have to allow for the shonkynis and work round them.
    Putting bridges/girders over water to stop you falling in.
    Creating walls to stop people running off cliffs and gluing/roping people to other objects to stop them following you.
    Once youve eliminated all the things in a level that can kill you you can carry on with just completing the level.
    /Pegasus for the win.

  • HappyChimp #36 2 years ago

    7/10 – is a bit harsh imo

    Awesome little game - The missus and I have been playing this non-stop yesterday evening, and feel like we’ve hardly scratched the surface (we’ve both nearly finished world 3).

    Yes the controls aren’t great, but if you can manage to get over that, you’ll have a right blast – good fun playing it together with your better half seeing who comes up with the best solution.

    Some of the levels can be a bit on the cryptic side, but if you get stuck/frustrated just move on to something else, lots to do here. Obviously we’ve not got that far into it yet, but already worth the entry price… for what it’s worth.

    Oh and I’ve placed a pre-order for it, so don’t I don’t feel *too* guilty playing it early :)

    I’d urge anyone who’s tempted by the concept to at least give it a try before writing it off completely (pun intended ;).

    8.5/10 from me (9.5/10 if the controls were better)

    /edit - typing fail
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 10:00

  • andywilkie35 #37 2 years ago

    Looks like I'll save myself some money then

  • mingster #38 2 years ago

    Hopefully they will license the technology / database out to other companies that make point and click and RPG's.
    Because it would enhance them greatly.

  • Dizzy #39 2 years ago

    >just typing in random things to see if they're there and whether they can beat Cthulhu in a fight

    Have you tried typing in Eldar Sign?

  • Shinetop #40 2 years ago

    It's a mystery to me how some of this stuff can still happens nowadays. Do they just not have their stuff playtested or something?

  • Toonster #41 2 years ago

    I would give this game a 9/10 so far. Been playing it for a couple days. Controls are shoddy, but once you're used to them, they're not much bother. Puzzles are great, whether they're easy or hard, and the advanced mode adds shit tons of replay value.

    Oh, and best main menu ever. I've spent hours on it, coming up with weird little scenarios, like dressing Maxwell as a transvestite and having him tandem bicycle with Einstein off a ramp. Only in Scribblenauts!

  • el_pollo_diablo #42 2 years ago

    Has everyone around here pirated this game or something?
    It's not out yet.

  • Beek4257 #43 2 years ago

    Scribblenauts GET!

  • kinky_mong #44 2 years ago

    Such potential wasted by having a baffling choice of controls. This was going to be a definite buy for me but I just don't know if I can put up with a stress inducing control system on the commute to work.

  • mingster #45 2 years ago

    BTW John Walker i did level 4-11 on 3rd go.
    Made a T-Rex to kill the dragon. If he doesn't finish him create a knight.
    Rope/glue/stick yourself to the level to stop him running off.
    Create pegasus to fly up the level.
    Water on the fires.
    Then build a suspension bridge over the gap.
    Et voila... sheep and king run across

  • JahB #46 2 years ago

    Oh, and that goes for you fucking pirates too, stealing the game. Your accounts here should be banned

    why should they be banned? the fact that games are extremely easy to pirate is one of the many reasons the DS sells so well

  • Meho #47 2 years ago

    Oh, keep your pants on, for Allah's sake. I pirated it and I am also buying it because I love it. Does this somehow make me a bad person?

    Also, I'd like to say that John's concluding words are a little too harsh in my opinion. Yes, the controls are not comfortable and in some cases you WILL be glitching your way through, but this is one of the bravest examples of emergent gameplay in known history and in many other cases you WILL be transfixed with the elegance of your sollution or with the sheer insanity that you can create. This is not just a an ambitious puzzle game placed in a seemingly endless sandbox but also an environment for mechanical, biological, social, even philosophical experimentation. Yes, I would love better controls, but even as it is, this game is a must buy for anyone in love with gaming that allows you, nay, demands you to be imaginative.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 10:37

  • Bremenacht #48 2 years ago

    MERIT GET! does sound a bit like a reference to SHINE GET!

    BTW -


    Just type I LOVE TANK on any level to win
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 10:52

  • Beek4257 #49 2 years ago

    @mingster

    Pst ... dude, next time use the spoilertag please.
    Edited by 2 at 15/09/09 @ 10:42

  • mika1h #50 2 years ago

    @el_pollo_diablo

    It's out in North America.

  • TheTingler #51 2 years ago

    I'm really of two minds now. It sounds like a brilliant plaything screwed up by a poorly made game, and yet some people here are saying the flaws aren't so bad.

