EA has finally won me over with one of my favorite games ported over to my iPhone!

Boggle ($1.99)

BEAT THE CLOCK! Test your word wit with BOGGLE, the exciting iPhone®/iPod touch® game from EA Mobile. Popping with personality, this pocket-sized version of the classic word-search game packs a lot of punch!

My Take

Yes my friends, you have read that correctly, Electronic Arts and I are on the same page for once.  I’m usually ready to bash the juggernaut, but Boggle to me has always been a solid puzzle/word game.  Even back then when I got a hold of it in the late 70s.

There are plenty of clones out there but they never match up to the real deal.  One funny thing I notice when playing Boggle, Scrabble or any word games is what you find in the mix.  Some might be suggestive perhaps.  Ever thought about Sigmund Freud and how he would use it in therapy with his patients??  Just a thought…

Presentation

The presentation is fine tuned with minimal loading, very easy to navigate.  It’s becoming a common factor now with EA!  The user interface isn’t too bunched up or difficult to use.  After reviewing so many games, there are those which are absolutely horrible to work with, let alone trying to find some nice constructive words to help the devs.  This one is sparkling right out of the gate thankfully.  Considering it’s EA, they better!

Gameplay

Object of the game is find as many words in a 4 x 4 square with a minimum of 3 letters within a time limit.  Sounds easy?  Mmmmeh, it is to extent.  But after reaching your potential of cat, hat, bat, sat, gat, etc.  You tend to start reaching a little further to find the longer words for more points.  Either tap each letter and double tap on the last letter to enter the word on your list.  Unfortunately, EA didn’t use the urban dictionary, so some certain words will not count.  I’m not sure what dictionary was loaded, but it should be tied to Scrabble’s list as well.  I was shocked queer wasn’t counted. Heck that’s a 5 letter word dangit!

We are given three game modes, Challenge, Advanced, and Self-Score.  I latched on the Advanced mode, they added a very cool twist to the game.  There are two advanced features used.  One flips the beginning and ending tiles after submitting a word and the other is scrambled the board at least once in the round.  Besides the modes, there areachievements to unlock.  Heck I unlocked a 6 letter word, I better get an achievement for that!  It’s a nice bonus thrown in.

Suggestions

It’s mostly on the Challenge mode. Boggle has always been a solitaire game so the challenge option to me is irrelevant.  I would like to see some Facebook or Twitter postings mixed in.  We all know we like to brag on our scores.  Secondly, If you can challenge, upload the same gameboard.

Some will cheat the system this way, but those looking to send a game to a friend through Facebook or email, it should be done (if they own the game themselves).  Hey the game rocks regardless, I’m just throwing in my two cents.

Conclusion

Word games start here and end here.  Boggle is and will be the king of all word games.  It’s a definite purchase to consider. All in all, it’s a solid game for 3 dollars and one of the very few I recommend from EA..