Scrabble
Price: 4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.1.88
Graphics / Sound [rating:4/5]
Game Controls [rating:4/5]
Gameplay [rating:4/5]
iPhone Integration [rating:3/5]
User Interface [rating:3/5]
Re-use / Replay Value [rating:4/5]
Overall Rating:





Scrabble is probably one of the best word games ever. It's barely got any serious competition—as far as word games go, Scrabble is the game that everyone else tries to mimic, and it probably didn't surprise anyone when it was ported to the iPhone. Still, I hesitated before buying it, but the latest update made me jump. I can honestly say that playing Scrabble on my iPod Touch is one of the best experiences I've had with a game in a while, thanks to the genius built into the game itself. There are, unfortunately, plenty of areas where EA Games could improve things, but I'm still satisfied; Scrabble is still one of the most ingenious word games ever created.
But once you finally begin, rest assured: this is Scrabble, and EA made sure to deliver the true game. Tiles are moved with your finger, and you can zoom in and scroll around the board as you'd expect. Your usual features (bonus squares, tile exchanging, bingoes) are all implemented in true form. The game automatically checks your words against its database, so there's no need for challenges. There's the typical deliberation, the intense concentration, and the same word-bending skills required to succeed, and there's the same corresponding sense of victory when you place a well-played word. You can play the computer (there are three different difficulties), yourself, or someone else on the same device with Pass and Play, or you can play with someone else's device via a WiFi network. And...well, it's Scrabble, the same as always.
The discrepancy between feature sets isn't just limited to Facebook versus the iPhone. The iPhone game itself has some odd quirks. Playing a local game, for example, gives you less features than playing a Facebook game. Facebook games have access to a dictionary, including a two-letter word list, and the Teacher function, which shows you the best move for your last turn. Meanwhile, local games have a Best Word feature (or drawback?) that makes the game pick out your best move for a single turn. While you can only use five Best Words per game, it still invites abuse. Neither version has an actual dictionary (the Facebook Connect games just check to see if your word is valid). I'd love to have the Teacher function for offline games, as it really can help you improve.
But despite these complaints, Scrabble is a great game. Even with EA Game's slightly awkward handling, it's still just as fun to play as ever, and there's no denying that the shiny graphics are nice to look at. Whether you fancy playing against yourself, the AI, a friend, or a total stranger, Scrabble will satisfy your word craving, and really, what more do you want? If you're a fan of the game, I recommend picking it up; even with its odd quirks and occassional drawbacks, I thought that it was worth my money.