    No, I think I have to cancel. Don't want to, but I've never been someone who can just play around and explore - I have to get back to the main story missions soon enough. Well done Professor Layton 2, you're getting a buy!

  • mingster #52 2 years ago

    BTW its out already you can import it.

  • darkmorgado #53 2 years ago

    If, as the review implies, the game recognises "Cthulhu" then this is an instant-buy for me!

    Does it recognise "necronomicon"?

  • SeesThroughAll #54 2 years ago

    Does it recognise "necronomicon"?

    Yes, it does.

  • Natversion1 #55 2 years ago

    Just so some of you guys know the game need to sell well to get a sequel, so saying you'll wait for the sequel is kinda a gamble. They tried something new and nailed half of it, DS games aren't as expensive as 360, PS3 games so why not just support the game and buy it? 7.5 is not a bad game in my world

  • AKI1312 #56 2 years ago

    Pretty much a spot on review but people seem to have come to the conclusion that this game isn't worth buying. Don't cancel your pre-orders and not give this game a chance, as it is well worth the 20-25 pound asking price even with the flaws. The 1st minute you play the game you can see the controls are lame but the game definitely isn't.

  • botherer #57 2 years ago

    mingster - I built a suspension bridge and, as I say in the review, the king kicked it out the way in order to ensure he died. I was going to work on a better improvised bridge when the knight killed himself, and I needed to stop playing the bloody thing for a while after that.

  • mingster #58 2 years ago

    Ahh i see that was unlucky then.
    Try gluing it to a girder then.
    or gluing lots of girders together,

  • Hendo #59 2 years ago

    It's only just come out in America, so some of you must've teleported across, bought the game and teleported back.

  • lennon #60 2 years ago

    <a href=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=uIMBz1kUGwU>Villiage People vs Cthulu</a> = Sold

  • Demiath #61 2 years ago

    Too bad. I was hoping this would be the best thing since sliced bread. Go figure. Won't buy it now.

  • lavalant #62 2 years ago

    I think it's a great game and I've been playing it non stop. It has flaws but I've found ways around them by using objects. Still one of the best DS games out.

  • Fuser #63 2 years ago

    Awesome game - don't miss out by waiting for a sequel for the sake of £20 (Argos pre-order believe it or not!)

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #64 2 years ago

    I'm buying this despite reservations.

    Developers should be rewarded for brave and visionary attempts at game design and this seems to succeed at least in parts. Here's hoping enough people support it so they can develop the core database and implement more successfully.

  • Daryoon #65 2 years ago

    The game had - has - potential, but it's been squandered. Once you've spent half an hour summoning all those crazy things and pissing about with the system, you realise that's about it. There's the illusion of depth, but really it's not that amazing.

    I've had enjoyed it had it done away with individual levels and presented a single sandbox world to explore, with meaningful achievements for experimentation. Currently there's lot of potential held back by invisible limits.

    And those controls really are bloody awful.

  • mingster #66 2 years ago

    The start screen sandbox level is good for kids.
    They will enjoy making things appear without having to worry about how to complete a level.
    Its quite a good tool for spelling.

  • rhubarbandcustard #67 2 years ago

    If Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are secret gamers they must be reading this review with glee. They've buggered up the country, everyone is broke and yet Nintendo zealots will still gladly fork out £25 on a game that ISN'T very good.

  • Toothball #68 2 years ago

    @rhubarbandcustard:

    People spend way more on less good games all the time. Besides, as far as I was aware 7 may not be a very good game, but it tends to be far from bad.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 13:58

  • Meho #69 2 years ago

    I hate to insist on a fine point here but really, all this moaning about piracy in a comments thread where the pirates are the ones saying "No, actually the game is worth it, buy it!!! We will!!" and the non-pirates are the ones saying "Ahh, bad review, I am not buying this because I base my decisions on the (percieved) opinion of one person*" is just bloody absurd.



    * Not to be little a well written and articulate review by John

  • HappyChimp #70 2 years ago

    "And what is exactly are you going to play on that DS when all the games companies go out of business. Thief"

    So you're 100% squeaky clean and legal are you? (music/films/software/pr0n etc ... wow really!!?)

    I'm going to support Factor 5 because I think this is a *great* game - does it really matter that I've played it a few weeks early (rather, 1 day before the original UK release date). It sounds like the majority of the people who have played this early are going to pick this up on day 1, as it obvious to see how much work has gone into making it.

