Hexacto's Emperor's Mahjong:
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
One of the most addictive of all solitary games is the Chinese tile matching game. Although often referred to as "Mahjong", the proper name should either be "Shanghai" or "Taipei", as Mahjong is a tile game played amongst 4 persons (never alone) with rules similar to Gin Rummy, but more complicated.
Hexacto has released "Emperor's Mahjong",
the most complete, well-thought through version of such a game. Every detail is carefully crafted, nothing is left out. Let's take it out for a test run.
After flashing an oriental looking title with an option of 3 very soothing Chinese tunes, we are face to face with the main menu. Hitting the "New Game" gets you started. Later on, you may want to try out the Layout editor - so well done, it's a no-brainer. When you start to get serious, you may want to go into "Profiles" and keep track of your performance for the "Emperor's Challenge".
When you start a new game, you can choose one of the existing profiles or add your own. There is the usual one player game where you have the option of selecting a normal game, easy game or kiddie (easiest) game. When you have a pal or family member around (eg on a trip), there is a 2-player game; a feature I have yet to find in any version of this kind of game. The winner is the person who took the shortest amount of time to complete his rounds (as it shifts from one player to the other).
A third option is the "Emperor's Challenge" where players try to reach the rank of Emperor by clearing all 72 levels and accumulating bits of Wisdom as they progress. Here, the Emperor challenges you to the ultimate quest for wisdom. You need to master spheres of knowledge and collect five gems for safe passage to the final challenge: the meeting of the twelve Emperors. Capturing the crucial and final sixth gem, will make you Emperor of China!
Your score card keeps track of the various sets you have completed as well as bits of fortune-cookie wisdom accumulated as each game is successfully completed. These sets start with Horoscope, followed by Crafts, Nature, Scenery, Martial Arts and Emperors - 72 games in all. If these weren't enough, play to your heart's content with User Layouts that you can easily create.
If you enjoy solitary games, Emperor's Mahjong is an evergreen classic that you will enjoy playing time and again. It is a well-crafted game of enduring interest, has a great 'look and feel' with many variations and using the user layout creator, many many more. Hexacto has not overlooked anything here - defintely a ten!
