Scribblenauts placed 13th in overall monthly sales on the NPD, selling 194K units. This is quite an impressive number, especially since big name games on both the DS (Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story/Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days) and other systems (Guitar Hero 5 and Beatles Rock Band) debuted in September as well.

Brad’s Take: Despite my overall feeling of the game, it reassuring that creative games that push the boundaries of what a game can do is getting this great of sales, which only excites me further into what 5th Cell can do with a possible sequel to the game.

Also that should be noted: Need For Speed Shift sold very well, but whether that is due to the positive word of mouth or the brand name is still up in the air.

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These topics are debated and much more on this edition of Opinion Unlocked.

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It seems like unique concepts and exciting new properties have been appearing on the Nintendo DS more than any other system this generation. Electroplankton, Nintendogs, Kirby: Canvas Curse and others have given the DS a unique flavor that can only be tasted on the trusty dual screen gaming system. Scribblenauts continues that trend of unique concepts and original properties, and while it succeeds in bringing a new experience that many should try, it still feels like its more conceptual than full fleshed product.

The game pits you as Maxwell, a little boy who is a Scribblenaut, which is someone who can summon any item just by writing down the item in a sheet of paper. Creating people, buildings, items and other physical properties, Maxwell uses his power to solve puzzles in each level.

Creativity is only the base of what you need to solve puzzles. Each item or person reacts like it should in the game: Give a cop a gun, he will shoot it. Give a hippie one, however, and he will shun it and refuse to use it. However, if you step on some ants or kill flowers, you’ll drive the hippie mad.  So not only will you have to think of what items to use, but how they will be used and in conjuction with what item. This gives the game an almost adventure game like feel, more akin to Secret of Monkey Island.

Just playing with the creation tools and seeing what happens provides a good few hours of entertainment. Want to put a priest and rabbi in one place together? Go ahead, have a blast. Then what happens when Satan comes out? Satan attacks them. Who can stop Satan? God, of course! But then who could stop God? Apparently, zombies! It’s these hilarious findings that give the game its indeliable charm, along with its storybook like visuals.

So, the creations are great, but what ahout this part of the game called…well, the game? The game is broken into two parts: puzzle and action. Puzzle games have you creating items to solve puzzles in a game. What do I give a doctor? Stethoscope! What will put out a fire? Water bucket! Puzzles start out simple, but they do get more elaborate and more fun as the game goes on.

Action games are a little more in-depth. In this, you have to perform certain actions in order to reach the goal. This will have Maxwell creating items to cause an action or to create people and places to solve the level. This is much like puzzle modes, only they rely on Maxwell performing some type of action in the game.

Both do provide some high concept, out of the box thinking that Professor Layton fans would actually find a lot to like in the game. Each of the games levels end up being puzzle or adventure game like in nature, so fans of either genre will enjoy this game for its different take on the genres.

That is, if you can get past the controls. In a word, the controls are abhorrent. Controlling objects and characters are done with the stylus, which causes a number of problems, especially in the later levels of the game. When dragging items, the stylus inexpicably detaches itself from the item, even though the pen is still on the item.

This causes some major issues, because Maxwell’s movement is based on the stylus as well. When the stylus isn’t touched on screen and nothing is there, Maxwell runs in that direction, regardless of who is there. When two or three hits from any enemies can lead to death, it becomes increasingly frustrating when you set up an elaborate finish to a hard puzzle…only to have it completely taken away because the stylus doesn’t detect you were carrying an item.

This was also a problem in another popular 5th Cell game Lock’s Quest. It seems to be an underlying problem with the studio itself…and it only becomes an increasingly troubling problem with a studio that likes to make games that mix genres and creates new experiences.

Also, towards the end, the puzzles get to be rather one-dimensional and ape other puzzles that were created. When you finish the game, you’ll be glad you experienced it, but the creation tools will only last you so long and there really is no reason to go back to previous puzzles (if only for completionist sake).

Scribblenauts is a heartbreaking game to review and recommend. I do recommend that anyone with a DS should try this game. It’s engine, whimsical feel and its creative concept deserves to be played and enjoyed. But key problems with the games control brings down from the stratosphere like hype it recieved to just a game that should be experienced, but then left alone.

It’s a shame really, because there’s tons more potential to the game…but it was put all into its elaborate engine, not the actual game.

Worth the Price - Let It Drop – Avoid at all costs

Brad Wiswall
www.twitter.com/gamakarmica
XBL: Gamakarmica
PSN: Vanillatwisted

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September

Biggest Release: Beatles: Rock Band – Set to break sales records when its released on Sept. 9, Beatles: Rock Band has been getting nothing but glowing endorsements on any and all preview coverage for the game. Add to the fact that this game has been gaining more mainstream appeal as the word comes out about the game and you have a game that may very well be one of the best games, and best selling games, of all time.

Potential Sleeper: Scribblenauts – A game that may very well come to take numerous Game of the Year accreditations, Scribblenauts has been charming previewers and reporters with its nearly infinite ways of playing the game. It’s got a dash of old school (adventure games) and a smidge of new (the innovative creation system), but it has a charm and an open sandbox feel that could appeal to the masses.

