The Best of Both Worlds
What do you get when you combine two of the greatest word games of all time into one tight little package? That question is answered with a resounding cheer as Word Slinger hits computer monitors around the world. This incredible title takes the best elements from Scrabble and the classic crossword puzzle, offering gamers a unique yet familiar experience.
Like in Scrabble, your first word goes onto a starred space somewhere on a wide open grid. Some of these squares offer fun bonuses like double, triple, and even quadruple word scores, as well as original items like "blockers". After placing your first word -- chosen from a list on the right of the screen -- you must choose another word that intersects with the one already on the grid. This part of the game is very much like Scrabble: if in the process of placing one word, you happen to make a second, you get credit for both entries. You can advance to the next round after you have placed a set number of words.
The controls are quite simple. Pick up a word from the pile by left clicking on it, switch between a vertical and horizontal orientation with a right click, and place it on your chosen location with a left click.
Take it Slow or Kick It into Top Gear
There are two modes from which to choose:
Speed: The word pile on the right is both your favorite weapon and your worst enemy. You need these options in order to place an entry on the board, but at the same time, you cannot allow this pile (which slowly grows over time) to reach the top of the screen.
Strategy: This alternative offers a much more leisurely pace as there is no clock to fight against. Moreover, the word pile is always full of options. The trade-off is that your word quota is typically larger than an equivalent level in Speed. This means that you have to be more careful with your moves.
Pre-Planning is Paramount
While it may seem very tempting to simply place any possible word anywhere, it is more important to ensure that you will have an adequate number of options several moves down the line. Check to see what words you have available to you and any common letters that they have. Also check to see if you have any words with the letter "S", as these are particularly useful for creating double words (you can oftentimes use the "S" to pluralize existing entries). Plan ahead, and the road will be much smoother.
When you roll your mouse pointer over any given letter tile on the game board, it is highlighted in all words in the pile on the right. You can very quickly scan to see what your next move could be. Also remember that you can overlap as many letters as you'd like in the creation of a word.
You can earn "discards" and "hints" as you progress by placing entries onto the specially marked tile spaces. A "discards" allows you to remove an unwanted word from the pile, whereas a "hint" shows you one of the best possible moves, oftentimes highlighting an option that creates several words.
Wildly Addicting Word Connecting Fun
Combining the best aspects of strategy, word, and arcade games, Word Slinger is incredibly addictive, especially for fans of crosswords and Scrabble. The rich, vibrant graphics are clear and easily legible, the background music is delightful, and the interface is as straightforward as it gets. A lovely offering.
