WordJong has been a favorite PC title for casual gamers for a while, and can be played for free at various web sites. It uniquely combines two games that provoke different parts of your brain: Scrabble and Mahjong. You have to spell out words using the tiles on the screen, but Mahjong rules determine which tiles are available (you don’t have to match tiles as in traditional Mahjong).
The game has been so popular that it has been ported to several mobile devices, and now the addictive puzzle game is available on the Nintendo DS. So why would you pay good money for a game that you can play online for free? Well, Destineer Studios has enhanced the gameplay to take advantage of the Nintendo DS platform, which opens up new play opportunities.
The Smash Hit Online Game. Made Even Better.
Highly addictive wordplay: Use sets of lettered tiles to create words, clearing the board as you use tiles. Play against any of seven AI opponents in Battle mode, beat the high score in Daily Mode, or earn rank medals as you climb your way to the top in Temple Challenge Mode.
Take on friends via Local Wireless, or battle WordJong players around the world via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game starts off with a large pile of tiles, arranged in various Mahjong styles. You have 9 letter slots with which to spell words from the available tiles, and more letters in the words rack up additional points. As mentioned earlier, the basic rules of Mahjong determine which tiles are available for use. You don’t have to match tiles as in traditional Mahjong; only the rules for tile selection apply. You can’t select a tile that is boxed in or buried by other tiles, so you have to get creative and “think ahead” about which words to spell as you unlock more letters.
If you use so many letters, you can unlock a “wild” tile, which can be used to get out of a sticky situation. You can get the Wild tile back again once you’ve used it, which can help with your strategy if you’re a wordsmith. The game continues on until all of the tiles in your pile are used.
If you don’t use every single tile, then you have to “undo” your words and try again until every single tile is used. I’ve found that it’s helpful to reserve the Wild card for when you’re down to the last few words.
Some of the more successful casual games employ a reward system, and WordJong is structured to reward players with higher scores for coming up with complicated words. There is even an awards tracker, which gives you medals for unlocking certain tasks.
As in Scrabble, each letter has a designated point value, and you get bonuses for using uncommon letters (such as Z, V, and Qu). The points also rack up when using words over 6 letters, so it pays to make words plural or change a noun to a verb whenever possible (“crapping” delivers more points than just plain old “crap”).
The Nintendo DS version of this popular brain teaser adds more fun over its Web-based counterpart. For one, the DS version includes both variations of the game (Daily Puzzle mode is available on the PC, and Temple Challenge Mode is a modified version for cell phones).
The Daily Puzzle mode gameplay rewards you with a bomb when you create a word that is at least 5 letters long, allowing you to clear out certain tiles. The menu also gives you hundreds of different puzzle layouts, and each puzzle has a predefined top score to conquer.
The Temple Challenge Mode has a larger pile of tiles and are randomly generated. There are no bombs, but you can earn a wildcard that can be reused. There are also green multiplier tiles that can dramatically increase your score, and gameplay gets tougher as you progress.
The DS version also uses the platform’s built-in WiFi to battle another person in a one-on-one battle mode. The other person doesn’t even have to own the cartridge; they can just download it from the host DS. In Battle mode there is one shared pile, and the players alternate turns to form words, and the winner is determined by the highest score.
This mode adds a bit of a challenge, as you not only have to worry about getting a higher score, but try to screw up your opponent at the same time. The tiles you pick may allow the competition to blow you away on the next turn. Of course, you also use the DS touchscreen, which has a distinct advantage over the cell-phone keys used in the mobile version. It is also more satisfying than using a mouse on the PC version, too.
The graphics aren’t the most amazing things in the world, but they are very good for DS standards. The asian-themed wallpaper are static, and all of the letter tiles look like wooden Scrabble pieces. There is no animation other than the letters flying to the top screen when you create words.
The music is rather calming, using a traditional ancient Asian flair, and adds nicely to the presentation. Each letter you select produces a musical note on a scale, giving you feedback as to how many letters are in your word. If you already have WordJong on your cell phone, then you’ll find the DS version has significantly less lag and is much easier to use.
If you’ve never played before, then try it out online to see if it suits your fancy. If so, then imagine being able to take it with you and play anywhere! Also take into account the extra play mode you’ll get (Temple Challenge mode is way more fun). You can even school your vocabulary-deficient friends in a lesson of “I’m awesomer than you”.
The DS version of WordJong a great break that can take your mind off of things for as little or as long as you like. Overall this game is worthwhile for any casual gamer that finds word puzzles or mahjong enjoyable.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||