Multiplayer gameplay is unfortunately missing when playing solely on the small screen, but the assumption is likely that if you're not playing alone, then there probably isn't someone else in the room attempting to Bogart the television. Not only is Maxwell's notebook accessible on the controller, but the environments are displayed on it as well, exactly mirroring what is present on the television. These reputation points are used to unlock costumes for Maxwell, new areas to explore, as well as superpowers contained in the Hero Creator. The GamePad's small screen also makes Scribblenauts Unmasked a perfect candidate for off-television play. Through the GamePad, not only does Maxwell get to work with his notebook in the game, but the player has a stronger sense of connection with the notepad via the touchscreen, almost as though you’re actually holding the book in your hands. Not only does having touch controls associated with typing out words work well, but it also makes sense as a meta-game. As the game focuses heavily on Maxwell's notebook and the creative element that it provides, the GamePad's touchscreen is crucial to gameplay whenever the notebook is opened, everything is displayed on the touchscreen. This is my first time using the object/character creator in a Scribblenauts game, so I'm still feeling it out. GamePad enthusiasts will have every reason to rejoice with this new Scribblenauts title, leaving decriers of Nintendo's innovative input frustrated. Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. Each different type of reputation can be used to unlock certain areas and extras, making it necessary to complete a variety of missions in different locations that reward the different currencies. Completing missions now rewards you with one of three different types of reputation points.
Rather than rewarding you with a Starite – the staple collectable in the Scribblenauts series – for each completed task and relying on them to advance, a new currency system has been put in place.
You also have the option to upload objects that you’re created, which players around the globe can then download.Īccompanying the focus on action is a completely new system used to unlock additional stages and costumes. There is a bit of a learning curve in terms of getting your unique objects just the way that you want them, but once you’ve figured out the finer details of the Hero Creator then it’s a surprisingly simple system to use. Starting with a base object or character, you can add or subtract to your creation in many ways until it feels like your own.
Not only can you summon objects and characters, but you can also combine them to craft your own unique Frankenstein-esque creations in the game’s Hero Creator. As a series that focuses much more on its distinctive gameplay, however, a weak plot is somewhat forgiveable. It may include countless entertaining references and hilarious jokes pertaining to the heroes and villains featured, but the reality is that the plot is a thin veil. Much like North American Wii U launch title Scribblenauts Unlimited, the plot here is merely a device used to frame the gameplay. Underneath its vibrant and welcoming exterior, Scribblenauts is a game that wants the best from you, and it wants you to push yourself to deliver the best that you can.Įvents are set in motion when Maxwell and his sister Lily are sucked into a comic book and subsequently have to help out the DC comic heroes whose space they’re inadvertently invading. It’s a reminder that this series should be appreciated for what it does for its players rather than simply being shelved once the plot has run its course. There’s an oddly profound moment at the beginning of Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure in which Batman tells Maxwell, the series protagonist, that “no one respects a hero who takes the easy way out.” That one line, though innocuous as it may be, actually sets the tone for the rest of the game.