‘Gubbins – It’s A Word Game’ Review – Sometimes The Extra Gubbins Make The Difference – TouchArcade

Is that the total title then? Gubbins – It’s A Phrase Recreation (Free)? I’m simply going to name it Gubbins from right here on out. If I want to speak about regular gubbins, I’ll write it with out the capital letter G like I simply did there. However I don’t have an outdated brown couch, so the chances of me needing to speak about gubbins in the middle of any given evaluation are pretty low. The chances of me needing to speak concerning the Gubbins in Gubbins, not less than for this evaluation, are quite excessive. Sorry, I’ve reviewed lots of phrase video games on iOS in my time, and these intro paragraphs don’t get any simpler the fiftieth time. Ought to we transfer to the precise meat of the evaluation?

Anyway, Gubbins. It’s a phrase sport, that’s no lie. Letters are distributed to you in some method or one other, and you’ll want to flex your vocabulary abilities to attempt to make huge, fancy phrases in change for giant, fancy factors. This was one of many extra apparent sorts of video games to placed on cellphones, so it’s not shocking phrase video games got here in early and robust. There are completely tons of those out there, and lots of them are superb. So how can a brand new entry stand out from the pack? The reply, I believe, comes down to 2 issues. It’s a must to have a twist or gimmick that truly works, and you must deliver your A-game to the presentation. Something much less and persons are simply going to maintain enjoying Spell Tower or what have you ever.

I’m going to do the much less apparent factor and contact on the gameplay options first. You’ve bought three modes to play, although when you decide to go free-to-play you may solely select one to play per day. The mechanics are comparable between the three, with only some completely different factors. Basic mode is the conventional sport, and I’ll clarify what which means quickly. Pencil mode removes all however one of many Gubbins from the sport, turning it a comparatively pure phrase sport. Each day mode offers you an identical set-up as each different participant on that day, with explicit phrases laid out and sure guidelines in impact. There’s a cheap IAP if you wish to unlock every little thing, by the best way. I like to recommend doing it when you like the sport. Studio Folly look like first rate of us, and the sport is nice.

Okay, you’ve chosen your required mode. You’ll now have a board in entrance of you with slightly tray of letters, and also you’d be forgiven for considering there’s one thing awfully acquainted about all of this. However among the letters are caught along with different letters, and there are letter tiles behind the letters. It’s like some type of weird solitaire sport! If you wish to see what’s on these tiles, you’ll should play those on high first. That’s simply how it’s. You’ll be able to place them wherever on the board, and also you don’t have to fret about them crashing into different letters or something. You’ll be able to rotate them between vertical and horizontal alignments, which is sweet.

When you’ve made one thing resembling a correct phrase on the board, you simply run your finger alongside to submit it. The tiles will can be cleared, you’ll get your factors, and everybody goes residence comfortable. Carry on enjoying these tiles till you attain the one on the backside that claims FIN, and once you’re glad that you simply’ve achieved all you may, play that tile to complete the sport. It’s like each sport is a flowery little French movie. Elegant as heck. Your rating can be displayed together with all of the nifty phrases you made, and also you would possibly even unlock some achievements. In the event you’re the type that shares your rating, that is the place you are able to do it.

The tile stack is a crucial characteristic of this sport. It’s common for a sport like this to maintain which letters are coming subsequent a shock, however you may clearly see which tiles are blocking the following batch and are nudged in the direction of utilizing letters you would possibly in any other case depart behind. It’s a great set-up that will get gamers to make use of new methods. Nevertheless it lacks that sizzle, doesn’t it? We’ve bought tile stacks! Nobody is throwing down their wallets for that one. We’d like some further gubbins in right here. We’d like some… Gubbins.

In Gubbins, Gubbins are particular tiles that can present up randomly as you’re enjoying by way of your stack. A few of them will aid you, and a few of them will harm you. At first there’ll solely be just a few sorts of Gubbins, however as you play you’ll unlock extra of them. One of many IAPs additionally provides extra Gubbins to the sport. Every Gubbin has its personal particular impact, and also you’ll typically be given a alternative between two of them once they first seem in a sport. Some will allow you to transfer letters round. Some will transfer letters round on their very own. Some will add helpful tiles to the board. Others will add largely undesirable junk tiles.

Dangerous Gubbins will play themselves as soon as revealed, whereas it’s as much as you to play the nice Gubbins everytime you suppose it’s finest to take action. It’s an attention-grabbing random factor that offers the sport lots of its mechanical taste, and it’s why I are inclined to want Basic mode to Pencil mode. You would possibly really feel in a different way in fact, so it’s good we’ve got the selection. The factor concerning the Gubbins although is that additionally they give the sport lots of its aesthetic taste, and that’s how we transfer into speaking concerning the presentation. That’s the type of easy transition you get from a twenty-five yr veteran of the commerce.

The presentation in Gubbins is actually good. The music is chill, with some comfortable piano and trumpets making you’re feeling such as you’re stress-free in a restaurant or one thing. And who is aware of? Perhaps you’re. Sound results are serviceable and do what they should. The look of the sport is what actually places it excessive. It’s very cartoony, with plenty of pop-up results that punctuate the in-game motion. The Gubbins themselves are all individually-designed creatures with their very own little animations. While you play them, you’ll see brief little prospers, and a few of them will simply be hanging out on the perimeters of the board. The entire sport feels alive with all these cute little animated parts, and I dig the creature design. That weird-looking fellow popping out on the finish of every sport has some influence, to make sure.

It’s onerous to seek out a lot to object to in Gubbins, actually. It doesn’t do something dramatically completely different from different phrase video games on a elementary stage, so when you don’t like that type of factor I assume you received’t get pleasure from this? In any other case, that is easy crusing all the best way. It has tons of appeal because of its vigorous presentation, the additional twists give the gameplay a taste of its personal, and you’ll strive it out without spending a dime, purchase further bits like extra Gubbins a la carte, or pay one cheap payment to get every little thing. I’ll fortunately take this sport and all of the gubbins and Gubbins that include it.