Killbo

11 Mar 2010 at 03:10

Michael E.

I just love a good word game. So much so that I will effortlessly bypass an adventure, puzzle, or board game app that has great graphics and scores of 5 star ratings in favor of a word game that I believe to be original and offers a good challenge. And if that word game has an online multiplayer element, then so much the better.

John Daniel Bagwell’s first foray into the world of app creation, Killbo, was a word game that took some time for me to warm up to. Its premise is straightforward: There are 9 tiles that appear in the center of the screen and each tile- generally- has a letter written on it. Surrounding the center tiles are 9 outer tiles, also- generally- with letters written on them. The objective of the game is to form words using available tiles. Each time a letter from a center tile is chosen, the letter on the outer tile closest to the chosen tile moves into its place. For every word formed, points are awarded. Longer words translate into more points and it is the player’s task to rack up as high a score as possible.

Sounds simple, right? But there are twists and turns to this. For starters, the game is timed. After every letter choice, some of the center tiles will randomly turn gray and cannot be chosen. This means words you were attempting to build cannot be because the letters are no longer available. You must then decide whether it’s possible to create a word based on the remaining available tiles or erase the word and start over again. There also exists special point awards for forming predetermined words listed at the top of the screen or for using green or pink-colored tiles in your word formations. There is the option to- when available- select a “wild” tile that can become any letter you wish. And if you’re really struggling to come up with a word, you can shake your iPod or iPhone to get brand new letters. Be careful, though, because doing so will deduct precious seconds from your remaining time.

Killbo will test your ability to think on your feet and adapt to constantly changing circumstances. As I said earlier, it took some time for me to warm up to and get the hang of Killbo. Now that I have, though, I can certainly appreciate its challenge. If you crave word game apps and have a buck burning a hole in your pocket, Killbo is worth adding to your stockpile.

iTunes Link – Killbo

Version 1.2

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3