Lingrove – a Challenging game for Word Game Lovers
by Paul Wilks
Feb 27, 2012 8:36 AM –
Lingrove is a easy-going, intriguing, yet incredibly challenging word game for Android. The idea is to figure out words from the letter given, not unlike a scaled down Wheel of Fortune word game. You have five tries to guess the correct word. Solved words build your XP (experience) and with each attained level a clue is released which goes towards unlocking some kind of love story. Engrossing and intelligent, Lingrove is a must for word-game fans.
This game is only available in Amazon app store.
Price: $0.99
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Familiar and challenging gameplay!
- Nice design!
- Relaxing!
- Ongoing narrative!
Cons
- Only available on Amazon Appstore.
Features:
Lingrove is wonderfully unique and compulsively addictive, in rather an unexpected way. The focus seems to be on creating a relaxing, yet altogether engrossing experience. A kind of blend between the word-game element of Wheel of Fortune and the titan of 1980′s board games Mastermind, you begin with one letter of five and you have to work out the rest. For example, you might get “S _ _ _ _” to start with. You then guess a word and the correct letters remain in the grid. Correct yet misplaced letters will be circled. You have five guesses to work out the correct word. The game therefore is just as much of logic puzzle as it is typical word game.
The key is to begin by using popular letters as often as you can, yet still form a word. Personally, with a word beginning with ‘S’ I normally go with something like ‘STARE’ to see whether the word contains popular letters like ‘A’, ‘E’,’ R’ or ‘T’. Each solved word wins your XP. The more XP you earn the more clues you unlock. Clues typically are a section of a love story featuring this little surfer-dude character that persistently reminds you of the popular cartoons/toys “Trolls dolls“.
The game is very simple to play but challenging to complete. There is no timer, no pressure and even features a relaxing music track in the background. Even if you don’t solve a word and have to start again, there’s no real worry as you maintain your gained XP. Like a hot bath it just soaks you in, making it one of the most absorbing and enjoyable word games available for Android. Sadly, it’s only available via the Amazon Market, and is a paid app- so you’ll have to be in the United States. Sorry!
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Lingrove – Mid-board view 1
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Lingrove – Mid-board view 2
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Lingrove – Mid-board view 3
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Lingrove – Win
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Lingrove – Lose
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Lingrove – Chapter 1 Clue
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Lingrove – Word entry
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Lingrove – Help
Fun Factor:
The game is loads of fun but quite the opposite of superb high-octane word games such as the recently reviewed Word Weasel. Relaxing, enjoyable and interesting, it’s a game you can play for hours and hours.
Addictive:
I think it is addictive as long as you don’t expect to snap your fingers and solve all the clues very quickly. It takes quite a few correct words to unlock each clue and there are lots of clues to work through. Once you start though, it’s easy to become immersed and hard to put down. I often found myself thinking ‘just one more word’.
Graphics:
The graphics are quite simple really but feature a kind of earthy and organic design which works well with the game and never becomes distracting. The game demonstrates that you can create nice and well designed graphics without having to include overly complex elements. When I see games with horrific design, UI and graphics, game like Lingrove make me think “See! It’s not difficult!”
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The music is a blissfully relaxing ditty that put you right in the atmosphere of the game. There are sound effects which indicate when you have solved the word, or if you have it wrong and these too are pretty sweet.