    //edit - added pr0n ;)
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 14:18

  • simulant #71 2 years ago

    You guys nailed it yet again.

    I'd still give it a 10 though... because it's that fun, despite the flaws.

  • rumblesushi #72 2 years ago

    I think the game deserves higher than 7/10, but I agree with the core point of the review. Absurd that they chose Maxwell to be controlled with the stylus, as well as item interaction.

    D-pad controls for the character would have been so much better, than the random clicking to try and get him to go here, or jump there, and often failing.

    However, an atrocious oversight in the review is this statement -

    "But it's also a clumsily made game, with clumsy text (every level ends with the words "MERIT GET!" )"

    I would have thought a professional videogame journalist, working for a major site like Eurogamer would be WELL aware that this is an homage to the Japanese version of Super Mario Sunshine.

    In the Japanese SMS, every time you collected a shine, you would be presented with "Shine Get!".

  • botherer #73 2 years ago

    Quick comment: 7 is a decent mark. Not a great mark, and not the mark I was hoping to give it when I started playing, but it's still an above average mark.

    As for not knowing what SMS says in Japanese - I think I'll live with myself. If that's a homage, then to whom should I attribute the tribute of the complete gibberish written in many of the hints?
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 14:32

  • ColdShoulder #74 2 years ago

    John Walker's making the controls sound worse than they really are, I'd rather play this that yet another FPS or with perfect controls.
    Oh, and for the hurricane level, try a grappling hook. Works a charm.

  • Slo_Mo #75 2 years ago

    Yet more proof that the "intelligentia" behind the game does not make it fun to play.

    Peelin spuds with your fingernails is more fun.

    Still I will be dismissed by the EG "intelligentia" as a troll because I do not share their Uni drop out POV LOL

  • rumblesushi #76 2 years ago

    John, well that's another issue. But the Shine Get homage was intended for gamers, a pretty obvious homage, not like it was referencing something from the ZX spectrum era :D

    Overall the review was good, just like the vast majority of reviews on Eurogamer, but seriously, you should have been the last person to miss that homage ;)

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #77 2 years ago

    "Please don't let the negative aspects get to you, they are NOT that bad. "

    Yes they are. They're absolutely awful. The object generator is one of the absolute flat-out marvels of the entire history of videogaming, and that some UTTER FUCKING CRETIN handcuffed it to those diabolical stylus controls is nothing short of criminal. There's not even a sliver of an excuse, because the camera controls are also on the face buttons anyway, so there was no need to duplicate them with the d-pad.

    Watching your idiot avatar leap 10 feet to throw himself into a river and drown when you tried to click on something an inch away to pick it up, or trying to drop a basket of flowers in front of another character and having it inexplicably explode and scatter its contents all over the level, sucks out almost all of the incredible fun created by the object generator and makes the game ultimately a chore to play. Stick to mucking around on the title screen and you might enjoy yourself, but the control and general interface issues absolutely and comprehensively break the game.

  • FenderMaster #78 2 years ago

    such a shame it couldn't be patched with d pad controls

    when i first loaded the game i tried to move for about 20 seconds with the D pad, before realising it was stylus controlled... my heart sunk...

  • YoshiMcTaggis #79 2 years ago

    Fingers crossed they patch it for Europe!

    You never know...

  • Shadders #80 2 years ago

    Fair play.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #81 2 years ago

    "Just so some of you guys know the game need to sell well to get a sequel, so saying you'll wait for the sequel is kinda a gamble. They tried something new and nailed half of it, DS games aren't as expensive as 360, PS3 games so why not just support the game and buy it? 7.5 is not a bad game in my world"

    "Developers should be rewarded for brave and visionary attempts at game design and this seems to succeed at least in parts. Here's hoping enough people support it so they can develop the core database and implement more successfully."

    Christ, I despair of people's stupidity sometimes.

    A Scribblenauts 2 with decent controls could be one of the most astonishingly marvellous things ever made by humans. So if you want one to be made, send the developers a cheque. If, on the other hand, you buy this one and it goes to No.1, they'll assume everything was fine and doesn't need fixing, so the sequel will be EXACTLY THE FRIGGING SAME.

  • YoshiMcTaggis #82 2 years ago

    I hardly think so. Developers do read criticism and do take it into account when planning sequels.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #83 2 years ago

    They evidently didn't when EVERYONE IN THE WORLD who saw the trailers and demos said "For God's sake that stylus control is awful".

