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Scribblenauts Mega Pack review

October 4, 2018

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Scribblenauts Mega Pack

After originally releasing on the Nintendo Wii U/3DS, two classic games are making their way to this console generation. Prepare yourself for some of the most fun you can have with words in gaming. Scribblenauts Mega Pack is available now for Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack Details

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Developer: 5th Cell, Shiver
Publisher: WB Games
Genre: Puzzle, Action/Adventure
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Double the fun

The Scribblenauts franchise has been enjoying great success ever since its debut in 2009. The Scribblenauts Mega Pack contains two of its most recent entries—Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked. This also marks the first time either game has appeared on a Sony or a Microsoft console.

While these are the 4th and 5th titles in the franchise respectively, they certainly stand on their own. They are easy to jump into and no prior knowledge of prior titles is necessary.

That said, it is recommended to play Scribblenauts Unlimited first. Its successor Scribblenauts Unmasked does contain some very minor story spoilers. Furthermore Unmasked also offers less of a tutorial, assuming players are already familiar with its mechanics.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Use your imagination

The core gameplay of Scribblenauts Mega Pack revolves around puzzle solving. Using the vast vocabulary built into the game, you will spell words to summon nearly any object you can imagine. Every puzzle has multiple solutions and are only bound by the limits of your imagination.

Being further along in the series, the two titles included in Scribblenauts Mega Pack definitely benefits from an expanding lexicon. You’ll have difficulty finding a noun or adjective that the games do not recognize. Just make sure you keep it clean and stay out of trademark or copyright territory.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack rewards not just creativity, but variety as well. In many circumstances you score will suffer if you re-use the same words over and over.

This is really ideal because it forces players not to rely on ideas they have already had, which can make the gameplay loop stale. Summoning the same weapon to battle baddies in Unmasked for example could be reliable, but ultimately dull. The game compels you to imagine new armaments, and therefore new, fun experiences.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Dial it up

One of the biggest hang-ups in a console game that involves spelling is of course inputting letters. Luckily we’ve come a long way in this regard. I still remember the torture of trying to spell a simple 10 letter word in 30 seconds on classic console versions of games like “Jeopardy”.

The downside to Scribblenauts Mega Pack porting to multiple platforms is the loss of the touch screen option. I can appreciate the costs and challenges involved in tailoring a multi-platform port to each console. Nevertheless, while playing on Nintendo Switch I couldn’t help but lament the lack of touch screen support.

That said, Scribblenauts Mega Pack still does a great job of helping players spell words quickly. It uses a very intuitive wheel system that makes spelling with a controller a breeze. It also anticipates words, and only words that ultimately work in-game can be spelled. This keeps players from wasting time on misspelled words or words that aren’t going to result in success.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

More fun for your head than your fingers

Unfortunately I wouldn’t consider the combat or movement mechanics in Scribblenauts Mega Pack anything special. The truth is that your imagination will probably exceed your motor functions to some degree. Spawning just about anything is easy, but controlling it isn’t always the same.

Nevertheless the scope and ambition of Scribblenauts Mega Pack is astounding and worthy of praise. The sheer volume of nouns and adjectives that the game recognizes is amazing, so to an extent I think it can be forgiven if not every aspect of physics you might expect applies.

Even your own movements can be a bit clunky at times. Still, the moral of the story is that Scribblenauts Mega Pack is a puzzle game flowing with creativity. I tend to reflect on it more for its deep problem solving mechanics, and less on its ability to simulate a satisfying round of hand-to-hand combat.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

We can be heroes

Scribblenauts Unlimited is a charming and fun title to be sure. However, I have to say that Scribblenauts Unmasked is my favourite game out of the pair. It features all of the awesome puzzling mechanics of the former, but with the additional bonus of the entire DC universe at your disposal.

Again Scribblenauts manages to impress with its vast scope. Nearly every character imaginable is part of the game. You will have to reach pretty deep into the well of DC lore to start uncovering any sort of notable omissions.

Furthermore, Scribblenauts Unmasked even has a character editor feature. Here you can design and create your own DC super heroes or villains, and bring them into the game as well.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Play it again Sam

Even if you’ve already spent some time with the games in Scribblenauts Mega Pack, it may still be worth your time to have another go. Both games feature all new content added for this release. These may be older games, but there is certainly value in all the content bundled together here in one discounted package.

Scribblenauts Unlimited offers two brand new levels. It also features online user-created objects support, as well as an updated two-player mode. Additionally, Scribblenauts Unmasked includes hundreds of new DC-specific characters, objects, and costumes.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Scribblenauts Mega Pack is a light-hearted puzzle adventure that will stretch your imagination

My daughter spent countless hours with the original games that form the Scribblenauts Mega Pack, and I can absolutely see why. They are an excellent blend of puzzle-solving and creativity. They encourage strategic thinking presented in a vibrant artistic environment that’s a pleasure to experience.

Each title could benefit from a bit more attention to object interactions and character movement. Yet overall these take somewhat of a backseat to the shining feature of the Scribblenauts Mega Pack regardless, which is its incredible scope of interactive nouns and adjectives.

+ Two great Scribblenauts games in one tidy package
+ Extremely impressive array of assets and interactions
+ A playground for imagination and problem-solving

– Occasionally clunky controls
– Lack of touch screen support for Switch