Idk how you all do this, this is my first go round - but yeah. The whole time I was doing this I thought - what the hey? What the hey? And also thought - I need to get paper to hangman this and figure out what letters I haven't used only to have my eyes trail down to the bottom of my screen and notice the app already does this =_o!
When you see an * next to the score it means that the person did it in Hard Mode. Hard Mode forces you to use letters that you have guessed correctly before. I find it easier because as you run out of letters (darkened keys), you know which letters are used (yellow and where (green), your choices for the next word dwindle. Just make sure you keep track of your yellows so you don't repeat an incorrect position.
I kicked myself in the pants at that moment, because I goofed up. But you know, it wasn't too serious. And I figured by the time I got to what was seemingly my last go round if I didn't get it - no harm, no foul. But I do have to ask does it show you the word? Or are you left guessing? Also I think it was five letters long right? That's such a weird limitation. My grandmother growing up would do crosswords. Those I can kind of get, as long as they're not cultural references. But there seems to be some kind of disconnect when pigeon-holed into this length. Because I kept thinking of words, then realizing they're too long or too short. At one point I thought it was Seoul, but the app told me it wasn't a word. So I realized we're talking things like mat, pat, rat - that kinda stuff. Basic words. I guess Boggle? But I haven't played it. I just know of it because of Peggy Hill =P!
I think hard mode might actually be easier - if it forces the correct letters in place. Because I know myself, and I will poke a correct letter in the wrong place out of excitement for thinking I cracked it. I didn't know this place existed - but I saw your name is Jo (hey!) and you had a Bucees avatar which cracked me up. Either way, looks like there's a lot of cool puzzles to do and I hope I can get through a few when the spirit hits.
Thanks for the tips, you seem like helpful folk =)!