I love Scrabble.

I'm a long-time addict of this ancient and venerable crossword game, which was first released to the American public by Selchow and Righter in the late 1940's. I remember regularly beating my mother, siblings, and grandparents when I was ten years old.

My addiction to Scrabble intensified when software manufacturers began releasing computer versions of the game in the 1980's and 90's. The earliest Scrabble software often contained crude graphics, no animation or sound, limited dictionaries to work with, and inconsistent rules. Despite these shortcomings, "computer Scrabble" remained for me a hopeless addiction.

Then came Hasbro Interactive's CD-ROM version of Scrabble. I thought I was addicted before; you should see me now!!

In 1996, Hasbro released version 1.0 on CD-ROM. Editions designed to run under Windows 3.1, Windows 95/98, and Macintosh System 7 or higher were included on the CD-ROM. Graphics for the Windows editions were stunning. Smooth animation and high fidelity sound abounded. There was an extensive dictionary. A computer opponent named "Maven" proved itself a worthy adversary for even the most battle-hardened and skilled Scrabble players. I fell in love at first sight.

Still, Hasbro's initial version of Scrabble had several annoying problems:

· "Maven" cheated. On occasion, it would challenge commonly used and accepted words; during its turn, it would put into play words of dubious acceptability.

· The game only operated in 256 color mode. Whenever I wanted to play, I had to manually reset my computer's video mode from 15-bit color to 256 color, and then switch back again when I was finished.

· A "frozen hanger." About 25 percent of the time I tried to play, Scrabble 1.0 engaged in its nasty habit of freezing or hanging when displaying the game’s initial "splash" screen. My only way out: shut down Windows and restart.

One day, as I made one of my periodic whirlwind "dream and scheme" tours of our local Staples store, I spied this release of Hasbro's Scrabble on the shelf. I eagerly snapped up a copy, in anticipation of experiencing smoother and more consistent game play.

I was not disappointed! Scrabble 2.0, released in late 1999, not only completely solves all of the problems found in its predecessor; it incorporates several significant improvements and enhancements as well:

· Game play is silky smooth and user friendly. First, a very brief review of Scrabble’s deceptively simple rules is in order. Each player tries to form interlocking words from the seven letter tiles they've selected face-down from the tile pool. Each letter tile has a point value. After forming a word and making a play, the player adds the value of his or her word’s tiles, plus any "premiums" (double letter/word or triple letter/word scores) to his or her score. The player then draws new tiles from the pool. The game ends with the pool tile exhausted and one of the players out of tiles. The player with the highest score wins. Players who can’t form words with the letters on their rack can pass or exchange tiles. Players can "challenge" any word that they think doesn't appear in the dictionary, or any word that otherwise violates the rules of the game.

How do these rules translate to Scrabble 2.0? Very nicely, thank you!! After you form a word from the tiles on your rack, pick them up by clicking on them with your hand-shaped cursor. Place the tiles on the squares you intend to fill, and click. The tiles snap to position. Whoops! Made a mistake? Pick up the tiles by clicking on them; place them on the correct squares, or back in your rack, and click to release them. You can choose new tiles yourself, or allow the computer to do it for you automatically. You can pass your turn or exchange tiles. After each play, scoring is immediate and unerringly accurate.

· "Maven" is now meticulously honest. In the years I’ve been playing this version (an average of 3 games per day), "Maven" hasn’t challenged any of my words. I was able to locate every one of its words – even the unfamiliar ones – in my unabridged dictionary.

· Graphics, animation, and sound are breathtaking! Hasbro took one of version 1.0’s strongest features – its graphics, animation, and sound – and made them even better! "Stunning" has become "breathtaking."

The game now operates in all video and color resolutions. The Scrabble board now has a 3D look. On-screen resolution is so fine that you can easily read the words in the premium squares (e.g., "Double Letter Score; Triple Word Score). You can choose two board views: overhead or tilted at an angle. There are several very attractive wallpaper designs that you can display behind the board.

· Several modes of play: A couple of "holdovers" from version 1.0 and a few new play modes will entertain and assist players of all skill levels. The "holdovers:" you can play games between two computers (of course, with proper links established); play games over a modem or a network; or play games through Microsoft’s Internet Gaming Zone; the new stuff: a new "Scrabble Mini-Games" menu allows you to play games using only two letter words; three letter words; or suffixes and prefixes. "Professor Maven" will rate your play and offer suggestions on how you can improve.

· Dictionaries and word lists galore!! In addition to the standard, comprehensive Scrabble dictionary that serves as the games arbitrator, there’s now a dictionary you can customize with your own words. A plethora of word lists are available to assist you in improving your vocabulary and spelling skills. Here’s just a few of the word lists: Vowel and Consonant Dump lists (consonant- or vowel-intensive words); "Q" without "U" and "J,Q,X,Z" lists (words that contain these letters, combined with letters in your rack) ; Hook Words (add a tile to one word, forming a new word, along with another word in a different direction.)

· System Requirements: Windows 95/98; Pentium 133 MHz or higher; 4X or faster CD-ROM drive; 60 MB free disk space; 2MB or larger video card; DirectX 6.1 or higher; sound card; mouse.

No doubt about it, folks: Hasbro Interactive's Scrabble 2.0 is the best version of this game on the market today! With its silky smooth and accurate game play; unbelievably superior graphics, animation and sound; numerous dictionaries, word lists, and guides; and other enhanced features, this game will provide hours of superb entertainment for Scrabble lovers of all ages and skill levels.

In a nutshell: this Scrabble addict finally has his "fix!"




Recommended: Yes