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Lettered
blocks spell a new challenge for Tetris fans.
(Spectrum Holobyte Inc.'s Wordtris computer game) (Software
Review)
Cathy Kunkemueller. PC Magazine.
Feb 25, 1992.
Good
news for Tetris groupies: Spectrum HoloByte has come out with
Wordtris, yet another game to entrance your mind and fingers.
A word-forming Tetris, Wordtris strains your ability to build
words while it tests your luck and manual dexterity.
Wordtris
($44.95) plays like Tetris but with some new twists: Blocks
drop out down into a well; you maneuver them around and try
to keep the well from filling up. But each block now has a
letter on it, and the well is half-filled with fluid. Falling
letters push down on the ones below and form a crossword grid;
each "spelled" word is removed from the well. Spelling out
the Magic Word that is provided with each new level also clears
the well of unwanted blocks and adds mega points to your score.
Wordtris
is not as easy as you might think, so be sure to read the
helpful hints in the back of the manual. Inadvertent combinations
of letters can undo the best planning and the strongest vocabularies.
Wordtris probably won't increase your vocabulary, either,
since it relies heavily on those three- and four-character
words (like cat and sand) that are usually overlooked in high-skill
word games.
You can
manually adjust the difficulty mode to one of four settings:
Children's, Novice, Advanced, and Expert; you can also jump
to a higher level of play. The variations among modes include
such items as the minimum letter requirements for words (three
or four characters), the number of letters in the Magic Word,
and scoring. As in Tetris, higher levels control the rate
at which the block drops. The Expert mode (alias the Give-It-Up
mode) features blocks falling at a speed beyond any normal
human reaction times.
Like
any game trying for multiple appeal, Wordtris probably won't
attract either word game or Tetris purists. The time needed
to recognize possible word formations prevents the super-fast
speed obtainable on Tetris. And the fact that the game accepts
three-letter words detracts from intricate word forming, unless
you master the proper strategy or alter the game's dictionary.
Still,
Wordtris's more demanding play means that you won't suffer
the intense finger cramps Tetris fans experience on their
umpteenth level. I found the number of tricks to master particularly
challenging. Just keep an eye out for the eraser blocks and
you're well on your way to spelling success.
List
Price: Wordtris, $44.95. Requires: 640K RAM, CGA graphics
or better, DOS 3.0 or later. Spectrum HoloByte, 2061 Challenger
Dr., Alameda, CA 94501; 510-522-3584.
©
1992 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
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