  • YoshiMcTaggis #84 2 years ago

    I didn't see a single thing about the controls. Also, convincing a producer/whatever that something they like is wrong is a hard thing to do. Several low reviews (what they care about) would do the trick.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #85 2 years ago

    "Several low reviews (what they care about) would do the trick. "

    Fat lot of chance of that. Everything so far except this review is 85-90%, because most reviewers are complete fucking morons.

  • Fuser #86 2 years ago

    can't say I heard much about the controls in all the previews either - just loads of people having fun generating Rick Astley vs Satan contests and stuff........

    And Mr Rev Stu - assuming you are Europe-based - why are you being so crude, sweary and angry about a game you quite obviously havent paid for?

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #87 2 years ago

    "why are you being so crude, sweary and angry about a game you quite obviously havent paid for? "

    How do you know I haven't? I'm a games journalist too. But I'm crude, sweary and angry about most things anyway.

  • Meho #88 2 years ago

    Haha, well, let's not, amidst all the fire and spit forget that, yes, while this game has a mechanical problem, so did many of games we today deem classics. Deus Ex instantly springs to mind, but you could find as many examples as you want. Scribblenauts still manages to be something extraordinary AND well worth your time (and money) even while being incredibly frustrating at points.

  • Fuser #89 2 years ago

    @Rev
    I dont 'know' you havent paid for it - I just assumed bearing in mind it isnt released in Europe for 2 weeks thats all.

    Fair play to you if shouty is your thing :)

  • mingster #90 2 years ago

    crude and sweary is his style get used to it.

    It is a shame they didn't use the DPAD for movement though as it would have made a lot more sense.
    The object generator is just begging to be used with point and click and other RPG's though.
    Maybe they should license it out?

  • JahB #91 2 years ago

    And what is exactly are you going to play on that DS when all the games companies go out of business.
    Thief

    lol what? i don't even own a DS, so you might wanna hold your accusations there mate. i was merely pointing out that piracy is one of the factors that helps DS sales (just like custom firmware certainly did a lot for the PSP).

    so to be clear: i don't encourage any form of piracy, but it's a reality. just not talking about isn't gonna make it go away

  • RobotRocker #92 2 years ago

    Im starting to wonder if Nintendo screwed around with it. D-Pad controls are a no brainer but I would imagine they may have leaned on 5th cell to keep stylus only controls if it meant they could sell it as a title that uses the "Full capabilities of the DS".

    Bull. And I was so looking forward to it.

  • Rens11 #93 2 years ago

    I don't normally advocate the use of Roms but I think in this case its essential to try the game before buying as the controls can be unbelievably frustrating!

  • PearOfAnguish #94 2 years ago

    I only played it for a short period of time, but the controls didn't bother me that much, the rest of the game is so much fun. £20 from Argos though? That's got to be worth a punt.

    How do you know I haven't?

    Well you have been quite open in the past about using ROMs on a DS.

  • Sharzam #95 2 years ago

    I sold my DS Lite early last year was thinking maybe picking one up again for this game, but after hearing about the controls i will pass. There are only 2 things which will totally put me off a game and they are bad controls and a wonky camera all other problems i can either get around or get used to them.

    Shame this game has both of them issues.

  • dagas #96 2 years ago

    Too bad that such rudimentary problems ruin such a revolutionary game.

  • GreyBeard #97 2 years ago

    They probably used all stylus controls because switching constantly between the face buttons and stylus for common inputs is exceptionally annoying.

    Most games use one input style or the other predominantly for good reasons.

  • YoshiMcTaggis #98 2 years ago

    1) No it isn't
    2) Camera is on the face buttons

    Point VOIIIID

  • smelly #99 2 years ago

    Oh do fuck off Stewart Campbell.. No-one is interested in your opinion, you cheap poor pirate who cant even afford a 25 quid game. I'm guessing you probably still live with your mom too.

  • smelly #100 2 years ago

    "How do you know I haven't? I'm a games journalist too."


    HAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHA!!!

    hohoohohohoho

    Funniest thing i've ever read on the internet!!! Thanks mr Campbell, You've now gone up in my estimation.

  • Camorrista #101 2 years ago

    I played this at the Games Com, both in English and in my language, and Christ did they mess up the translation. Lots of wrong results, typos etc. I'm going to play this in English, pity that other language versions get doubly shafted - content and control.