Potential Disappointment: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 – As one of the first must have games of the new generation, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance stood out as a great online game. However, there have been better games like it released since the first game, and as most are discussing, the second iteration of the game hasn’t changed much at all. This game has a potential to be a dud.

Most Likely To Be Delayed: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - Previews haven’t been too impressed with the side story of the Kingdom Hearts series, but most are holding out hope that this game will work when its released this month. Even so, there hasn’t been much of a presence to this game, which is strange because a huge marketing blitz for a new Kingdom Hearts always happens, whether its a full game or a spin-off. I suspect this will be delayed until 2010.

Should Be Delayed: Section 8 - Let me be frank…with ODST coming out and that game may not be as big as it should be, do I really think another game may get better sales? Word of mouth has been good for its multiplayer, but if this game does turn out to be quality, I’ll feel for Southpeak on the not so good sales it will wind up having. I think it would be best if they release this the first week of January next year.

Multiplatform Releases
Guitar Hero 5 – Releasing the game 8 days before Beatles: Rock Band may be a good business and marketing strategy…until they realize they start Beatles: Rock Band’s marketing push this month.
Dirt 2 – Dirt and Grid are quickly becoming the go-to racing games of this generation. Dirt 2 continues where the original left off and adds inventive and fun fantasy courses for variety.
Mini-Ninjas – Heard little about this game, but from the little I have heard, it’s actually a charming little title. No marketing, however, will hurt this game when trying to find an audience.
NHL 10 - The critically acclaimed and award winning sports title will recieve several polishes and boosts to reclaim yet another award winning season.
Need for Speed: Shift – Shift’s change-over to a more simulation feel may be risky for a brand that has been known to be highly accessable, but early reports are saying that this game is a nice primer until Forza 3 comes out.
Wet – A highly stylized, overly sexualized third person shooter meant to pander to the more masculine set. Too bad early reports haven’t been so favorable.

XBOX 360 Releases
Halo 3: ODST – It doesn’t really feel like a Halo game is coming out in Sept. does it? I have no doubt it will sell…it just seems like a more muted release than I was expecting.

PS3 Releases
Katamari Forever – In what may be the last Katamari game, this game remakes all the levels from the previous game and puts it on the PS3 at a discount price. I still want the music  to this game series, by the way.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 – Ninja Gaiden 2 for the 360 was a bloody, violent game with a camera that was so spastic it could make you sick. Sigma 2 takes out the blood and violence, but if it fixes the camera issues it may just bave a great game on its hands.

Wii Releases
Muramasa: The Demon Blade – The creators of Odin Sphere’s next big game is this stylish, beautiful platformer for the Wii. Ignition Entertainment is releasing this game limitedly, but there’s no reason to think it won’t sell through its stock immediately on the first week.
Dead Space: Extraction – Light gun, rail shooter games are being made with more frequency, but they still don’t sell (take a look at House of the Dead: Overkill). Dead Space didn’t sell as much as EA wanted to last year, so I’m not sure if putting this game on the Wii will mean great sales.

DS Games
Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story – The hilarious and charming Mario and Luigi games have always been a hit on Nintendo handhelds and this will likely be no different. Whether the game itself will have any significant changes…well, that’s another story.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days – Previews haven’t been too impressed with the side story of the Kingdom Hearts series, but most are holding out hope that this game will work when its released this month.

PSP Releases
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona – The Shin Megami Tensei series has gained a cult fanbase since the releases of Persona 3 in the States a few years ago. Because of this, the ultra rare (but admittedly botched localization wise) Revelations: Persona game was remade for the PSP and will be released in September, which will include a completely relocalized storyline and quests that were previously deleted from the game itself.
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days – Disgaea 2 is a devisive entry into the series: some prefer this to Hour of Darkness, while others think it should have never been made. Whether you like it or not, it will be released at the end of September, so it looks like you’ll have a decision to make: this or Persona?
Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny – Tekken: Dark Resurrection is still one of the best games on the PSP to date, because of its excellent graphics, spot on controls and its bevy of modes. There’s no reason not to think that Broken Destiny won’t continue this trend of fighting game excellence on the go.

Will Most Likely Buy: Beatles: Rock Band, Halo 3: ODST, Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, Scribblenauts

Will Most Likely Rent: Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Dirt 2

Brad Wiswall
www.twitter.com/Gamakarmica
XBL: Gamakarmica
PSN: Vanillatwisted

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What may come to a surprise to some is the one game that got one less than the PS3 behemoth: The DS game Scribblenauts, which captured “Best Original Game” and “Best Handheld Game”. Scribblenauts to many was the talk of the show, which featured a unique puzzle solving mechanic that had you typing words to create items on screen.

Shutout was EA’s Brutal Legend, which also bared fantastic word of mouth but is recently in legal turmoil over rights to the game.

Brad’s Take: Honestly, critics awards don’t mean jack, but it is showing that Scribblenauts recieved two awards over most of its console competition.

That said, Uncharted 2 did impress a lot of people…but to name it Best Console Game? I’m not sure how to take that.

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