‘Molecano’ Review – I Really Dig This Hot Word Game – TouchArcade

What do you imply “you used up all your allowable puns in that headline”? Developer Thomas Younger will get to make two entire video games full of father jokes and I solely get these two phrases? Sigh, fantastic. Let’s speak about that developer’s newest sport, Molecano (Free), and let’s do it whereas leaving the groan-worthy phrase play on the door. Effectively, not all the phrase play. Wouldn’t be capable to discuss a lot about this sport with out discussing that. Oh no, I did it once more. Alright, on to the physique of the evaluation earlier than I get my bosses any extra steamed than they already are.

I’m quietly a little bit of a fan of Thomas Younger. In some way I didn’t actually play any of his video games till they got here to the Change, however as soon as I had my first style I knew I had a brand new developer to observe. The Tremendous Fowlst video games are difficult in all the proper methods. The Dadish Quadrilogy (IT’S A WORD!) are rad, cute, and humorous platformers that may get devilishly difficult, particularly Day by day Dadish. This fellow makes some cheerful little motion video games that may make you wish to yank your hair out. I suppose that’s his deal. However wait, what’s this? His subsequent sport isn’t an motion sport in any respect? It’s a phrase sport?

In hindsight, we must always have seen it coming. These finish of stage gags in Dadish display that this fellow is one thing of a wordsmith. So right here we’re with Molecano. Good title. Easy, quick, rolls off the tongue. Exhibits up nicely in an online search. Makes you wish to ask what the deal is. What is the cope with that? A mole and a volcano, presumably? Why would they be bedfellows? I need to discover out. No, I’m not making an attempt to stretch issues out as a result of a phrase sport doesn’t actually have a ton to speak about. Possibly that’s what you’re doing, and also you’re simply projecting.

Tasks! Let me let you know a couple of mission. Molecano has over 4 hundred ranges to play, and apparently extra are on the best way. I belief Thomas Younger on that, he’s by no means been one for idle guarantees. However even when he by no means added anything, 4 hundred phases is a complete lot of stuff to do. On every of these phases, you’re making an attempt to get your cute mole (or no matter different character you’ve chosen) to the meals scattered about. The issue is a basic one everyone knows too nicely: the ground is lava. You’ve bought some letters down on the backside of the display screen, they usually’ll work in addition to something for platforms. However it is a choosy volcano, mates. It received’t permit platforms of nonsense. These platforms should be correct phrases. Spell them out, rotate as wanted, and create some paths for our hungry hero.

You solely use a set quantity of phrases to unravel every stage, although. You even have to attach your phrases, and Scrabble guidelines apply so you possibly can’t overlap carelessly. Generally there are bits blocking longer phrases, and you must use no less than three letters on every phrase. You may need to first choose up keys generally to unlock different areas of the stage. The attention-grabbing hook right here is that you just actually have to think about how lengthy every phrase is as a result of it’s not all the time a case the place greater is healthier. It actually depends upon the stage structure, the place the meals and keys are, and the way you wish to attain all of that. That stated, within the absence of every other components, longer phrases are definitely extra fascinating. These will earn you cash, and people cash could be exchanged to unlock new characters. Some can be acquainted to followers of this developer’s earlier works.

That is all wrapped in a really charming presentation, which is one other hallmark of this developer. It’s cute, colourful, and also you’d should be a Eighties Saturday morning cartoon villain to hate the way it appears and sounds. Even then, I feel Skeletor goes for it. Shredder too. Mumm-Ra, most likely not. He was all the time a little bit of a curmudgeon. Cobra Commander sure, Serpentor who cares. Ridiculous usurper. The purpose is that this sport’s mechanics aren’t notably distinctive however the package deal they’re delivered in assist the sport stand out. Throw within the aforementioned bonkers quantity of phases to clear, and it’s straightforward to see why that is definitely worth the incredible value of… free?

I simply picked my monocle up off the ground and cleaned up the seltzer I spewed throughout. Sure, Molecano is free. It is going to throw an advert at you every now and then, and when you don’t like you can pay a extremely affordable $5.99 to take away these advertisements ceaselessly. I feel that’s a good enterprise proposition, so I’m not going to waste too many extra column inches speaking about it. Attempt the sport out without cost, and when you prefer it you possibly can relaxation straightforward realizing it’s definitely definitely worth the six bucks to maintain King Robert and Austin the Butler away.

I’ve all the time been a sucker for good phrase video games, and Molecano is precisely that. You get a vibrant and albeit cute presentation, an absurd variety of phases to play, mechanics which might be extremely acquainted however have that slight twist to make them really feel contemporary, and a monetization mannequin that’s laborious to argue with. If, like me, you take pleasure in flexing your vocabulary muscle (I feel that’s referred to as a mind, Shaun), then I strongly advocate serving to this little mole get some chow post-haste. There, can I’ve my puns again?