User:TrademarkedTWOrantula/Letterpress (video game)

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Reception
Reviewers found Letterpress's strategic elements engaging, comparing it to Scrabble, Connect Four, Go, SpellTower, and chess. Despite Jared Nelson from TouchArcade finding the gameplay challenging to articulate, he noted its addictive nature once players understood the rules. Lex Friedman from Macworld described it as "addictive," while AJ Dellinger of Gamezebo believed it would appeal to "word nerds and strategy-oriented thinkers." Pocket Gamer's Harry Slater commended the suspense inherent in waiting for an opponent's move, labeling Letterpress as "asynchronous gaming at its finest." Matthew Panzarino of The Next Web and Federico Viticci both viewed the game as a worthwhile way to pass the time. However, some criticized its lack of a single-player mode.

Certain critics expressed concerns regarding the game's reliance on Game Center, Apple's multiplayer network service. Luke Larsen of Paste magazine lauded Letterpress as an "incredible achievement" but criticized its dependency on Game Center, which he felt impacted statistics tracking and matchmaking management. Dave Wiskus of iMore attributed Letterpress's absence of in-game chat and a rematch button to Game Center integration. Despite Wiskus acknowledging the negative impact on user experience, he mitigated it with iMessage. He also highlighted the friction in initiating rematches, leading to simultaneous matches between players. On the contrary, Viticci believed Game Center efficiently handled matchmaking in Letterpress.

Critics unanimously praised Letterpress's design. Ellis Hamburger of The Verge, noting the game's 6,346 lines of code, described the interface as "barren" with "natural-feeling animations." Nelson found the graphics "aesthetically pleasing," while Dellinger and Shane Richmond of The Daily Telegraph appreciated its clutter-free design. Nelson admired the game's minimalist style and smooth animations, drawing parallels to the productivity app Clear. Viticci noted similarities between Letterpress's visuals and Microsoft's Metro design language. Larsen complimented Brichter for the game's visually appealing menus and aesthetic choices, echoing Wiskus's sentiment that Brichter infused the game with care. Friedman and Panzarino lauded Letterpress's attention to detail, including its sound effects and user interface. Panzarino further praised the polished graphics and reactive animations, while Chris Reed of Slide to Play deemed Letterpress a "gorgeous example of minimalist design." Letterpress was even listed among minimalist apps suggested to inspire Jony Ive, a designer for Apple's iOS 7.