Word Searcher Deluxe review

For the environmentalist word search fan in all of us!

Review written by
Andrew Gray

April 25th, 2011

Digital Leisure, creators of the music 'tool' Mix Superstar, is at it again with Word Searcher Deluxe. Once more focusing on the casual crowd, DL's latest release is another WiiWare title that isn't actually a video game. Thankfully though, it is far more entertaining than Mix Superstar was.

Word Searcher Deluxe is almost exactly what it sounds like. The game is a compilation of word search puzzles which have been around for decades, only instead of using printed books and pens or pencils, players use the Wii remote to highlight and find words in the various puzzles. Only the A button and motion controls are used, so it's a very simple process, and one which lends itself well to sitting back on one's couch and relaxing.

The game's 'graphics' are incredibly bland, being nothing more than a static background that changes colors while time passes around the word searches. Though it can be argued that such a thing isn't necessary for just a bunch of word searches, it still would have been nice to have say wavy lines or a warp background to change things up slightly.

Likewise, the music isn't that impressive either, and seems to only consist of two tracks period. As if this limited selection weren't enough, the tracks sound like a strange mix of an organ player at a baseball game and elevator music. Admittedly, this does make the game music relaxing, but seriously, an organ?

Players are given at least one hundred puzzles, with one of the ten 'issues' being equivalent to ten puzzles each. Topics range from math to ancient Egypt to cheerleading and almost everything in between. Other than the puzzles themselves, which normally can go from five to fifteen minutes each depending on the player, the only other incentive to replay the game is to finish the puzzles with better times. This doesn't mean that one will find the words in the same areas as before though, as with subsequent replays, the word scrambles are changed each time.

Despite the fact that it can't really be called a video game, Word Searcher Deluxe is actually a fairly good value if players wish to have word searches on their televisions or want to avoid wasting paper by purchasing word searches available at newsstands. Players can buy more searches, with at least five more 'issues' available already at 100 Wii points each. If one isn't as concerned about recycling paper however, those same newsstand magazines give far more value for the dollar.

Word Searcher Deluxe can't rightly be called a video game. However, for those who enjoy word searches and wish to help the environment, it is a good value. Those word searchers who simply wish to get the most for their dollar however, are best off just perusing the local newsstands, or even looking online.