DINGBATS – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: DINGBATS
Version #: 1.0 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested)
Date Released: 2009-10-29
Developer: Starberry
Price: 2.99
User Rating:
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Word puzzles are my heroin. My suitcase always has more than a few crossword puzzle books stuffed into them. My iPhone holds all sorts of crossword apps including the dreaded London Telegraph crosswords app that makes the New York Times puzzles look like the maze on a Denny’s kids’ placemat.
But like the people who obsessively do them, they can get old really fast. "Dingbats" is a hip, fun and new kind of word game that takes a very simple concept and makes it extremely challenging and complicated.
"Dingbats" are visual word puzzles that mix word play with a sort of "literary charades." The puzzles consist of a series of hidden phrases written on cards that are arranged in certain ways to form cliches and famous phrases. They go from relatively simple but increasae in difficulty from level to level.
In fact, what looks like a kids’ activity can quickly become a very complex and deeply challenging game that you will yourself stuck on for awhile. The quicker you solve each puzzle the more points you get and when time runs out, you don’t get any points but still have to solve the puzzle to move through the game. If you get stuck, you can email the "Ding King" for a clue. It never gives you the answer and it’s up to you to solve every one of them.
Even though it’s a word and picture game, the look and feel of the design is very deep and fascinating. It mixes a matrix of cards in an empty, endless space with a very colorful design. A game like this doesn’t have to look this good, but it’s nice to know the developers went the extra mile.
It’s a great word and phrase game that anyone can play but few can finish, no matter how long it takes them to put it down.
Quick Take
Value:The amount of play time stretches way beyond its price tag
Would I Buy Again:If it comes with a sharper brain than the one I currently have
Learning Curve:Can you read? Then you can learn how to play it
Who Is It For:Word puzzle junkies, people with a low tolerance for thought-inducing headaches
What I Like:The concept, the look and even the feel and it's just a word game at heart
What I Don't Like:It would be nice if it could solve puzzles that the player can't solve. I'd even take a penalty
Final Statement:Dingbats isn't for dingbats but even they'll get a kick out of it
