Quarrel Review (Xbox LIVE Arcade)

Quarrel is slightly different from your standard word-making games. First off, both players use the same eight letters to make their word when they go head-to-head. Second, if there are more than two players, others can also gain points by making a word from the letters when not involved in head-to-head combat. Finally, every eight letter combination is an anagram for a single eight-letter word. So, if you’ve got an enormous vocabulary you can inspire awe in your opponent. In honor of Quarrel’s unique approach to word games, I will attempt to use an adequate quantity of octonary words as possible.

Quarrel features a boatload of pathways to play. There are actually eight ways to play, although, one of those ways is the tutorial. The other seven possible contests include a sampling of single player modes like quick match, tutorial, domination, showdown, challenges and tailored matches (make your own rules). In the multiplayer listings there are standard ranked matches, player matches and Xbox LIVE party matches all self-explanatory there.

Quarrel Single Player Game Modes:

Quick Match - A match is randomly created with random levels and opponent or opponents.
Domination - Defeat all other players to lay claim to all of the tiles on the level.
Showdown - The AI are rated 1-10 and you have to work your way up from the bottom to the top.
Challenges - Specific tasks need to be achieved in order to pass the challenge, like win six battles in a row.
Make a Match - Set up your own game from a small list of options. The two main types are casual and clocked. Casual has no timer, clocked does. Two to four players. You can play against specific AI or randomly chosen.