As a template for things to come, Scribblenauts is exceptionally satisfactory.
Despite the inclusion of hundreds of levels, there is just one objective throughout the entirety of this unconventional side-scroller: find the starite. From arid deserts to lush forests, from ancient castles to populated metros, finding the starite can involve traversing the environment like in any other 2D game (with free reign over all the objects found in an enormous dictionary, of course) or by solving a puzzle that asks for a more specific resolution (ex: give Santa Claus something he wants -- reindeer, elves and so forth).
The levels have more in common than their core objective, however, including Scribblenauts' worst offenses. Typing in words with the keyboard is easy and brisk, but once they materialize, controlling them can be a pain. The controls are entirely touch-based, which means any single imprecise tap (in a game that requires a high level of accuracy) will get the character moving towards the location of the tap -- not at all what one intends while trying to take the bazooka off of a pterodactyl. While controlling the game's character with a D-pad and face buttons would probably fare worse, the current control scheme is annoying and can sometimes result in undeserved deaths.
Scribblenauts' camera is another unwanted complication. Scrolling the camera with the D-pad/face buttons is easy and gives the player a good look at the map, but it scrolls back to the character after a few seconds of inactivity. This makes using heavy machinery and fast vehicles -- which can take up most of the screen, like the digger or airplane -- much more difficult than it should be.
Of course, the game's main appeal comes from the seemingly unlimited supply of nouns, but upon closer inspection one finds that Scribblenauts does indeed inhibit the player's imagination. The "object bar" fills up as the player scribbles in more words, and it fills up surprisingly quickly with larger objects. Yes, playing a game of chicken with a trucker is fun and solving some of the more challenging puzzles with a limited amount of words can be very entertaining, but complexity is never allowed -- tragic (if likely unavoidable) for a game that relies on a vast imagination and creativity.
Words do not always have properties one would expect, too, which is best showcased by the ridiculous physics. A bowling ball is thrown exactly like a baseball. Heavy machinery can use cats and dogs as ramps. The wonky physics can make Scribblenauts feel nonsensical and unpolished at times, especially when they unexpectedly make solving a puzzle easier than it should be. A word's mannerisms and AI cannot always act as expected -- those who set up Deathmatches between Team Fortress 2 characters will find that only the pyro is hostile -- so a little bit of trial and error may be required.
Despite all of its faults, Scribblenauts shines. The core concept makes playing it as entertaining as one would expect, and the immense amount of diverse levels makes it a genuinely great experience for those that pour their hearts into the experience. It is a game that relies on the player's willingness to crack a smile and laugh at an absurd, undeserved death once in awhile. What will make or break this potentially groundbreaking game is one's willingness to supply the creative output.
Scribblenauts is about balderdash and poppycock, ridiculousness presiding over common sense. Every single word in the game can be glued to every other word, which makes an already incredible concept even more ambitious. Coming up with ridiculous strategies to collect the starite at the end of each challenge is great fun, even with all of the glaring issues that get in the way. In terms of execution, it could be much improved, but that hardly matters when the game at hand is virtually the birth of a new genre.
With such incredible scope focused on the way Scribblenauts plays, one would rightly expect to find other aspects of the package lacking. There is no story, and while that may disappoint fans thirsty for an engaging tragedy in the vein of Lock's Quest, the lack of narrative is mitigated by the presence of so much other content. With hundreds of levels, great incentive to replay them (the challenge of solving each one without using the same words) and a neat level creator bundled with online sharing, Scribblenauts is a truly exceptional value at the standard DS MSRP.
No less stunning is the stylish, distinguishable soundtrack, which is suitably upbeat and catchy. The instrument choice and style will sound familiar to those who have played the developer's previous works, which is a good thing -- combined with snazzy disc-scratching sound effects, the varied 38 tracks make Scribblenauts a joy to listen to. Some organisms have some well-done sound effects as well -- cats meow as expected and dinosaurs let off mighty roars -- but for the most part nouns are quiet.
With so many words readily available, it should come as no surprise that the visual quality of Scribblenauts is somewhat compromised; it feels like a step backwards from last year's 5th Cell product. The artistic direction ensures that even the most obscure sprites are adorable, but it cannot fully compensate for their lack of detail and realistic animations. The pretty color palette, charmingly kid-friendly monster designs and rough outlines make the game easy on the eyes, if not particularly good looking.
Scribblenauts is gaming's latest magnum opus -- not because of what it is, but because of what it introduces. Restrictions will prevent master plans from materializing, undeserved deaths will frustrate and the generally unrealistic design will turn off some, but the core concept makes it a must-own title for anyone remotely interested in it. It is a rare breed of game that relies entirely on one's attitude and intelligence, and without a player willing to pour their heart into it, this will feel like an unfinished game -- but as a template for things to come, Scribblenauts is exceptionally satisfactory.