Gamertell

Title: Wheel of Fortune
Price: $4.99
System(s): iPhone, iPod Touch*
Release Date: February 27, 2009
Publisher (Developer): Sony Pictures Television
ESRB Rating: N/A
Pros: Familiar game show with easy-to-play controls, music from the show, thousands of puzzles, useful tutorials and even trophies. A surprising yet not overwhelming amount of challenge.
Cons: Avatar creation a little limited and AI is sometimes a little too smart. No multiplayer and no Vanna
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 87/100; B+; * * * 1/2 out of five.

There have been so many versions of this game released the past 20+ years that chances are pretty good that you already own at least one (and you probably don’t even know - or remember - it).

Even so, the iPhone and iPod Touch release of Wheel of Fortune version holds up pretty well, utilizing the touchscreen so you can you actually spin that infamous wheel. (I haven’t played the countless video game releases but I’m pretty sure that’s a first.)

Wheel. Of. Fortune!

Ah, yes, The familiar chant of the audience that begins each show, as well as this game. The clings, the clangs and the weird melodies that accompany each puzzle. So very memorable. From there you can pretty much forget Pat Sajak or Vanna White in this game.

In this releases you are able to create a basic player who will stand at the counter ready to spin against two computer opponents. In typical WOF fashion, you are presented with overturned letters, a topic as a clue and try to guess the answer and a giant wheel you spin each turn to try and guess the right letters to earn the most money. To spin the giant wheel, you swipe your finger across the touchscreen with the speed of your swipe being reflected in the speed of the wheel.

The game includes ample tutoring, including mid-game popup windows that will explain each new wedge added to the wheel as well as the various types of rounds. Throughout the game the letter selection menu greys out already guessed letters (which can also offer an extra visual hint as to the puzzle’s possible solutions but more on that later) so you never accidentally select the same letter twice.

In current-gen game system fashion, Sony Pictures Television has also included Trophies that can be earned by reaching various plateaus.

No Flippin’ Vanna!

The mini keyboard and swipe-style spinning work very well for this puzzle game, with the former inadvertently helping solve some puzzles since you can easily see the remaining letter. Regardless, the difficulty of the puzzles even on the low setting and the abilities of the computer opponents makes for a much more challenging game than I expected from a handheld. In this instance, that’s a good thing. Make the game too easy and it would be finished in a matter of hours. By making it a little more difficult, it forces you to take more time to think abut letter choice and come up with possible answers and really helps to take advantage of the word puzzle experience.

The developers have nicely included a save feature so you can return to a game which is especially useful since a single TV-style game can last quite a long time. Be warned, however, that those two opponents will rarely make silly letter guesses groping for a clue.

And those clues are - as now happens in the show since it has been on for so long - a step of two away from what they appear, further adding to the game’s difficulty.

To help speed up the game a bit you are able to Skip through some sections of the computer’s turns and even skip watching the wheel rotate after you spin it.

If you turn up the sound, you’ll also be treated to the sound effects from the TV show, adding a nice touch that helps put fans of the show in the right mindset. Oddly, there’s no Sajak or Vanna, either as avatars or with any voice clips. I’m guessing it’s either to help keep the game timeless, they didn’t want to have to pay them any more than they already do including those touches would slow down the game and add to the file size.

I’ll Take the Game, Pat

I hate to use the “if you are a fan” bit but, if you are of the show or word-based puzzle games, definitely get this game. It offers enough of a challenge to make this release extra enjoyable on the go even at the full $4.99 price. You can certainly play for many hours before you get a repeated puzzle (the iTunes page promises “over a thousand different puzzles”)

Otherwise, wait for it to go on sale or you might get a bit cranky spending the scratch after two computery opponents beat you for the umpteenth time, earning that million dollar wedge you swore you’d get first.

Purchase [Wheel of Fortune] Photo Gallery [Gamertell]

Check out the gallery: Wheel of Fortune iPod Touch screen shots