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Creating a puzzle game can be tricky. It must be simple, yet at the same time fun and addicting. Overcomplicated games are quickly ignored and boring games share the same fate. KrissX is very addicting, and quite simple if you know your way around a dictionary. KrissX (Kriss-Cross) is this week's Xbox Live Arcade game, and costs 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Once the game is started, players are greeted with a very relaxing title screen and accompanying song, as if to declare “this game is calming!” from the get go. When making your way to the true game itself, you are initially only offered “Quest Mode.” To reiterate, the gameplay is simple, and can be explained very quickly. You unscramble words. That’s the core gameplay, blocks of letters read out “EXOTCI” then we know to swap letters to form “EXOTIC.” This is simple enough at first, only given a few words to solve and no time limit. Throughout a very steadily paced quest mode, the challenge increases. You are suddenly solving more than five words that you were never confident existed, and racing against a once laughable clock. Even still, failure of a level is not a problem thanks to a quick and painless Retry Level option.

As you play quest mode, which is basically a continuous gauntlet of level after level; more modes are unlocked and offer specific experiences to the gamer. Contrasting gametypes of “timed” and “timeless” exist, as well as categories for designated word choices; like animals, States and Countries. The only story telling exists in the form of a well written opener detailing you on the main (and only) character in the game, Wordsworth the Owl. Wordsworth serves as an avatar to represent the game and nothing more; his actions show how you're doing in the game, good or bad. Progression through the quest mode reveals an interesting design feature; rotating backgrounds representative to the changing of seasons. We stare at a single tree and its backdrop, each level the art slightly changing. This is very peaceful, and when partnered with a splendid musical score it’s easy to get sidetracked from the puzzle! As I played through KrissX my mind was in such a calming state I easily lost track of time. Hours of running through the quest mode never felt overly repetitive, as a constant change in both theme and vocabulary was bliss.

I'm sad to say KrissX has no online or multiplayer components. I realize it is a word-puzzle game, but a battle mode would be nice. Challenging others in how fast one can solve a word jumble would be much more satisfying on an Xbox 360 instead of staring over a newspaper. On the other hand, offering four gameplay categories and a fifth for upcoming DLC puzzles is enough. Not to mention a robust 3,500+ words, and 150 artistic backgrounds to add variety.

After playing KrissX for many, many hours, I came to one simple conclusion. This is a good game! Does it do anything particularly groundbreaking or out of the ordinary? Well no, but there’s barely anything wrong with it. For instance, seeing a word multiple times is somewhat frustrating; especially when within a level or two of each other. Some audio can be a tad annoying; a very Spanish sounding announcer does much of the congratulatory messages, as opposed to the soothing female voice during other menus. I found this game to be worth my time. I'm not an avid puzzle-game player but it still held my attention. Those addicted to PopCap-esque games would definitely like KrissX and are my first recommendation for the game. Meanwhile, achievement enthusiasts can rest assured in an easy completion. “Hardcore” gamers should stay away. If you don't like puzzle or trivia games then you won't gain anything from KrissX. Overall, this is a simply fun game with very minor complaints. KrissX is worth the money and is a nice addition to a casual gamer's collection of puzzle games.

Gameplay Screens

Gameplay Trailer