Epic Word Search Holiday Special Review

Epic Word Search Holiday Special

Release: October 6, 2016
Publisher: Lightwood Games
Developer: Lightwood Games
Genre: Nintendo 3DS Categories, Nintendo 3DS Reviews, Other, Puzzle
PEGI: E
Comments:

 

Comment

My dad and I really love Lightwood Games word puzzle games. So whenever Lightwood puts out a new word puzzle game, I have to review it because I know it’ll most likely be good and something we’ll want to play. The newest word game from Lightwood Games is called Epic Word Search Holiday Special and its for the 3DS. As the name suggests, the word puzzle focus is on holidays this time. Is this another word puzzle game that you’ll want to download?

Epic Word Search Holiday Special is exactly like the previous Epic Word Search games that Lightwood put out. The only difference between this game and the previous are the subject matters and words that you find. Otherwise, there are no gameplay differences or added surprises to this game. On one hand, I think that’s fine. If you like word puzzles, then you are going to enjoy Epic Word Search Holiday Special no matter what. On the other hand, I do wish Lightwood had added something more to make this game special. Even the controls in this game work the same as Epic Word Search Collection 2, though in that case I’m more than alright with that.

I’m glad that the controls work so well in these Epic Word Search collections. I’m especially happy that the switched axis option carries over from the second game because its so much easier for all of the scrolling to be normal (right is right, etc) than flipped. As for the rest of the controls, the touch screen interaction in the bottom screen works just as well as it always has. I also like how the top screen shows you what words to look for and the bottom screen is all about the puzzles. Lightwood Games does a really good job developing for the 3DS.

Epic Word Search Holiday Special may be more of the same when it comes to its gameplay, but that’s doesn’t make it bad game. In fact, word puzzle fans will definitely enjoying finding all of the new words in these puzzles. I can’t help wishing that there were a couple of new features including in this collection, but overall, I like the gameplay. I think these collection games always look good too.

The graphics in Epic Word Search Holiday Special are pretty similar to the previous game. Brand new graphics are on the main menu for each of the new categories, however the in-game “graphics” are the same. I see nothing wrong with that at all. Epic Word Search is a really well laid out game.

At first I thought the music in Epic Word Search Holiday Special was different from the previous game, but in the end, I determined that it was pretty similar to the previous game. The piano music in this game ranges from fine to annoying. You may just want to turn the music off, because its easier to focus on the puzzles without it. The sound effects in this game are the same as previous games. I’d like to see the developer try something different with the music, but I’m not sure what. I imagine its hard to decide what kind of music to put to a word puzzle game.

As for Epic Word Search Holiday Special as a whole, if you liked the previous game in the series than you’ll like this game too.

Epic Word Search Holiday Special is a good word puzzle game. Just like the other games in the Epic Word Search series, I only recommend this game for people who are really good at Word games. Epic Word Search Holiday Special is basically more of the same of what we saw in Epic Word Search Colllection and Epic Word Search Collection 2. You shouldn’t expect any added surprises or new features.

I admit to some disappointment that this is just another bunch of words to find and nothing else. We’ve seen evidence that Lightwood Games can add more to their games (like download play in Splat the Difference and amiibo support in Word Puzzles) and that always makes the games more interesting. Its too bad that these Epic Word Search collection games don’t just support paid dlc to add new content instead of creating a new game every time.

In the end though, these games are not high priced and if you love word puzzle games, you’ll enjoy Epic Word Search Holiday Special!

Thanks to Lightwood Games for providing a review copy of this game. Epic Word Search Holiday Special is now available on the 3DS eshop!

Positives

• Good content
• Excellent controls
• Nicely Designed

Negatives

• No New Features
• Audio Could Be Better

Trailer