Scribblenauts Remix App

Every now and then I stumble across something that makes me shake my head in amazement and wonder, and say "I wish I'd thought of that".  A new (at least new to me) game in the iTunes App Store called Scribblenauts Remix is a game like that. 

It has a unique gameplay that appeals to the problem solver in all of us, and also caters to the silly factor that takes over most interactions with a preschooler.  The premise of the game is that you have to help the main character, Maxwell, collect the star in each level.  He is faced with various problems to solve in order to earn/access the star.  To solve problems, you think of what thing(s) he need(s) to solve his problem, then give it to him by typing in a noun (and any number of adjectives).

For example [Spoiler Alert] there is a level where you need to push a button to open a gate.  But the button is in an area that Maxwell can't walk to.  So, you can choose to fly him up there.  Make him a Pegasus, he will ride it.  P-E-G-A-S-U-S.  Or, you can give him a jetpack.  Or you can create a H-U-G-E B-A-L-D E-A-G-L-E, and he will be able to climb on his back and fly up.  You can use adjectives such as "tiny", "friendly", "blue", "gigantic", "scary" and so forth to enhance the objects you create.  I cannot imagine how much effort must have gone into mapping just about every noun imaginable to a concrete in-game representation of the noun, but the effort is worth it because half the fun in the game is to create something outrageous and see what appears.

As an adult, I enjoy playing this game because it helps boost my creativity, and it's tons of fun.  My son (who is not quite old enough to spell most words) likes to play the game together with me, as I read him the problem, he brainstorms solutions, and I type them in.  He has even played it by himself by randomly typing on the keyboard and then picking from the "Did you mean..." suggestions that pop up when the characters don't represent a real word.

Apparently this game is not entirely new, however it's my first time playing it and I have to admit, I was blown away.

If you haven't played this before and think it sounds like fun, it's only $1.99 on the iTunes app store (for the iPad/iPhone) and will provide hours of entertainment, even after you finish the story mode, because you can always think of new creative ways to solve the problems Maxwell faces.

Check out more on this app here: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/scribblenauts-remix/id444844790?mt=8