Alphabear
{{Short description|2015 video game}}{{Update|reason=Adding more information on the PC version|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Alphabear cover.png
| developer = Spry Fox
| publisher = Spry Fox
| platforms = Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
| released = {{ubl|Android, iOS|8 July 2015|macOS, Windows|23 August 2017}}
| genre = Word
| modes = Single-player
| caption = Cover of the game's deluxe "Hardcover Edition"
}}
Alphabear is a 2015 word game developed by the independent video game company Spry Fox. Released in July 2015, it draws on creative elements of one of their older releases, the 2010 game Panda Poet.{{cite web|url=http://www.electrondance.com/how-alphabear-became-unbearable/|title=How Alphabear Became Unbearable|last=Goodwin|first=Joel|date=5 August 2015|work=electrondance: words on PC gaming|access-date=25 August 2015}} A sequel, Alphabear 2, was released in 2018. Alphabear was removed from the stores in 2019.
Gameplay
The premise of the game is making words from random letters on a grid for points, and scoring as many points as possible. Using tiles unlocks other tiles adjacent to them, however tiles not used for a number of turns decay into unusable stone blocks. Scoring well in levels unlocks progressively more valuable cube-shaped bears and further levels.{{cite news|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/2969649/ios-apps/alphabear-for-ios-rewards-big-words-and-big-bears-alike.html|title=Alphabear for iOS rewards big words and big bears alike|last=Hayward|first=Andrew|date=12 August 2015|work=Macworld|publisher=IDG Consumer & SMB|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-date=9 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809115807/https://www.macworld.com/article/226108/alphabear-for-ios-rewards-big-words-and-big-bears-alike.html|url-status=live}} Playing a round requires the use of a game currency called 'honey', which accrues slowly at a certain rate, limiting the number of games that can be played successively. A payment of US$4.99 unlocks unlimited 'honey'. A player can select up to three bears to help them get more points in a game. The more powerful bears 'nap' for up to several hours after use in a game.{{cite news|url=http://indiegamemag.com/alphabear-review-why-do-bears-like-spelling-bees/|title=Alphabear Review – Why Do Bears Like Spelling Bees?|last=Selinske|first=Connor|date=14 July 2015|work=Indie Game Magazine|access-date=31 August 2015|archive-date=9 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809115820/https://www.indiegamemag.com/alphabear-review-why-do-bears-like-spelling-bees/|url-status=live}} These bears can give bonuses for using individual letters or overall score bonuses. The individual puzzles are in regular or timed mode.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (iOS) 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/alphabear-word-puzzle-game/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Alphabear: Word Puzzle Game for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=9 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809115809/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/alphabear-word-puzzle-game |url-status=live }}
| rev1 = TouchArcade
| rev1Score = (iOS) {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/07/14/alphabear-review/ |title='AlphaBear' Review – These Bears Could Be Poets |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=14 July 2015 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=9 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809115819/https://toucharcade.com/2015/07/14/alphabear-review/ |url-status=live }}
}}
Evan Killham of GamesBeat gave the game a score of 85 out of 100, citing many positives but conceding the requirement for the game to be continually connected to the internet a problem.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/07/28/alphabears-fun-and-charm-make-it-im-paws-ible-to-put-down/|title=Alphabear's fun and charm make it im-paws-ible to put down|last=Killham|first=Evan|date=28 July 2015|work=GamesBeat|publisher=VentureBeat|access-date=31 August 2015|archive-date=9 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809120320/https://venturebeat.com/games/alphabears-fun-and-charm-make-it-im-paws-ible-to-put-down/|url-status=live}}
A feature of the game that became a fad on Twitter was capturing screenshots of the bears incorporating words that had been entered by the player in random sentences.{{cite news|url=http://www.destructoid.com/some-of-the-best-alphabear-mad-libs-out-there-296786.phtml|title=Some of the best Alphabear mad libs out there|last=Nakamura|first= Darren |date=28 July 2015|work=Destructoid|access-date=30 August 2015}}
Alphabear received the award for Standout Indie app at the inaugural Google Play Awards in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-play-awards-2016/|title=Houzz takes the crown as the Best App at the Google Play Awards|last=Chokkattu|first=Julian|date=2016-05-20|website=Digital Trends|publisher=|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-25}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://spryfox.com/our-games/alphabear/}}
- {{MobyGames|/73771/alphabear/}}
Category:Android (operating system) games
Category:Video games about bears