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Review: Coffeetime Crosswords

Jul. 20 10:49 AM by Andrew Ramsey

A crossword puzzle game for XBLA does not sound too appealing to many gamers. To be honest, this will not thrill you at all. It is what the title tells you it's a crossword game. There are about 150 or so puzzles through this title ranging from very easy to difficult, but even some of the very easy ones may have you googling in order to complete a word bank. Like what is a 4 letter word for a bookie's concern? And it starts with an O. It took me a few to figure this out.

The game consists of two modes, a normal challenge mode and a time attack mode. Both modes use the time element in some way anyway. Normal challenge gives you about an hour and thirty minutes to complete a puzzle which is the same amount of time given throughout all the difficulties and puzzles. Whereas time attack sees how many puzzles you can do in the shortest amount of time. The layout of the game is that of a crossword board smack dab in the middle of the screen. With the right side giving you all the info you need, such as, score, time and skill and puzzle level. Also below is the across and the down hints/questions for the words. You have a range from about 50 to 80 questions depending on the skill level and puzzle you are on, which again all fall under the same amount of time frame for the normal challenge mode. Once you start you basically highlight a box and look to see the across and down questions/hints that are given to you and try to fill in the blanks.This is where I thought hey ill use my chat pad since this is a game strictly about using words and typing, but I was wrong. Unfortunately all you can do to solve these puzzles is highlight where you want to start hit the X button to change whether you want to go up or down on the section and then hit A. A wheel will pop up and you must use your right and left buttons to choose which letter you want to use. The letters also are not all on the one screen; they go from A-M then N-Z , guess to make the game go faster or something like that. But for the chat pad to be out this long and this game not use it to its full potential is very heartbreaking to me.

Online consist of a Co-op mode where you and a buddy can team up to solve the puzzles together, online leader boards and of course downloadable content in the future. The co-op mode seems to be the thing that makes this game shine, because having another person help on a puzzle game is always better. That old saying two heads is better than one should be the title for this game instead of crosswords.

The sound and visuals are not anything to jump for joy at either, with one of the most annoying elevator songs playing in a constant loop and the screen changes somewhat but its nothing that will make you say wow. The achievements are not easy as well, having you complete 20 or each type of puzzle fully and beating certain time records; this game will take awhile to get some achievements on. For the 800 MS points this cost you, youre better of saving it and buying Sudoku or saving it for something else. This game just lacks in too many ways to cost this much. Should have just been a 400 point game.

Pros: Lots of content to utilize, puts up a challenge for those wanting one. Cons: Very boring, the music is terrible as well.

Fun factor: 2.5 Graphics: 1.0, Sound: 1.5, Controls: 2.75

The Info: Platform: XBLA, Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.Developer: Voltex, Inc., ESRB: E (Everyone), Players: 1, Co-op 2 XBL, Price: 800 MS Points ($10)

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