Scrabble CD-ROM Crossword Game

Is QUIXNTORCK Really A Word?

A Review of Scrabble CD-ROM Crossword Game

by Rich Cunningham

QUIZLTICNK.

FRACKNISESX.

TORHECHSIEN.

The above, er, words are not words. I thought they were, but I was wrong. I found this out from playing the latest program to cross my desk. I wasn’t disappointed that they weren’t real words. What really hurt was having a computer tell me they weren’t.

The game I am talking about is called Scrabble CD-ROM Crossword Puzzle, and is from Hasbro Interactive Inc. It is a computer version of the classic board game that has been around for a long time. I remember playing it as a kid, which dates it (and me)considerably. The concept of the game is to take letters which are distributed randomly among the players, and make words of them on a playing board. This generates a score, based on the size of the word, and where the letters are placed on the board.

Computer 3-D graphics make this a pleasant game to look at and play. There is a marble-looking gameboard, and the wooden tiles turn to stone when played. There are audio tracks to listen to, including ten classical and 10 original compositions. The sound effects also make playing the game fun. For the nuts and bolts of the game itself, there is a 90,000 word dictionary, a hint guide for the times a player is stuck, and a timer that can be set to limit a player’s turn, or the length of the game. One feature that is unique is the ability to play over the Internet, against players from, well, who knows where. For solo play, the included player is called Maven. It is an artificial intelligence that has 5 different levels to choose from, beginner to champion.

There are two other sides to this game I like. It is educational, because it promotes increasing one’s vocabulary. At least it will if one wants to win bad enough. I feel it would also be an excellent program for a parent to play along with child on. Promoting family togetherness always helps make games like this fun to play.

So if you have memories of this game, run, don’t walk to your favorite computer store. It has enough excitement and challenge to any and all family members stuck to the keyboard. Excuse me now, Maven is calling back for a rematch, and have I got a few for him this time!!!

Gamer’s Zone Scorecard

Product:	Scrabble CD-ROM Crossword Game
Company:	Hasbro Interactive 50 Dunham Road Beverly MA 01915-1844 Phone: 508-921-3700 Fax: 508-921-3704
Cost:	$39.99

System Requirements:

IBM:
Windows 3.1 or greater.

Macintosh:
Available, but no unit specifications included in documentation.

Breakdown:

Fun Factor 4
Graphics 4
Sound 4
Interface 3
Replayability 4

Overall Score: