Draft:CrossworDS (2007 video game)

CrossworDS is a puzzle video game developed by German studio Independent Arts Software and published by Deep Silver for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. CrossworDS features over 2,700 crossword puzzles, across 5 different languages, that the player solves by using the touchscreen and stylus.

Gameplay
CrossworDS features crosswords in five languages - English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian - which can be selected via a button on the main menu. Each language comes with 555 puzzles to solve, split across three difficulty levels - Easy, Medium and Hard.

During puzzles, the full crossword is displayed on the top screen and the crossword clues are displayed as a list on the lower screen. Tapping a clue will allow the player to answer each individual letter in the word - either by drawing the letter using the stylus or by tapping on an on-screen keyboard. Once a letter is completed, the game automatically moves to the next letter in the word. Incorrect letters can be edited, and incomplete clues stay in the clue list on the lower screen. Once a word is completed correctly, the corresponding clue is removed from the list and all the letters in the word turn yellow - meaning they can no longer be edited. Each puzzle also features a hint system, allowing players to skip any clues they can't solve. Upon completion of a puzzle, the game will show how long the puzzle took to complete, as well as how many words were solved; and how many tips were used in solving it.

The game also supports up to four player multiplayer, via Multi-Card Play. There are two multiplayer modes: Together and Opponents. In Together, players cooperate to solve crossword puzzles with no time limits. In Opponents, players compete to try and solve the most crossword clues in 5 minutes.

Once a day, players can be presented a random crossword clue titled the "Question of the Day" to solve.

The game also features a menu known as "My Knowledge" - where the game tracks crossword clues that have been completed in single-player. This menu displays completion rates for six categories of words - Culture, Nature, Sport, Entertainment, Science and General Knowledge - as well as Questions of the Day and overall progress in the game.

Release
CrossworDS was originally released as SZ-Wissen - Kreuzworträtsel (lit. 'SZ-Knowledge - Crosswords') in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on November 27, 2007,. with sponsorship from German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. On November 29, 2007, the Italian version of the game released. On December 7, 2007, it was released in France under the title Mots croisés pour tous (lit. 'Crosswords for All') - with sponsorship from Réponse à Tout! , a French magazine. CrossworDS was later released in the United Kingdom, on May 30, 2008

Reception
In the French market, CrossworDS received mixed reviews. Jeuxvideo gave the game a score of 11/20, while Génération-NT rated the game 5/10. Both websites praised the game on the amount of content, and both heavily criticised the barebones soundtrack - with Jeuxvideo stating that "the music in this cartridge wins hands down the award for worst soundtrack in video game history."

Sequels
CrossworDS has received at least two sequels - both also for the Nintendo DS.A German-only sequel called SZ-Wissen - Mehr Kreuzworträtsel (lit. 'SZ-Knowledge - More Crosswords') was released on November 14, 2008 for the Nintendo DS. Mehr Kreuzworträtsel includes over 1100 puzzles in German. Due to only containing puzzles in one language, the button on the main menu that was used to switch languages has been removed; and is instead replaced with a toggle between two separate "puzzle blocks" - sets of puzzles containing 555 unique crosswords each. Another feature from the original that is absent in the sequel is the multiplayer component.

A second sequel titled Crosswords: Cruciverba Italiani (lit. 'Crosswords: Italian Crosswords') was released in Italy on January 29, 2010 for the Nintendo DS. Cruciverba Italiani is single-player only - much like Mehr Kreuzworträtsel - and also only features one set of 555 puzzles, that are all themed "in accordance with national taste"