Reviewed by: Todd Sherman

Visit Astraware & Gamehouse.

Introduction:

If you ever played Boggle or Jumble but wondered how many words are possible, then this is a game for you. Text Twist starts by displaying 6 letters jumbled. To win the round you have to make at least one word with all six letters. To earn points, you need to make as many words as you can using the six letters. To help the player, slots are shown for all the possible words and the letters in each word. This gives a very clear goal to obtain. To add excitement, each round is alloted a finite amount of time. If the six letter word is not discovered you lose the round and the game ends. The goal is to see how many rounds you can go and rack up points along the way.

Installation:

Standard installation procedure.

Features:

- Smart Graphics
- Selected word list of nearly 10,000 words!
- 'Twist' feature to help to give you hints to get words
- Easy to play - tap based system
- Subtle Sounds, which can be selected individually

Additional Features:

Simple and clear text prompting at key times.

Comments on Features:

The minimalist layout and simple game play make this a very appealing game. It is indeed easy to play and the text twisting helps identify new word pattens which help you make new words.

Usage:

Very easy to learn.

Bugs and Defects:

Occasionally you will make a word that you know exists but is not in the database. This can be especially frustrating when you believe you have made the key word (the word that allows you to win the round and continue) but it will not accept it.

Additional Comments:

If you are rusty playing word games, this is a great introduction to start playing them again. All the words possible are shown at the end of the round and after a bit you start to build your vocabulary.

Likes:

I enjoy the simple premise of the game. Make as many words as you can to gain points but make sure to create a word using all the letters. I like employing different strategies to win a round. For example, I might set aside the letter s or ed knowing that those will probably be used at the end of the word, thus reducing the jumbled letter set. Or sometimes when I can't think of the key word I start creating smaller words hoping for that aha moment when I see what the key word might be.

Dislikes:

The sound effect for making a word not in the dictionary and for a word that you already have submitted are the same. Thus when you enter a legitimate word it sounds like the word doesn't exist. This slows you down as you stop to look at your spelling of the word, because you know it is a word but can't figure out why it was not accepted.

Who Should Buy:

Anyone who enjoys scrabble, boggle, or jumbles.

Who Shouln't Buy:

If you are not a quick speller, then you will become frustrated.

Cost:

$14.95

Rating:

5