Customer Reviews

Merv Griffin's Crosswords

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't know what, if any, the previous reviewer, Michael, stake has in this game but I too enjoyed the tv version of this game. The game would be great if it weren't for the stupid wiimote. Now, I am a big fan of the wiimote for most other games but for this one the wiimote is ill-designed. You have to use the wiimote to "type" in your answers and the wiimote is sooo jiggly (used the regular one AND the motion sensitive one) that when you go to type in your letter...it will easily jump to another letter, thus deeming your answer wrong! I played 3 games trying to master a way to get the wiimote to be more stable (I braced it on my leg, set it down on a table...etc...) to no avail. This would be a great game if only they could come up with a more stabilizing way to enter your letters using the wiimote. Because of this frustrating factor (because once you enter a letter there is NO way to backup and delete it..not that I have found anyway)...I am taking this game BACK. Rent it first folks to see what I mean.

This is a pretty good game. It is for intellectual stimulation for sure. You have to think quick and use your vocabulary. We really enjoyed playing it in teams.

It's bizarre, I know, but I'm a massive fan of the show, so I'm likely a tad biased towards the game. Basically, if you like the show, you'll like this.
The game is essentially the same as the one you see on TV, and they give you a plethora of option, such as taking out spoilers, changing the difficulty and what clues you get, and getting themed puzzles. They've also got modes where you can just solve a good puzzle on your own time, so if you can get this cheap, you'll be getting a pretty good deal.
The main issue comes in the awful graphics and voice over. One, the character models are, quite possibly, worse than Ludia's. They fall right in the uncanny valley for me. The set and graphics from the show are both fine and dandy, I have no issues with them. The voice-over by Ty is decent, but the editing is rather poor. It's very awkward hearing him say, "It's the end of round 2...Player 4...Is in the lead."
Overall, the game works brilliantly. It's just got a few minor niggles keeping it from being one of the best game show adaptations there is.

It is hard to believe that we've seen classic game shows really start to dominate for the Nintendo Wii. Recently, classic shows like The Price Is Right, and nighttime favorites like Deal Or No Deal and Jeff Foxworthy delivering his wit and Redneck humor with Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? make their way to the P.C., as Deal or No Deal is set to make its way to the Wii. But, with longevity in game shows as video games, no creator has done it better than the late great Merv Griffin. It has been over a year since Griffin had passed away, but his quirky quiz shows, Jeopardy! and Wheel Of Fortune have not only dominated on television, but as computer games have been the cornerstone of quiz show success for systems everywhere. But, Griffin's last game show creation has finally made it to the Wii. But, is this a good buy, or just something that misses the mark in price and value.

Merv Griffin's Crosswords, the final game show that Griffin developed is finally available for the Nintendo Wii. The show which sadly was cancelled last year due to poor ratings, is given a second chance as a video game. The game features ex-soap actor and former host Ty Treadyway, as he hosts the game show that tests you mind that is loosely based on everyday crossword puzzles. There are over 1,000 differnt questions that test your mind, from the show. The question range from easy to hard by ironically as days of the week: Monday for easy, tuesday for intermediate, and Sunday for Advanced. The graphics look simple, but the gameplay can be very challenging at times. There aren't many modes to play here, but basic modes like timed play, free play, and getaways mode, which is like unlocking places around the world, but lacks the feeling of play. While you can play against others at home, I was really hoping there would be a bit more challenge with battling against others online, but that is just wishful thinking. While the price of the game is also inexpensive, the mental challenge for solo play can be addictive at first, but lacks the feeling of enjoyment later on in fun, while the control is just simple click and play.

All in all, I was really hoping that there could've been more to breathe life into Merv Griffin's Crosswords for the Nintendo Wii. But, it is interesting to see Merv's last show that could've been great, if it was paired up in the block that Jeopardy! & Wheel Of Fortune have delivered well on television today. If you were a die hard fan of the show, or are just a hard core fan of crossword puzzles, than this would be a great buy for $20 for your Wii library.

Graphics: B-

Sound: B-

Control: B

Fun & Enjoyment: C for solo play; C 1/2+ for multiplayer

Overall: C

Really wanted Wheel of fortune but read that this game is simaliar to it and they don't make Wheel of fortune for the Wii yet. This game was so hard, and if you actually know the answers you can gain a bunch of money, but once you can't answer one, somebody else can take your spot with your money. We did change that in the options but the questions were still hard. While my husband played the game, I tried to hurry and find the answers online. Ya we cheated but wow, we had it set on easy and still couldn't figure out the answers.