  • Daryoon #102 2 years ago

    What with all the self-righteous bollocks about piracy anyway? People desperate for social kudos or something? Christ, people have been pirating goods for as long as...there have been goods to pirate! VIDEO TAPING A TV PROGRAM WAS PIRACY. MIX TAPES ARE PIRACY! BORROWING GAMES OFF YOUR MATES IS PIRACY! RENTING GAMES IS PIRACY! BUYING SECOND HAND GAMES IS PIRACY! And other such bollocks. It happens. It will always happen. Get over it and enjoy life.

    I hope, if they make a sequel, they add proper destructible environments (even if its Worms-style). Summoning a nuke that doesn't obliterate *everything* and leave a massive crater is kinda disappointing :(

  • Slo_Mo #103 2 years ago

    Smelly pays a whore £25 to watch him suck his moms cock. ShivaMiTimbars!!!

  • Stormflood #104 2 years ago

    I was considering buying a DS for this. Not anymore.

  • smelly #105 2 years ago

    >What with all the self-righteous bollocks about piracy anyway?

    Games suffer because of it. Ever wondered there are more casual ass games on the DS than games like this or GTA: chinatown wars? The answer is simple, casual gamers BUY games.

    Chinatown wars (for example) sold 80,000 units on its opening week, during the same period of time, there were over 400,000 SEEDS for it (that's seeds, not downloads) on torrent sites. So more than 4 times people seeded it than bought it. Gawd knows how many downloads that was!

    If you keep hurting the companies making innovation/fun games.. we end up with endless casual drivel and EA sequels.

    As a gamer, i find that depressing.

  • Weezer #106 2 years ago

    Broken control system = no purchase.

    Sad.

  • penhalion #107 2 years ago

    The review pretty much says what I did after playing the demo. It's a great concept but, the actual game it's attached to is pointless. Just like me, they lasted a few levels before just doing random stuff and finally just walking away!

  • Ergates_Antius #108 2 years ago

    Hah, asking Stu Campbell why he's so "crude sweary and angry" is a little like asking Posiedon why he's so wet.

    The best thing in the world, would be if they sold the license for this to Pop Cap for a PC release.

  • botherer #109 2 years ago

    milkyjoe1984 - Man! If only I could be like Edge! It's my ALL TIME DREAM! I think my opening and closing paragraphs were as Edge-like as you can get. In fact, this whole review was an audition to get into their gang. Do you think it will work? Oh, please say it will.

  • secombe #110 2 years ago

    It's a shame there isn't an iPhone version, as it's the sort of title which would sell staggeringly well, and the ease of updates would soon iron out any major issues that people kicked off about.

  • smelly #111 2 years ago

    only a fool would make an iphone title at the moment.. are you aware of how many games that service hosts - for you to be lost under?

  • spekkeh #112 2 years ago

    I just read that if you type in Philosoraptor, you get a Velociraptor with a monocle. Therefore, 10/10 regardless.

  • GreyBeard #113 2 years ago

    @YoshiMcTaggis

    You really have no idea. At all.

    /ignored.

  • smelly #114 2 years ago

    >Hah, asking Stu Campbell why he's so "crude sweary and angry"

    Its obvious.. he USED to be a "games journalist" but nowadays is probably drawing the dole while looking back at a time when people actually wanted to hear his opinion...

  • layleeloo #115 2 years ago

    @ el_pollo_diablo

    No people are not pirating it. Like every other game - Scribblebauts is region free, so I had my mate who lucky for me, owns a game shop, to import it for me. So its readily available. Having played it for around 10 hours I probably agree with the review to be honest. It is great, just some control niggles hinder performance but on the whole its good fun

  • amv71 #116 2 years ago

    Reading that, I am amazed it got a 7... Damn shame. No purchase here.

  • Gabrien #117 2 years ago

    Spot on review, score is much too generous in my opinion. Great game idea, wish whoever had it employed someone who understands something about video games to make it. As it is, the game is b.r.o.k.e.n. broken.

    As for whomever was laughing at Mr Campbell: the guy may well be a prick (can't say for sure), but I cannot think of a single person who has had more of an impact on games "journalism" of the late 80s to early 90s. As ancient as that may sound, don't think for a second it hasn't affected where we are today. Without him, games might still be rated on a 7 to 10 scale.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 07:11

  • ctrl-k #118 2 years ago

    I bought the game in Florida a week ago and am running it just fine on my UK DS.

    My verdict is pretty much the same as the review. Amazing fun, mixed with randomness and annoyance. I can't play it for more than 10 minutes, as it is only really fun if you go nuts a bit - when you get tired you start resorting to "rope, mine, jetpack" which seems to be the universal solution to any problem :)