Bookworm Deluxe

             Download from www.shockwave.com

                     Reviewed by Sue

Feed your mind with Bookworm Deluxe, says the blurb. As word 
games go, this is a bit like Tetris. You have to click on letters in 
sequence to make words, then hit 'submit'. If the word is 
accepted, you'll score points and the letters will vanish as the 
Bookworm who sits on the left of the screen, eats them. More 
will appear from the top of the screen to top them up.

In this way, you may find all the horrible letters like Q, Z and J 
end up in a sludgy pool at the bottom of the screen. So it's worth 
having a dig around in there every so often to see what letters 
you can use up.

Q automatically comes with a U so is displayed on a tile as Qu. 
This is a big help for getting rid of them. Some tiles score extra 
points. These are bright green in colour. If you make a word with 
five letters or more, you'll get a gold tile which is worth even 
more when you use it. 

There are hazards of course. Every so often red tiles will appear 
at the top of the screen. These are on fire! Each time you make 
a word and don't use up a red tile that's on the screen, it will 
burn through the tile underneath, so it gradually works its way 
down to the bottom. When it reaches there, the whole screen 
will catch fire! Game over.

After the first level, a word is displayed under the Bookworm. If 
you can make this word, again, you'll get a bonus. I managed it 
once. If you get stuck, clicking on Bookworm will scramble the 
tiles but will also cause a lot of burning tiles to appear so use 
this option with caution!

There are two modes. One is an action mode. The red tiles burn 
down against the clock. I preferred the other mode which is 
called Classic Game. This is much more leisurely. It can also 
take quite a long time and if you quit in the middle of a game, it 
will be saved. 

This is a great little game. I don't know how many levels are in 
the demo but I've got up to Level 12.

Internet download of the full game costs $24.95. This has extra 
bonus tiles - sapphire and diamond - an expanded dictionary 
including 12 letter words, an exclusive action mode plus better 
music and sound effects and unique animations.

Recommended.







                              - o -