"One of the levels shown to us had Max at the back of a long line (to get a copy of Super Scribblenauts, naturally) with only one copy left. The hint given was to appease each member of the line in front of us with an item their vocation or personality would enjoy. When in the hands of the developer, they deftly handed out a “SMOOTH-HANDLED AXE” to a fire-man looking fellow, a “SAD PAINTING” to a gothic looking chick, and an assortment of equally odd items to the remaining stand-ees. In my hands and, more appropriately, limited ability to think off the top of my head, I gave up on personalizing each item and just summoned an “IRRITATED RHINO” to maul through the crowd, which it did with gusto.
The genius of Super Scribblenauts is not simply the breadth of its vocabulary, but the simplicity of its implementation. Adjectives are applied to a base noun through very simple iconography. Colors, skins and the like are applied in a simple paint-over of the character model, while more representational objects like my “RUDE AIR HUMIDIFIER” showing an obvious base object with an added accessory, in this case a small air humidifier whose frame was shaped like that of a human butt. Such overlays ensure each creation has a bit of giggle-inducing oddity to it, all of which contributes to the existing Scribblenauts cartoon style
Those not impressed with the original Scribblenauts‘ sometimes awkward physics will be happy to know that the folks at 5th Cell have – quite clearly, they told us – have received the message, and have promised to have a much tweaked and improved engine come the game’s October launch. Maxwell can now be controlled with the DS buttons as well as stylus input, correcting another complaint found in most reviews of the original. Those brave enough to create their own sandbox levels will have an editor to do so this time around, and a hint system will also be in place to help along those not sure of what to do when faced with an “ANGRY CHEF” in one room and a “SUAVE TRAIN CONDUCTOR” in another."
Beyond that, there were a lot of changes that were demonstrated quite quickly. You can go back through the last twelve things you typed and bring them back up, without having to re-type. You can go to a quick list of all of the various adjectives you have input into the game. Maxwell can be controlled via d-pad and buttons at any time via a quick trip to the start menu. The level editor has been expanded, and allows you to make more complex challenges using a variety of templates built into the game. In essence, 5th Cell did that thing you always want video game companies to do - they listened, and they learned, and they responded. Super Scribblenauts might just be the game we wanted Scribblenauts to be - a classic.---
Yes, adjectives are what put the 'Super' (literally!) into 'Scribblenauts' this time around, and it's pretty darn adorable. We made a big fat cat. We put William Shakespeare on said cat, and donned a pair of striped pants for the occasion. Though we haven't gotten deep enough into the game to claim that the descriptors do anything to increase game play, it certainly made things funny.
So 'Super Scribblenauts' is just that: 'Scribblenauts,' but bigger, funnier and more linguistic. We would have loved to see an analog input, allowing the player to write instead of hunting and pecking those tiny letters, but no dice. The game still has all the pitfalls of its predecessor, but it also maintains its addictive adorableness too. So we guess 5th Cell used the old trick -- find something that works, stick with it, and if it ever gets old, give it a pair of striped pants and a giant cat to make it fresh again.
The game also boasts a set of adjectives; we're no longer limited to “chair” - we can have a metal chair, a wooden chair. If that's all a bit vanilla, then use it only as a guide. As with the first game, the only limit is your imagination. Although, it seems that could be pretty limiting. The first level in my hands on required me to bribe a number of people in different professions to get them out of a line so I could cutsies to the front and get a new game console (quite well suited to E3, actually). I gave the delivery man mail, but got stuck on the body builder. I went for baby oil and it wasn't recognised by the game. Spinach didn't work, so there was no Popeye connection (I ended up accidentally giving it to the artist, and it worked for her, so she must have been some kind of tree hugger). In the end, I went for weights, just to be done with it – the most obvious choice.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS BROKEN IN THE ORIGINAL SCRIBBLENAUTS HAS BEEN FIXED IN SUPER SCRIBBLENAUTS!
...
I typed in "ANGRY BLUE WINGED PREGNANT DRAGON" and that is what I got. How did I know it was pregnant and angry? It gave birth to a baby dragon right there on-screen and then tried to attack me. Um, yeah. I'm not kidding. That really happened.
The developers were adamant that Super Scribblenauts will require you to take better advantage of their massive library (which you should be doing anyway).
If a fat, rainbow, gentlemanly Cthulu isn't your cup of tea, perhaps some other adjectives will suit your fancy. Emotional adjectives (like "happy") can be applied to inanimate objects to give them a personality, so that bookcase is no longer a stationary piece of furniture. When we conjured an angry armed refrigerator, it immediately began hopping after us, brandishing a sword. To protect Maxwell (and to settle an age-old kitchen appliance rivalry), we summoned an angry armed dishwasher. The two engaged in a grisly fight to the death, with the refrigerator claiming victory
Super Scribblenauts is clearly no more than an expansion pack to the first game, with some better controls. Given the fact that the allure of the title has worn off, I suspect that Super Scribblenauts will likely fair worse with me than the original.
